Two

My dearest little Johannes,

Today you are two {or “tiewwwww”} as you like to say.

You have grown up so much this year, its almost hard to remember where we started.  Infancy seems so very far away right now.

Today you can walk, run, jump over obstacles.  You insist on brushing your own teeth and feeding yourself.

You are opinionated and stubborn, some out there might say you get these delightful traits from your mama, but I think that’s just crazy talk.

You have the most infectious laugh, and like to be the center of attention, especially when you have a large audience at your disposal.

When we come home from school in the afternoons, you love make me take the long way through the garage so we can jump over the two speed bumps.  You don’t much care that on a typical day I’m also carrying 40lbs worth of groceries on one arm so I can be sure to hold your little hand tight with the other.

You are bossy and loving at the same time.

You like to wake us up before 6am with a big “HI!” before jumping into our bed and asking me for more kisses and hugs.  The more I pretend to sleep, the more kisses you give me and at times I keep this going just to get a little love for a little while longer, because I know that one day you won’t be there to kiss me awake.

At night you try every trick in the book to keep us from putting you to bed. “more water {apa}”, “more kisses”, “more huggs”, “more love yous”.

You can count to five in Romanian but really don’t like the number one, so generally you start at two.

You are smart and charming and I couldn’t be more proud to be your mama.

Two years ago I had a dream, a hope, a prayer for the type of little boy I thought you would be…but you have far exceeded those expectations.  This past year has been amazing and wonderful and I am so so looking forward to spending the rest of my life here on earth celebrating birthdays with you.

Love you for always,

your mama