To Jake on your 2nd birthday

On May 28th, you turned a whole 2 years old! This year brought you a lot of firsts: First steps; first words; first sentence; first jump; first temper tantrum...

Every day that went by you grew into this cute little bug of a kid. You are always happy, always laughing, and you are the most easy going kid. People who meet you can’t help falling in love with you. Maybe it’s the way that you answer every question as “yep”. Maybe it’s the tricks we taught you like when we ask “What are you?” your answer is always “Cute”. Sometimes your answer is “Cute” when we ask other questions, but that’s okay because it just makes it all the more cute!

I love that even when you are sick with a cold, and have snot dripping down your face, and a rash all over, you still manage to grin as soon as I mention cookies. I love that you love cars as much as your dad and sing the Bob and Doug Mackenzie “coo roo coo coo” song. I love that you know how to say all the colours even if you don’t know what any of them actually look like. I love how your numbers get all mixed up and you count 1, 3, 5, 4. I love that you cheer along with Dad when you watch hockey and I love that you enjoy playing video games with a controller that isn’t hooked up to anything. I love that you know “Snuggle Puppy” so well that you anticipate the part where I kiss your forehead, and you lean in for it. I love the way you try to repeat the nursery rhymes that we taught you, even though you don’t know all the right words. I love that as soon as I finish a nursery rhyme or a song that you are particularly fond of that you ask “Again?”, sometimes you even interrupt with “again” even though I’m not at the end, just because you don’t want it to end.

I’ve watched you grow up from a baby to a little boy this year. And as much as I thought I would be sad about it, I’m not. At every stage I say to you, “Can’t you just be this age forever?” But the next stage is always better than the one before! I can’t wait for the next adventure, and your next accomplishment! Maybe I’ll be sad on your first day of school, but until then I'll love every minute of your toddler years!

Love always,
Mom.