Two.

I have a two year old.

Well, what do you know?

 

Dear Shep,

I tried telling you the story of your birth while you slept tonight, but you let me know in your little way that you weren’t feeling it and would rather hear a song. It’s your birthday eve so I let it slide, but you can’t control what I write here now can you?

As I was saying….two years ago at this very moment I was playing Wheel Of Fortune on your Daddy’s iPad while sitting on an exercise ball in a hospital room attempting to ignore the labor pains I felt despite the pain meds and sleeping pills. Loopy doesn’t cancel pain….it just doesn’t. You arrived the next day just before 7am and life got real. I’m going to be honest with you, you were not the ideal newborn. Gorgeous? yes! Quiet? no! You took this rookie Mommy and showed her just what sleepless nights and non stop screeching could do and well, you broke me in. Thank you! I really and truly am grateful that you weren’t the perfect newborn. We aren’t the perfect children and yet the Lord loves us with everything in Him. I know just a hint of that love through you and I’m so thankful to you for that. You constantly remind me of the important things in life. Everything about your tiny little self in these short two years has shown me what matters. I smile more, wake up and enjoy ALL of the day and not just the convenient parts, and most importantly I realize just how insignificant I am without you. Being a mommy is what God created me to be. I take every ounce of my responsibility as your Mommy to heart and promise to live my life out with the purpose of giving you the foundation you deserve.

Today we had adventures to prepare for tomorrow. You see, you spent the first half of this week getting the greater population sick with the stomach bug. It struck you Friday evening while you slept and by Monday me, Honey, Dece, and Shep were all sick as dogs. While I am not so thankful we went through that, I’m glad it didn’t mess up your birthday! You and I made sure to eat a lot of leftover Valentine candy, made funfetti cupcakes (which you turned your nose up to….it made me wonder if you were truly my child for a moment), and stayed up past your bedtime watching “mouse” and eating popcorn on the couch.  For your actual birthday, we are going to have an adventure fit for a two year old and a party in another week to top it all off. I’ll add to that post then to fill you in on the celebrations!

 

____________________________________ update….

 

Your birthday was NOT what I planned. Lesson #1: Don’t try too much when you have kids. Something always tends to collapse. We first attempted a movie. I know, you’re two, but it was the dollar theatre and a cartoon (Penguins of Madagascar) and we knew that for $3 we were fine with a 5 minute experience if it came to that….which it did. You got your kid’s popcorn, juice, and gummies and were ready to go – until we walked in. I had completely forgotten that this particular theatre is frighteningly dark. Yes, theaters are dark, but this is like woe! I can’t see my own hand dark. After using our phone flashlight and seeing we were alone in the theatre, we watched you eat your weight in popcorn then tell us “finished” and so we were off for adventure #2. You love a carousel and the galleria less than a mile away just so happens to have one. After 3 rounds (this was your favorite and only favorite part of the day) we took you to Build A Bear thinking “Heck yeah! He’ll love this”. Not so much. You built an elephant as if you were doing us a favor by being there. Needless to say after paying for your elephant we were off and headed home. Okay, so maybe it wasn’t the night to have family and a few friends over for a sit down dinner complete with the cupcakes you weren’t so sure about. No problem! Nothing like a last minute cancellation and change of plans to give you the best bang of the day. CHUCK E CHEESE! We kept it classy and thanks to your Dolly sending some surprise token money were able to buy Value Meal #3 complete with pizza for all and coins that would guarantee as many rounds on the mini carousal as your heart desired. Aunt Donna, Dece, and Laurel joined us and we played hard until it was time to leave. I’m pretty sure a cheap pizza and a room full of lights and stimulation was all your little two year old heart wanted. Why do I try to make you more complex? I’m glad we figured out how to make you smile big! Two ended on a good note.

Your party the next weekend was a donuts and pajamas theme. I would’ve taken more photos but let’s be honest…..6 kids 2 and under and a room full of friends wasn’t exactly the easiest photo opp for Mommy. All of your best buddies came to celebrate you and despite a few issues with sharing and our shortage of trains for every boy in the room, you guys managed to party your little tooshies off and for that, I am so thankful. You are a blessed little man Sheppard Jones. So much love in your life already.

I’m still refusing to believe my baby boy is already two, but I promise to embrace it despite the nostalgia and let you keep on growing. I’m so proud of the boy you have become and look forward to getting to know the man you become. You’re my hero Pooh Bear.

 

Mommy Xx