Today we celebrate two whole years with Matthew. I cannot believe how quickly these past 24 months have flown by. I shouldn’t be surprised. Everyone warned me at how quickly he would grow up on me. And the days probably go by so quickly because each day with Matthew is an absolute joy! I am not doing a very good job of squishing him small. From the day he was born, he has been a happy child with ability to melt everyone’s heart and put a smile on our faces with those sweet little dimples of his. I just finished writing his birthday letter. As I sat reflecting on all the changes and milestones of the past year I am utterly amazed. He is getting to be such a big boy. I am so proud of the little man he is becoming. He has grown from an 8 pound newborn to a 26 pound toddler.
I have watched him grow, so far, into a very curious, healthy and intelligent boy. I can't quite believe that it has been two years since he came in to the world crying and red faced. It may be one of the biggest clichés but it still feels like it was only yesterday and it seems hard to remember any time before we had him. I feel like he has always been here with us and I can't begin to imagine our lives without him. Two years ago today I held him snuggled up in my arms. He was a perfect fit that day for my arms, like God made him just the right size for me. And oddly enough, two years later he is still a perfect fit. Now it takes two arms to hold him and his legs hang off my lap, but when he snuggles his little head on my shoulder, he still is a perfect fit.
Seeing him grow into a toddler has been a real pleasure; I've enjoyed every minute of it (even the frustrating moments too). He loves to explore outside and play pretend with his stuffed animals and chug chugs.
He always makes us laugh. He is growing and changing so fast. Only two short years (only 6% of my life) and yet... two whole years! I think only a parent can understand how a length of time can seem so long and so distant and yet have flown by. I remember so clearly the doctor's appointment when I watched him on the ultrasound, and the sigh of relief that so far this pregnancy was going well. And then 39 long/short weeks later, finally seeing his perfect little face and holding him in my arms. I remember bringing him home, watching him grow filled with anxiety and wonder and pride, seeing him learn to crawl, start to speak, take his first steps...and all of that was just in one year. And now he is two. His life is no longer measured in months or weeks; when people ask how old he is I can finally just say two, instead of doing the math in my head to figure out how many months he is.
So what is new with my two year old since my last update? He is starting to drink out of a cup with no lid (he still has accidents occasionally, but he is getting the hang of it). He is talking more and more – and even in complete sentences! He wants to be outside all the time. He loves to throw rocks in the creek in front of our house everyday. He hunts for bugs and caterpillars and frogs and crayfish and lizards – just like a good boy does. He is actually starting to sleep all night long, and in his own bed on top of that. Some nights he still wakes up and needs comforting. But it is getting better and he can put himself back to sleep a lot of the time now. He wants to know what everything is. He knows all of his body parts – even elbow and chin. He knows a lot of the basic colors. He is learning shapes like oval and triangle. He can recognize some numbers and he counts. He does better counting from 5 to 12, than from 1 to 4. He tries to say his ABCs, but they don’t always come out in order. He loves to put money in his piggy bank. He is not an angel. He spends his fair share of time in time out. He has his daddy’s temper and both our impatience. He can throw a fit with the best of them when he doesn’t get his way. He can be so defiant sometimes and he really tests our patience on those days. We know he is just trying to learn where his boundaries are, but sometimes we get so tired of saying no. As soon as he realizes that he has gone too far, he immediately starts apologizing "I sorr Ma-ma" and he gives me a hug. It is so hard to maintain my sternness and make him stay in time out when he is trying to be so sweet. But I am learning that sometimes parents have to do things that are hard. I understand now what my parents meant when they used to say that spanking hurt them worse than it hurt me. It breaks my heart to have to spank him sometimes.
Today he is two years old. So big. Though he is still mommy’s baby and always will be in my eyes and my heart. I love him more than words can express. Two years ago today he came into my world red faced, and crying, when I heard that beautiful cry I was his.
2 years and 9 months ago he was created to be the amazing, strong, resilient, tough, beautiful, perfect, cute, sweet, smart, and wonderful little boy that he is today. This little miracle means so much to me. I am in awe of the amazing Lord who created Matthew and who gave him to us. I thank Him every day for my Matt-Matt.
