Letter to the Birhday Boy (Part 2)

Dearest Isaiah, Little Buddy, Silly Goose, Isaías, Zy,

I don't know how you'll ever learn your name with so many to choose from...

In Part 1 of your Birthday Letter I shared some things you don't particularly love such as crawling, bottles, and being far from Momma. I don't like being far from you either Buddy and here are 10 reasons why I love you so much I could burst:

10. You've never been a fragile little thing. I'm sure a petite delicate baby would be just as loveable, but as I'm a tad clumsy and a bit careless, I appreciate that you're a sturdy little dude, weighing in at 23lbs 10oz (83rd%) and 30.5 inches tall (76th%) at your one-year checkup.

9. In some ways you're super easy. You travel like a champ, having visited 13 states, many on multiple occasions, and two countries in your first year. You never wanted to be fed baby food, which was frustrating at first, but then we realized how much simpler meals are just putting scraps of everything on your tray and letting you eat with us; steak, mushrooms, veggies, you name it. Beans, cheese, and berries are some of your current favorites. What's next, hot wings and a beer?

8. Your curiosity is inspiring. As you explore the great big world around you, I too see things I haven't paid attention to in a long time; the way the sunlight dances between the leaves of a tree, the way the wind blows through your outstretched fingers on a walk. I can't wait to examine everything outside with you this spring, I'll probably pass on eating all the bugs with you though, (I've already extracted the first ladybug from your mouth.)

7. You're resourceful just like your daddy. It's possible all babies are learning this quickly, but when you figured out how to work the water fountain at the airport, or how to flush the toilet at home, I envisioned you 25 years from now as an engineer or an inventor. With the size of your head, we're hopeful you'll cure cancer.

6. You also take after me a bit. When Daddy and Sissy seemed so different that it drove me nuts sometimes, I prayed you would be a little more like me. Not only do you promise to have my dimples, and you already charm us with my classic one eyebrow raise, you also seem to be a morning person. It will be lovely not to have to drag you out of bed every day.

5. You're SO funny. I don't think I ever would have believed it if someone told me that we'd all prefer staring at you over screens, especially Angie. But now we just sit around the table long after we've finished eating and laugh at you making a mess, babbling about who knows what, mimicking us, feeding the dog, and cracking yourself up. You bring so much joy into our home and our family.

4. Solving the little puzzle that is you, makes me feel special for knowing you better than anyone and having the keys to your heart. You should have come with a manual that said "When he's fussy on long car trips, sing him The Wheels on the Bus, but every part of the bus must go Vroom, Vroom, Vroom no matter how ridiculous or redundant that sounds." But you didn't, so these are the quirks we discover when learning the unique mini-person God made for us, for Him.

3. You're oh so soft. You're irresistibly kissable and squeezable, and you enjoy being smooched and hugged about as much as we enjoy nuzzling you. I need to go Beso your Face-o right now! (You're going to have some stellar Spanglish!

2. Your softness soften us all. I pray the rough spots you've melted away on me, never harden again. You're generous, silly, sweet, and gentle; all the things that I'm not naturally. Well all except maybe patient, we'll have to work on that one together.

1. "We love, because He first loved us," -1 John 4:10. You teach me about God. My instinctive unconditional love for you now, reminds me of the love the Lord lavishes on us so undeservedly. I'll never love you like He does, but thank you for helping me love more like Christ. As you start to tell me "No", and throw food to the dog as I'm telling you not to, or disobey me much more flagrantly than that, my love will become even more altruistic. For now your cuddles and smiles more than compensate for the lost sleep, the loads of laundry, and the horrors of childbirth.

My dearest Isaiah, thank you for making the world a better and brighter place. All my love to you, forever and ever.

How could I not love you covered in frosting!!

"What? I thought the newspapers and the acorns would look nice on the floor."

Angie can't wait till your able to get around on her own and help her pester me, so she's helping you walk every chance she gets.

Tearing up the hardwoods; either inspecting Daddy's work for flaws, or looking for ways to improve on it.

Even when you damage the only nice new piece of furniture in the house, we love you.

"Momma, did you want me to take this bumper off the hearth so Daddy can feel useful putting it back on?"

How could we not laugh more with you in our lives?!

We tried to encourage a transitional object, Lovey, that was soft and cuddly, but you prefer your security toothbrush.

Mi Amor, always be you, God thinks He made you just perfect, and we agree.

A Birthday Letter to My Favorite Mama's Boy (Part 1)

They said we couldn't spoil a newborn. I'm not sure who "they" are, or what their credentials were, but we have certainly proven them wrong. We didn't set out to make a point, or to spoil you for that matter, it just kind of happened.

Isaiah, as you end this first fabulous year of your life, I could easily use clichés like "I've enjoyed every minute of it," or "I wouldn't change a thing." But I prefer to delve a little deeper and explore how I really feel. We do vulnerable around here. Has the word "TransPARENTcy" been coined? If not, I'm coining it. Maybe I'll change the blog name to TransPARENThood, since that's all I write about anymore...

It would certainly be true that I have enjoyed every snuggle, and if cuddling you too much is what's ruined you and stuck you to me like Winnie the Pooh on a honey jar, then I might not do anything differently if given a second chance. I never thought my long kinda-bony arms would be so cozy. Being soft in places one usually works to tone is not generally a compliment, but I'm flattered by how much time you like to spend held close to me, even as you're becoming more and more eager to be on the move.

As for night time...well, we might try a slightly different approach if you're ever blessed with a baby brother or sister. Don't get me wrong, those all-night snuggle sessions are sweet too, but this waking up every hour routine is growing tiresome. I'm sure it doesn't help that when you do sleep in your crib for a bit, I usually tell you how much I missed you when I finally rescue you. You're so thoughtful to not want me to miss you for long.

Other ways you're spoiled are mostly just ways you've chosen not to behave like other babies. There are a few baby things you apparently think are ridiculous, and consequently plan to skip completely, and here's what I gather is your reasoning:

Bottles - "Why settle for plastic or glass when Mommy has liquid gold on tap for me? Sippy cups and other drinking devices are inferior as well, I'm taking Mommy to college!"

Pacifiers - "Again, plastic or Mommy?? I'm no fool."

Baby Food - "I'll have what you're having please. I've got 8 teeth, why do you keep offering me mushy stuff? Also, I have 10 fingers, why must you insist on silverware?"

Cribs - "Have I mentioned I prefer Mommy? Even though she's toning up from carrying me around all the time, she's still softer than any crib mattress that meets all those silly safety regulations."

Diapers - "That potty chair is pretty awesome. I think I prefer to stay clean and dry instead of sitting in my own filth, thanks."

Baby Toys - "Give me a good wooden spoon, a spatula, a toothbrush, and maybe a few doggy chew toys and I'm set. Throw in a pot and I'm a happy one-man boy band!"

Crawling - "I'm not in any hurry, and there is a ton of dog hair on the floor around here, so I'm fine to just scoot on my bum until I can walk around like the big people."

Church Nursery - "Why do you keep putting me in that room with all those babies?" Just like Ruby, our dog who doesn't know she's a dog, Zy seems to think he's an adult, and prefers to hang out with the grown-ups.

Strangers - "In a year or two you're not gonna want me to be comfortable going with people I don't know, so why are you always handing me to them now?" He's right, his stranger anxiety will be useful someday, we should appreciate it more.

Naps - "I may not be in a hurry, but there is still a lot to do, mainly keeping Mommy from getting any work done all day."

Isaiah, I'm so honored that you've chosen me to attach to, I'm pretty addicted to you too. I will do my best not to let you down, figuratively that is, I am going to have to let you down literally sometimes. But seriously, having you look up to me inspires me to be my best self. Thank you for making me a better person just by watching my every move and learning how to do life from what you see.

No matter how much I comfort you by reminding you that "I will never leave your or forsake you," (Hebrews 13:5) there is only One who you can trust completely and forever. Daddy and I will take the best care of you we humanly can, but, although it breaks my heart a bit to say it, we will fail you. I pray we never fail in pointing you to Jesus who you can always lean on.

For now you can lean on me though...

Driving like this may not be the safest, but on long road trips, when the front seat just feels too far away for you, we do what we have to do.

Even Sesame Street is better cuddled next to Mommy.

As long as you're touching Mommy you can even sleep standing up.

Watching you learn is the sweetest adventure.

I'm gonna take advantage of every minute you want to be in my arms. You make every day as bright as an afternoon in Florida!