dearest buby

RIGHT NOW you are 3 years + 6 days. you are 40 1/4 inches tall and 42 pounds of pure boy. you are 95% tile all around. your right foot is size 11 while your left is a mere 10 1/2. you wear a size 11 1/2 shoe because of your arches {or lack thereof}. you are easy to make happy and easy to make sad. you are full of energy and even full-er of love.


you are a confident do-it-yourself-er but still wish to be carried and rocked on occasion. you hold everyone to their word. you encourage physical comedy. you have a fake laugh and a fake cry--really fake. you tell people to take off their shoes in your house. you create on a daily basis. you have a wild + playful imagination. you are brave + wise for your short time here on earth. so far.


you remind me of your daddy when you sleep. gosh, you look like him. you remind me of me when you dance. you have many passions, not just one or two or three. you play drums and sound pretty darn awesome if you ask me. you tinker with daddy's guitar, too. you sing "happy birthday" on answering machines and "itsy bitsy spider" to your sister because it's her favorite. you love to spread joy.


you scream "cheese stick!" when there's a camera pointed at you. you read books with me, sometimes for hours. you do puzzles with me, sometimes for hours. you ask to paint in the afternoons. you always know when you're done and what you want to do next. you reply "i'm proud of YOU!" to my "i'm proud of you." you like to bake + sprinkle. you insist on your privacy in the loo though aren't shy about showing the results. you give gifts with glee. you show off your baby sister in public. you introduce yourself by first, middle and last name. you like your head rubbed when you're sick. you have the biggest, roundest blue eyes these eyes have ever seen.


you appreciate food. you claim to be hungry most of the day and will try anything edible. you like to wake bleu in the morning. you like to kiss her goodnight. you like to tickle her every second in between. you play a doting mama to your baby dolls. you talk about going to the library constantly. you always visit your friends at the coffee shop afterwards. you strut into the place like you own it. you utter "please" and "thank you" and "bye" with such sweetness that strangers stop + take notice. you don't like anything touching your belly button. nothing.


you run circles around our furniture. you rarely wipe out. you are most ticklish under your chinny chin chin. you offer to give rides to your classmates on the only two-seated tricycle. you have quite the hat collection. you still think our vacuum is going to eat you. so you jump on my left hip. oh boy. you hold bleu's hand while i make smoothies in the blender. you don't want her to feel afraid. you think of yourself as her great protector. you are. though you grab her face and tug at her limbs even when i ask you--repeatedly--not to. you share a bond with her that i cannot begin to understand. i'm just the mom.


you like to dine at restaurants. you are learning to swim. you prepare fancy whipped-cream concoctions with your imaginary espresso maker and put on an excellent tea party. thanks for inviting me + giving me the chocolate cupcake i so desire. you sweat in your sleep. you like to pick out your own clothes. you ask, "is this the right foot, mama?" every time. you catch my kisses from across the room. you are cautious. you love your grandparents as if they live right next door. you take big boy showers. you ski. you know balloons + bubbles to be--quite simply--magical.


you are sensitive + flirty + enchanted with your lil' girlfriends. you are strong, unbelievably so. you have chubby little hands that remind me of my mother's mother. you say you're sorry. you shout "love you!" to people you hardly know, because you hear it so much at home. you comfort me when i'm worried. you test me when i'm distracted. you tell me i'm beautiful when i least expect it.


you smile at your artwork + photos on display. you are known to change your mind. you begged to be lumpy {from winnie the pooh} this halloween. so daddy is bidding on a pattern on e-bay and having someone make a costume just for you. please don't change your mind.


you think only girls eat french fries {i swear i never said this}. you are a creature of habit. you love when i wear my food pyramid t-shirt and froggy jammies. you see pictures of junk food and say "that's not healthy for kids!" you like rivers and hiking and fishing. you call me "jenny" when you want. you have called me "mother" a time or two. but mostly i'm "mama," unless you're hurt or scared and then it's "mommy!" like they say, i don't care what you call me. just call me.


you think the shadow on your bedroom wall is a snake. you weigh yourself for fun. you look oh so handsome in anything baby blue. and you know it. you prefer to paint on the most expensive canvases. you use napkins and help yourself to a bib from the drawer before each meal. your favorite song is "thank God i'm a country boy." you always know where the moon is. you are a Unique and cannot possibly be described with a handful of words. your smile can move mountains.


you inspire me to be MORE each morning. patient. creative. energetic. on my toes. you exceed all of my expectations for a son, because i didn't have any. i didn't dare. i don't know about someday. who you will be. what will tickle your fancy or burst your bubble. i only know RIGHT NOW. i live for it. and our million mini moments. i am so blessed and in love with all that is YOU and our little family of 4. happy 3 my man.