Oh hello there it's mommy. I know... where have I been you might ask? Well for starters trying to take in every moment I can with you, my non-stop, tractor/backhoe/all vehicle loving active son. I just laid you down for the very last time as a 1 year old. Where does the time go Jonah? I feel like it was just yesterday you were trying your best to come on out into this world early and mission accomplished. Maybe that was a little foreshadowing of how you were going to be in life. If you want something, you will do what you can to get it. 5 weeks early and you have not. stopped. since. Your Daddy often refers to you as "Little Al" and I know all about not wanting to miss a moment of life, and also being stubborn, both of which you inherited. This can often cause us to butt heads of course b/c you are SO much like me and already have this pride thing going. And...I love you for it. I love your determination. Your drive. Your willingness to consistently push over and over to get something that you want....even if this means driving me crazy. Its one of those things as a parent I don't want to knock down. You have more confidence as a not quite yet 2 year old over some adults I know. I hope this consistently peaks, but it is our job as your parents, to keep you grounded of course. On the flip side of this, you are one of the most loving children I have ever met. Your love for mommy is at an all-time high right now. Right before I put you to bed tonight I said "Jonah it's time to go night night" and you ran towards the stairs. You stopped and turned around with the sweetest smile and said "Mommy!" and held out your hand to take mine. I think you also may know tomorrow is a big milestone and as much as I thought I wouldn't be sad, it sure does tug on my heart that you are one year older, so you have been extra sweet :) So even though you may throw balls as hard as you can, and play rough with Jake at school, you will turn around and hug just as fast as you can throw down. We are working on your manners as well and you have "Pweeze" down, as you tap your little chest. Tank tou we are still working on and this week you have started Ye man. (Yes mam)
You counted to 13 today going down the stairs. You take in so much more than you lead on. Even though you are running laps around me sometimes while I read and sing, I now believe you catch a thing or two ;)
We have done our best as parents to mold you into the little person that you are becoming so rapidly before our eyes. It is absolutely crazy you have already been with us for two whole years. You were my world even before you were born and now that you have been here for two years, my heart has made room for so many special memories. Memories that will live there forever, but I want to be sure to document so you can one day go back and re-live them too. It won't be long before I forget some of these so it is important to put down.
Right now - you absolutely love any sort of vehicle. You sit up and just stare out the window to see any sort of vehicle you can point out - school bus, big truck, "ack ho," dozer, doom buggy, bi-kick-cull (my personal fav.) You are the biggest Elsa fan I know. Yes, you don't stop moving until we put Frozen on. I am not sure what it is, but she is often your first word when you wake up in the AM. It's OK for now, but Jonah, give brunettes a chance too for me in the future. Your vocabulary has recently skyrocketed and you amaze me every day with something new. The things you associate already blow my mind. I was on the phone w/ Grammy just today on the way home from school and said "Papa-D" and you said "boat" I said does Papa D have a boat? And you nodded your head and said "Kayak" - wow. If you see a convertible in a book you also say "Pa-D" which goes along with your love of cars I know. You LOVE LOVE LOVE Baby Ryan, and absolutely light up when you see him come into a room. It is so sweet just how much you care for him, even though you don't quite understand what "gentle" means yet. I hope you are always his protector and best friend. I hope you always stay kind. I still tell you every day when I leave you at school "Love you. Have a good day. BE kind to everyone." All of this is very important and keep that with you for life. Tell your own kids this when the day comes.
I love how you say "Hot Hot" when the sun is shining right in your eyes. I have told you it is "bright" and not "hot" but it's too cute to keep correcting.
We say our prayers on the way to school and this AM you handed me your milk cup so you could hold your rosary (Rose- EE). I may have teared up. You don't know the prayers yet, but you definitely know "AMEN" and "Mary" - in fact the other week in church you saw a statue of Mary holding baby Jesus with her eyes closed and you let the whole church that "MAWEE TEEPING" Please continue to grow strong in your Catholic Faith as we pray to God daily to help us as parents to grow and nourish this as well.
I can't tell you how much it makes my heart melt to watch your admiration for your Daddy. You ask to "Hewp" all the time. You are the greatest plant waterer I know. Definitely better than your mommy :) Anything that you can do "Oww SYY" count you in. It doesn't matter if it is 110 degrees, you won't be phased. I hope you learn everything your Daddy knows about everything, and grow up to be just like him. You have the best example of how you are supposed to take care of your wife one day and father your children. You are lucky. Don't ever forget this.
You have become quite the "Foodie" which isn't a bad thing. Your Daddy and I both LOVE to eat and eat good food. We try our best to set a good example and help you to understand what foods fuel your body so you can feel your best. You have to get that energy from somewhere right?! You will try anything and some of your favorite foods at the moment are grapes, banana pancakes with PB, any sort of fish and meat, cheese and larabars :) But again, there isn't much you won't eat. You put down two pieces of tomato feta pie last week and followed it up with sardines and wanted more. You still only drink water and milk and that's OK by me too. That's all you need besides coffee one day ;) Thank you for being such a good eater as I know in the future this may change. I love our Saturday AM dates to the Farmer's Market to pick you out the juciest canteloupe we can find. You love saying "HI DOG" To all of the dogs out there and love our runs along the river. You LOVE the jogging stroller still and I greatly appreciate this. We chase the squirrels and the birds and always stop at the park. These are memories that will stick with me forever as I hope they do you too.
Your Daddy thinks you are a Momma's boy right now and at the moment I can't argue. You make me feel like a celebrity when I walk through this door. You can't give me too many kisses or hug my neck too many times. I always think the perfect seat is in my lap too reading your favorite books. This is one of your favorite things for us to do. That and painting with water outside :) one day we will get the real paint out Bud, but you are so content right now why should we change right?!
The most precious thing you are saying at the moment is "YUV YOU" when we sign " I LOVE YOU" -truly melts our hearts. One day I put you down for bed and you laid down and said "Nite nite" and as I was walking out of your room you sat up and said "Mommy!" I said "Yes Jonah?" And you said "YUV YOU" in the sweetest voice before laying back down. I will never forget that day. And that will never get old. And at that moment I knew in my heart, you truly understood what that meant. Just like tonight when Da da asked for a hug and you ran and jumped in his arms as he signed to you and you said "Yuv you" :) Sweet sweet boy. I know even though you disagree with our parenting choices in not letting you play with knives, or jumping off of the tallest bridge at the park, you truly know we love you and that will never change. Any of those actually.
One word I will never get sick of hearing is "MOMMY!" B/c this title is the greatest title in the world. It means that God has entrusted me with your being. You are the greatest gift we have ever received in life and even though I may not remember all of these little moments one day, I will always remember the way you are mine and your Da Da's world and how much we love you. We are truly blessed and you will always be my sunshine. I hope you have had the best time making memories with us as we have with you. Here's to many many more but for now....Goodnight my sweet 1 year old. Love you.
