My sweet Beau Elias:
Today is your second birthday; where has the time gone? This year has been so amazing and we have seen such strides made in your development and are seeing your personality form before our very eyes. I'm amazed at the little boy you are and am continually surprised by the amount of learning I get from YOU. This year you've really made me focus on patience, on taking time to really instruct you and discipline you in a manner in which is effective, but not out of anger. You can be very stubborn and judging from who your parents are, its not hard to see why you're like that. I work very intently to nurture the good aspects of that all the while being diligent to break the destructive parts of that behavior. You're a curious child. You want to see and know everything and have no fear when it comes to jumping off or climbing up anything. You dad and I will talk for a second being outside with you and as soon as we look over, you're scaling the fence. You're definitely going to be our risk-taker child if you stay the course you're on, so we're just preparing ourselves. You are so smart! It amazes me the way you put things (both physically and mentally) together and the new words that come out of your mouth in just the right way. You can count to ten, know your colors, know your shapes (even a pentagon, go figure!), and know quite a few Bible facts. Your ability to absorb information just astounds me, so I'm trying to balance teaching you as much as I can and pushing you without completely overwhelming you to the point of shutting down. But know that your mother thinks you are brilliant! You're very conscious of others feelings. The other day when I was crying you looked at Daddy very concerned and said, "Mommy, so sad. So sad, Mommy. It's ok." You gave me lots of hugs and kisses without even being asked. You're very affectionate and its something I just adore about you. I love dialogging with you. In the mornings you'll tell me "Good morning" followed by "Hi Mommy. Whatcha doing?" When I tell you what I'm doing and ask what you're doing, you usually reply, "Hanging out." You're so funny! You and I spend lots of time laughing together. You're like your mom in that you don't go to bed early and don't like to rise early. You seem to prefer the night-owl lifestyle. I was like that a lot as a kid too, so it doesn't surprise me too much. If you would have your way, you'd stay up until 11 or so at night and wake up around 9 in the morning; sad for you we have had to curb that. You also are a monkey in the bed! You roll from one end to the next! Since we're still working on getting your reflux back on track, we've had some hard nights, but typically for your dad and I you wake up at least once in the night. It's totally ok with us at this point, we've come to the realization this is just how you operate. Your dad and I had tried taking you off your reflux meds to see if you still needed them and lo and behold, you do. Hopefully it's something you'll grow out of soon though. You're a picky eater (at least for us). You LOVE fruits, but are not much a fan of meat and carbs. You also like veggies pretty well, but fruit is by far your favorite. You love milk (esp. since us taking you off the reflux meds), but also like your sitter's decaf iced tea, grape juice, fruit punch, apple juice and the packets of sugar-free pink lemonade we stick into your water. You're learning to be a sharer and have quite the outgoing personality (another trait you get from your dad). You have a love for the Lord that is unspeakably precious. At night you often roll back and forth whispering, "Good night, Jesus." You also do tremendously well with your memory verses and will make sure everyone prays before we eat. I see such potential to form a servant's heart in you and your dad and I are taking steps to really foster that.
Beau, I could go on and on about you, but what I want you to understand is this: you are such a blessing to everyone you meet. Whether or not you know it, so many are blessed by you. I am constantly learning from you in regards to forgiveness and trust. While I pray for you and aim to foster your relationship with our Lord, I want you to know how much you have aided in my own relationship with my Lord. I can't imagine where this next year will take us and to be truthful, I'm learning more and more to just enjoy each moment I have with you. I've learned to not worry so much about dishes, or dusting (although they still get done), because this time I have with you is something that I won't get back. And I don't want to miss a minute of it. I love you to the moon and back, my precious Beau Elias. Happy Birthday, darling.
Love,
Mommy
