Happy Birthday Happy Buddy!!

Dear Happy Buddy,

Today you are 2 years old.

Exactly 2 years ago your daddy and I were told that you were going to be 10 pounds and that we had to get you out of my tummy immediately!

We could not wait to meet you.  We were so excited that we went out to dinner the night before you arrived and I ate lots of ice cream to celebrate. 🙂

The doctors were right.  You were 10 pounds.  A big baby – not just physically, but right from the beginning you’ve been big on everything else.

Like big on joy, big on laughter, and big on prayer.

And, how could we forget?  Big on eating!  I can’t leave home without a snack in my pocket to keep that never full belly of yours happy!

In honor of your special day, I thought I’d take a minute and tell you all of the things I love about you and your now 2-year-old self. 🙂

First of all, I love that this is what you looked like when I woke you up this morning…

I love that you are all boy (note giant bandaid on chin – we seriously almost had to spend the Happy Buddy’s birthday in an ER getting stitches!)

I love that you think something simple like a balloon is a million times better than a room full of birthday presents.

I love taking walks every day and watching you push your lawn mower.

I love that you can’t wait to find the little hole in the sidewalk and we have to sit down and put a bunch of pieces of grass in it before moving on.

I love it when you make up new words – like how you call spoons ‘Ma-moos’ and shoes ‘hoofs.’

And I love that the way you pronounce other words (like ‘fork’ and ‘truck’) could get us in a lot of trouble.

I love your crazy curly hair that makes everyone stop and comment.

I love that you run around yelling when you’re really excited about something.

I love that you know how to use Mom-Mom’s i-Phone better than I do.

I love that the first thing out of your mouth in the morning is, “YOGURT?!”

I love that you race all over the house buck naked every night before your bath and shout, “Naked Run!”

I love that you can’t stand wearing your shoes and socks in the car.

I love that you let out a cry of delight whenever we go over train tracks or sing our special song in the tunnel.

I love that you feel so comfortable at church racing around and helping everyone stay off task. 🙂I love that you always want to pray.

I love that every once and awhile you’ll slow down long enough to wrap your arms around me and lean in for a ‘Big Kiss.’

I love that you ask me to sing along with music in the car because I think you like to hear my voice. 🙂

I love that you give big smiles to the ladies at the deli counter and can’t wait to eat your sample ‘piece.’

I love that your favorite thing in the world right now is your ‘Big Spatula.’

I love that you like to pull every single thing out of the kitchen utensil drawer and strategically place it all over the floor.

I love that you can now reach the light switches and you think it’s funny to leave me in the dark when I am using the potty.

I love that you find belly buttons fascinating.

I love how quickly you forgive when someone hurts you.

I love that you like to page through the Bible at night before bed looking for the picture of ‘Baby Jesus.’

I love that you would ride on the escalator at the mall for the rest of your life if you could.

I love that Chick-fil-A is pretty much the only source of protein in your diet.I love that bounce houses make you go bananas.

I love that you started calling the remote control a ‘microphone.’

I love that you like coloring with me while sitting on the kitchen floor every morning.

I love that you make sure all of the lights are out, windows are closed, and doors are locked when we leave a room or go somewhere.  Your daddy and I like to call you ‘The Efficiency Police.’

I love that you seem to have a thing for blondes.

I love that you enjoy reading Richard Scarry books in the backseat of our tiny yellow car.

I love that when I ask you how old you are going to be you say, “4!”

I love that you go crazy when the cuckoo clock at Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop’s starts chirping.

I love that you think it’s hilarious to eat your toes.

I love that you purposely dump the entire contents of your cereal bowl on your tray and announce loudly, “BIG MESS!”

I love that you roll around in your crib at night like an acrobat.

I love that you like Disney almost as much as I do. 🙂

Happy Buddy, I could go on forever!

God has given you so much love and wonderment for everything around you – you remind me every day that the joy of heaven is even more than the joys here on earth.

So on this 3rd of July I want you to know that I am proud to be your mommy.

I believe that you have what it takes to be a great man and that God is going to use you in mighty ways for His glory and good purposes.

I can’t wait to see all that He has for you in this next year of your life.

Now, my 2 year old, in the spirit of what we tell you every night before bed…

Mommy loves you.

Daddy loves you.

And Jesus loves you more.

Happy Birthday Happy Buddy!