a long way.

mason,

this was your year. you've changed SO much from last december. first off simple things, you've gained about 8 lbs, yet still manage to wear last year's winter wardrobe. ok, a few things look a little snug, but it works. you've grown 3 inches, your now hovering barely under disneyland's minimum ride stature, c'mon baby you've only got like 80 days to grow that half inch. your hair. oh your hair is awesome, it's grown about hmm 30 feet.

last year you were an only child, with a sibling on the way. you didn't get the change that was oncoming; i don't think any of us did. you've handled your role as big brother with grace, ease and perfection. there are some days when max is forbidden to touch any toy you "own", even the toys you played with two christmases ago. i get it; they're yours. and your mine.

and you are awesome.

a lot of people contemplate ever loving someone like they love their first born. you were my first and you taught me so much about love and the insanity that comes with motherhood and through you i grew 100 feet. you humbled me on every level of my life and you made my life so much better. you fufilled a void i didn't know existed. you made me want more babies, because you were so fun, so perfect, so you.

this year brought on more fun, more perfection, the best you yet. last year year you talked, you said "no" a lot, you said "more juice" and sometimes even a nice "peas mommy" when you really wanted something. this year you communicate. i can sit with you and have a full on, two-way conversation about god knows what, trains, happy meals, why it's time for bed, how much longer those delicious cookies are going to take and of course how much i love you.

i love you more than i'll ever be able to tell you, more than i can ever show you.

i love you more than 100 kisses and 1000 hugs and 2 million bedtime stories. you're so awesome i can stare at you while you sleep and feel like i won the noble peace price or an oscar.

one of the best parts of me is you. you made me a mom, which is what i enjoy most, being a mom, to you and max.

a lot more happened this year where you kicked ass. goodbye pampers hello big boy undies. however, you've successfully protested giving your pacifier to the "binky fairy", the new baby or in exchange for one hotwheel per pacifier. ok, i give up. i've never met a highschool senior with a pacifier; but if you choose to go to prom with yours, well good for you.

you are so independent. you want to pick what shirt you wear, you need to zip and unzip and rezip you own jacket (a hundred times) and get in your own carseat, "all by meself". but one thing you still refuse to do alone is sleep. we never planned to cosleep, but it fell in our laps, and we value our sleep, crazy huh? some nights when your elbows and feet are knee deep in my ribs, i second guess my love of how cozy it is. majority of the nights your spooned beside me and you fit perfectly just like you did 34 months ago when i first held you chest to chest. it's a miracle considering you've grown rougly 34 inches, but i'm not arguing.

talking about 34 months ago; i will never forget when i first saw you. you were so tiny. so wrinkled. you had this pissed looked on your scrunched little face, sometimes i think you still make that sour little face...all this time later. i remember walking up to your plastic nicu incubator that housed you for the first eight days of your life, everyday in the third week of february, you've always been petite yet feisty as they come. i think their was more pizazz and personality in your 19 inch frame than in many grown adults. you were born awesome. but this year you grew a lot; a lot more awesome that is.

you had a good year mason. you turned two and indulged in sprinkles, but no cake. you went to the beach and caught your first fish. you bravely conquered jumping off ever rocky ledge of each swimming pool we swam at all summer. you became a brother. a fabulous, wonderful, maybe not sharing, but loving big brother. you went to school (again) tear free this time. you slide down the tallest slides. you laugh at cartoons. you sing along to roughly five songs on the radio, your voice is precious. you traveled to boston and did it like a champ. you lost the diapers and any baby face you ever had. you kept your sweet, contagious, captivating belly laugh.

i can't say it enough; everyday you grew and matured and became this little kid. the person you are becoming is someone i'm madly in love with. every endless hour with you is an adventure. this was your year, two was fabulous not terrible. two was you.

you've come a long way baby.

love,

your mama