TWO!!!

Dear Judah,

Today you are TWO years old! I can't believe we're here already... I can't believe it was two years ago today that you made your whirlwind entrance into this world. It feels like this year went by even faster than the first year - you grew and developed and learned at such a fast pace I barely had time to comprehend it.

It's been a very busy 2nd year of life for you. We moved to a new state, traveled around the world visiting family, settled into a new house and new routines, and made new friends. You went from toddling around to running and jumping, from saying a few short words to speaking in full sentences. Your little brain is working a mile-a-minute from the moment you wake up, figuring out new things. It's incredible to watch.

If the past few weeks are any indication, two is going to be awesome. Each new stage just gets better. Your level of comprehension and communication has jumped through the roof, and you are just so much FUN to play and interact with and be around. You ask questions, and you answer our questions. We have conversations about our day, where we went and and what we did. You love to tell Papa about your day when he comes home. You also talk about our family around the world and ask to call them on Skype. And sometimes you just hijack the tablet and call them yourself :)

You know your numbers and your alphabet, your colors and your shapes... you describe everything around you - "brown couch", "blue spoon" - and you spot shapes and letters and numbers wherever we go. You love to run and jump and dance and rough house. You love to play with trucks and cars and airplanes. You also love to sit and flip through books, reading aloud to yourself. You carefully build tall towers with your blocks, and then gleefully knock them down. You love to draw and color and paint. You love to "cook" things and help momma in the kitchen. You love playing chase and hide-and-seek. You love listening to music and singing and playing musical instruments. Some of your favorite things are balloons, firetrucks, elephants, choo choo trains, bath time, and playing with Papa. You are loving and affectionate and liberally give out hugs and kisses. You are a full-on toddler/preschooler, embracing every minute of life. The only times you really get upset are when you're hungry or tired.

This year you will be joined by a little brother. You are already so sweet and loving to "baby brudder in mama's tummy". I'm sure it will be a big shock to your system when he actually comes out, but I know you will love him. We will make the most of these last few months of just you & me... I will snuggle and rock you and play with you and give you the best of my time and attention. We've been each other's constant buddies for these past two years, and I will make sure that we still get our special time when baby brother comes along.

I still stare at you in wonder sometimes and think.... "Are you really ours? How did we get blessed this delightful little human being?". Other times I stare at you just completely amazed at how grown up you are, when you do things like ask for a specific snack ("have puffs and milk please?") and then get a bowl and spoon and climb into your highchair and wait for it. And there are yet other times when we've perhaps had a hard toddler day, and you climb into my lap and snuggle in and pat my face, fitting so perfectly into my arms... or when I rock you and you fall asleep in my arms like a newborn again... that I just melt into a puddle and thank God for the incredible blessing of being your Momma.

Happy Birthday, my baby boy! Papa and I love you so very much.

Little snow bunny :)