Dear Son,

Today you are three years old. It’s hard for me to believe it has already been three whole years since you joined us. You have brought so much joy and light into our lives. You’re funny. You’ll do just about anything for a laugh. You’re charming. That grin where you wrinkle your nose and squint your eyes is so very cute (but I’m on to you). You’re silly. You love to stand on your head and look at things, or use the wrong end of the binoculars to view your world. You’re sweet. There’s nothing better than hugs and kisses from you.

You are my little buddy. We’re together day after day, just the two of us until daddy gets home from work. You’re my constant companion. You keep me company. You want me to play cars all the time. You stand in my chair and run cars on my head while I type away at the computer. You give the best nose rubs and hugs. I hope you always have a special place in your heart for mommy.

You love to help. I hope you’ll love helping with your little brother. I don’t quite think you understand yet what it means. And I hope that it only brings you joy when we arrive home with him just days after your birthday. You and your brother will be exactly 3 years, 1 day apart. But I hope that you’ll always be good buddies.

I love you so much, little buddy. That will never change, even as we move into a new dynamic with our family. Happy 3rd birthday, little man. I cherish these years with you. I hope you do, too.

Always,

Mama

I’ve been quiet this week, thinking about the end of one era, beginning of another. I look forward to having less structured days, where I don’t have to be a certain place at a certain time. When I can have a schedule for the kid, but flexibility when we want to go to the pool, the park, the beach. I won’t have to be back at 1.30 every afternoon, or get up and work for an hour at 7 a.m.

And I try not to think too hard about what we’ll do about insurance, since the company I contacted hasn’t called me back. Hoping that will get resolved next week.

Today we took the kid to the yearly staff picnic. It was pretty cool. Hot weather, but we found some great shade, plopped down a couple of blankets, and let the kid sit and play. Gave him a bit of watermelon rind with just enough red left on it to be interesting. He loved it. I didn’t realize how great a teething helper it would be. He must have drooled a gallon down the front of his shirt, but man, was he happy.

And I captured some of it on ‘film’. Hoping to get the pics from daddy, since it was his camera. And I will most certainly share when I can because they are way too precious for words. What’s cuter than a kid on a blanket? Nothing, I tell you. Absolutely nothing. And if you don’t think so, then I say you have a cold, black, dead heart and I no longer want to know you.

Just sayin’.

I really need to catch up this weekend. On everything, really. Will it get easier or harder after these two weeks are up? I’m really not sure yet.

But taking those pics today reminded me of how much I miss getting out with my camera. I’m going to have to take the kid to the beach and get some shots of him. I think it’s in my contract somewhere. (If thou livest within driving distance of the beach, thou must take thy child and get cute baby shots. It’s required.) I guess I’d better get on that.