Today is the last day my little boy will ever be ONE.
“How old are you Michael?”
“Un” and he holds up ONE chubby little index finger.
Tomorrow I’ll teach him how to hold up TWO fingers.
And for one fast year that will be his answer when he’s asked how old he is.
You are a little mini Daddy. When you are home with me during the day I look at you and just think: “Brenden’s HERE.” You look JUST LIKE HIM. And you love him so much. You stand at the stairs and WAIT for him to come home. God forbid he’s ever late because there’s no distracting you from your goal.
You adore your sister. Up until a couple weeks ago whenever I asked what your baby doll was named, or even what YOUR name was, you said “Be-elle.” She permeates your thoughts and dreams. She is deeply ingrained in your soul. She’s so lucky.
Last night was the first time you didn’t “shrinka milkie” before bed. I thought I was going to have to do something drastic to wean you from your right-before-bed nursing (the last bit of nursing you and I both were holding on to!) But last night you didn’t even want to. You laid your head on my shoulder and just closed your eyes while I rocked. You must be listening when I say “you are a big boy now.”
You love protein protein protein. And good fat. You aren’t a fan of pasta or french fries or any other simple carbs. Unlike your sis you LOVE meat. Last week you walked up to me “Momma I’un meat.” (???) “What Michael, you want what sweetie?” You said it again and THANKFULLY I understood it before a meltdown. You just wanted meat. Any kind. And at Trader Joes you go to the meat section and put meat into your tiny stroller.
You still have baby breath.
Your smile makes me want to die.
You bite REALLY HARD when you bite. Sissy had blood on her shirt sleeve three days ago. That was a very dramatic situation and it hasn’t happened since.
But you are REALLY sweet when you’re sweet. The other day we were playing with dinosaurs and you took my face in your hands and pet my cheeks and said “mine momma.” TWICE. In the sweetest voice I’ve ever heard.
You say so many things. “I smell smoke” (I mell moke”) is your newest phrase and you say it a lot in the car. “Swim shawts” is another one. And you wear your swim shorts to bed 50% of the time. “Sawee Be-Elle” Was your first two word sentence and when you play in the tub with your trucks I hear “Vroom vroom, sawee Be-Elle, Vroom vroom.”
Now you are saying things you hear your sister say all the time. Like, “I want water with two ice cubes.” (I know, right??) So I hear from you, “I’un wawa ice.” And I have to put it all together before the rage comes.
You say “no” to lollipops.
You ask for “Nol bars.” (Granola bars.)
When Remmy scratches on the door you say “Remmy! Open De Door!”
Brielle came out of her room all dressed up and you said “Be-Elle you uk petty.” Brielle and I both melted and you were SO pleased with yourself!
“Epp me momma.” (Help me momma) Is your favorite phrase.
My favorite thing you say is when I give you a choice between two things and you repeat both. “Do you want the window up or down?” “Up and down.” “Do you want this or that?” “This and that.”
You can’t articulate everything you want to say but you can understand EVERYTHING we say.
You sing your ABC’s.
You will never be potty trained probably. No, you will be. But in your own good time.
You’ve been JUMPING with both feet since you were 22 months. And you were so proud of yourself when you realized you could do it.
You fall on your head ALL THE TIME. I’m sorry you are so top heavy.
You LOVE Star Wars and R2D2 is your favorite. You call him “Dun Dun” Because of the Star Wars theme intro music. It goes “Dun dun dun…” You have it DOWN and I love hearing you sing it.
You hate when we leave Brielle at preschool. You want to stay there with her every time.
You are a VERY early riser. (WHY??) And every morning at 5:30 AM we bond over a cup of coffee and a bottle of whole milk.
You love babies.
You love to read books.
You love to help me cook.
You’ve chewed gum since you were 1.5 years old. And there’s nothing cuter than looking in my rearview mirror and seeing my BABY chewing gum.
These are the shoes I’m going to save for you forever. I love them so much it hurts.
Daddy and you love to watch Football together.
We never get milkshakes when Brielle is with us because she is allergic to dairy BUT sometimes when we are alone we get you a “mikshake.” Same thing with Pizza! And there’s nothing in the world you love more.
I can’t wait to celebrate you turning TWO tomorrow. You are so excited about your birthday because you LOVE birthdays!
This is you singing for Daddy in February.
Tomorrow it’s YOUR turn! And you couldn’t be more excited.
Michael James Grace… I can’t wait to see who you become in the next year. We love you so much!!
