Dear Zackary;
You are TWO years old (okay, I admit, I'm writing this two days before your actual birthday...but you're BASICALLY TWO years old!).
From last December to now you've grown from a baby to a toddler. You started walking in the spring, and your language has exploded in the last few months. You love to tell dad and I to "sit down" which I know is your way of asking us to play with you. You know all the names of the other kids in your daycare class (your best pals are Lily, Anthony, Jack, and Maya). You love to sing "we will, we will, rock you". It's hard to believe that just a year ago, you only had a few words and couldn't walk yet.
My favorite memory of this year was our family trip to Florida. We went with Mimi Carolin, Uncle Jon and Aunt Sara, Aunt Mo, Uncle Dave and Ryan and Cara. We were joined by my cousin, Katie, and her husband and son. We had so much fun! We went to Fort Walton Beach, Florida. By the time you're old enough to read this letter I am sure we've talked about how special that place is. It's where Mimi Carolin and Papa Carolin met! We went on vacation there every single Easter for most of my childhood and teenage years. It was so magical to take you there to experience it for the first time. You weren't so sure about the sand at first but you got used to it. Dad and I had set a goal a while ago to visit all 50 states, so I don't know when we will get back to Florida.
We are planning to go to Milwaukee/Madison Wisconsin this summer for our family trip and cross Wisconsin off the list. We're trying to knock out the states we can easily drive to, first.
Another highlight of the year is that you and I joined a church, Royal Oak First United Methodist. I had been looking for a long, long time to find a church that felt right, and ROFUM was the one! Nearly every Sunday, I brought you with me to church and dropped you off in the church nursery. You cried almost every time for the first oh- 9 months or so. Eventually you got used to it. One of the things I love most about our church is how many programs they have for kids. I'm hopeful that by the time you read this, it's a place you've come to know and love.
I want to tell you about some of the things you loved this year. First thing that comes to mind: Woody from Toy Story. Mimi Carolin had bought you a small stuffed Woody doll for our Florida trip and you clung onto it and became emotionally attached. You called him "Wee Wee". You brought him EVERYWHERE. And we listened to "You've Got A Friend In Me" many, many times in the car.
You also loved: Bulbasaur. You eventually stopped bringing Woody everywhere and started bringing "Bulba". You loved Mickey Mouse (you had always called him "ninnie" but right before your 2nd birthday you started saying "Meeka Mouse"). You loved watching Bluey and Miss Rachel. You loved playing trains, playing with toy animals, and playing with cars. You loved to read and were always taking out every single book in your room and sitting there "reading" them. You squealed with delight when we played with the water table in the summer. You liked to Facetime with family, ESPECIALLY Uncle Jon. You just adore Uncle Jon and think he is the funniest person on the planet. Here are a few more photos to sum up the year:
We had a great year, Zack. We spent time outside, we spent time with family, we danced in the car together to Taylor Swift songs. You made us laugh every single day. You amazed us with how fast you were learning things. Your middle name means "light" and you truly are the light of our lives, as cheesy as that sounds.
So now what? I'm a little scared, I have to be honest. I have no idea what to expect for 2 year old Zack. I am scared to potty train, I'm scared to move you into a "Big boy" bed. I'm a little scared of the "terrible twos" and "threenager" years I keep hearing about and how I'll be able to manage MY emotions.
I have an idea. Let's just start off the year by calling them the Terrific Two's. We're in this together, no matter how hard it gets or how frustrated any of us are.
Everytime I say goodbye or goodnight to you, I say "you're the greatest". That's something my dad, who is in Heaven, always said to us. Problem is, he was saying it to ALL of us, and Uncle Jon once challenged him on who was ACTUALLY the greatest. But I can say it. You ARE the greatest.
I love you, I love celebrating you on your birthday, I love being your mom. It is the greatest privelage and honor I could be given.
Happy Birthday. You're the greatest. Oh, and you've got a friend in me.
Love, Mom
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