To the Moon & Back...

"No one else will ever know the strength of my love for you. 

After all; you're the only one who knows what my heart sounds like from the inside."

Ryan,
     I hope I can remember you like this forever. You have been the biggest blessing in my life; and I can't even begin to imagine what my life would be like without you. It's so hard for me to believe that you're 26 months old! What happened to my baby?
     Today we went to the play park. As I watched you play, tears of happiness came to my eyes...just as I sat; thinking; taking in the whole situation. You; are amazing. You are a little boy now. You were running, jumping, climbing and skipping. Sweat covered your face and you're chubby cheeks were pink. You held your little hands out in fists; as if pretending to hold handlebars (to a 4-wheeler, or bike? I'm not sure) as you run and make sharp turns, flipping mulch up with your feet. You ran by once and I said, "I love you Ryan." Without missing a beat I heard, "Wuv Ou" as you continued running away from me. 2 other kids were at the park; my guess would be a 6 year old boy and his 3 year old sister...you fell right in playing with them. As they walked up you said, "Hey Guys!" and smiled. I was so content sitting there watching you play.
     You are almost completely potty-trained; with the occasional 'poo poo' accidents and sleepy time. You take your shorts and "big boy undies" off and climb onto the potty backwards.
     With the weather getting warmer; you picked up with swimming exactly as you left off last summer. You love the water! You'll jump in Papa's pool without hesitation!
     You're still a very picky eater (but so are your mama and daddy) but you're trying more and more each day!
     You still take your 3 hour naps and Mrs. Audrey has to wake you up when you're at her house. Mama works 3 days a week so you're usually with Mrs. Audrey 3 days a week. I feel so lucky that she's had you since you were 6 months old. Your friends there are Adi, Bailey, Baby Charlie, and Savannah.
     You love playing with all of your cousins too! As long as there's no sharing involved; you're a loving little boy. Every baby is named "Bubba"; and you want to hold; touch and kiss them. Sissy and/or Jaden...you use both words! I miss watching you 'rough house' on the bed with your Daddy because I know it's one of your favorite things to do.
    You know everyone's name now :) and will generally repeat me if I say, "Ryan say ___." Like a southern gentleman, Mama makes you say "Peeeaass" and "Tank Ou"!
     You know all of your letters and their sounds...thanks to SuperWhy, letter magnets and blocks. Most recently, Papa and M&Ms have taught you colors. (We haven't started shapes yet; I think we went out of order.) You still love books, tractors, trains and trucks; and you have since you were much smaller. I love to hear you sing; you'll sing popular country songs (that we turn up loud), Mary Had a Little Lamb, ABCs and the Sponge Bob theme song. (Mama doesn't like Sponge Bob.)
     You melt my heart...every day. You so eagerly give me lips kisses (and I know those won't last forever). When you're sleepy; you'll walk yourself into your room, crawl into your toddler bed and ask for 'MoMo' (Elmo) and 'Bear' (a blue teddy bear that Gana and Poppie bought you at the hospital). We say prayers every  night and the word 'Amen' is the cue for your to give me a kiss.
     You don't share very well. And you say, "No" sometimes if you don't want to do something. You're very stubborn and hard-headed; which is completely genetic! A strong will is good; if used in the right situations when you're older.
     You also know how to 'find your shoes and put them on' (your Crocs) especially if you know we're going outside.
     Mama thinks you're very observant for a 2-year old. You typically spot animals, people, and objects on your own...most recently the moon. "Moon. Up." I followed with, "Ryan, I love you to the moon and back. Can you say that?" in which you replied, "Moon and back."

"I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living, my baby you'll be."

Love Always,

Mama