Our baby is three! That must be some kind of mistake, right?
In the last year, we’ve become the parents of a full-on tiny person. One year ago he just repeated “Happy birthday!” (or, “Ha poopy!”) back at us when we said it to him, but this year he understands that birthdays mean cake and parties. He’s been running around chirping “Lukie birday! Let’s go birday party!” ever since we told him a few weeks ago that his birthday’s coming up. (He also says “Everybody birday!” so, not all the way there.) He’s also super jazzed for Halloween and wants “Mario go trick-or-treat candy.”
Currently, his favorite exclamation is “Oh my goodness,” he loves “hangubuhs” (hamburgers) and “crackuhs” (french fries) when he can get them, and calling things the wrong name just so he can correct us when we agree. (“That’s blue. That’s not blue! It’s green!”) He loves his dad more than anything in the world. He wants to know what letter every word starts with. He throws a mean tantrum but his belly laughs are like happiness incarnate. And he has utterly surprised us by how tender of a big brother he has been from the moment Clara’s carseat came through the door.
Two was a bundle of contradictions in every way possible–in many ways he seems like a gangly, 3-going-on-13 boy, all braggadocio, but then a whirr from a saw during renovations turns him right back into a toddler, crying and hiding in our laps. Or he’ll ask to cuddle (“Mommy lie down Lukie lie down?”) and his little back seems so narrow in our big bed. At that moment, I’m so relieved that he’s not quite grown up yet. He can be maddening and tiring and downright crazy but he is always, always the sweetest thing we have ever known. Thank you for making us parents, Lukaboo. Please don’t grow too fast yet.
Barbara
Cynthia,
Reading of your life as a mother takes me back to my 2 who are now adults with their own, full & interesting lives. I hope you will always be there for “lie downs” with both Luke & Clara. We are living in a hotel ’till our new house is completed & to be an old fashioned “hands on Mother” I find it startling with the ignoring attitude of parents as their children fend for themselves at the food bars. The children aren’t capable of placing food on their plates, if food drops on the dining room floor the children ignore it & move on. I love being a mother (still), & listen with delight as these 2 adults share memories of their childhoods. They love sharing how much they loved “mama being home after school” for them to share their day while enjoying Tea & buttered Toast Points or Hot Chocolate with floating marshmallows. I was surprised at these revelations as they were so minimal but who knows what we might remember as important. I so enjoy your sharing Luke & Clara with us. You are lucky to be parents of 2 budding engineers, doctors, translators, builders, etc. Love them with hugs & lots of kisses.
tworedbowls
This is just the loveliest comment, Barbara. Thank you so much for taking the time to write–it sounds like your two grown little ones are so very lucky to have you. (And good luck with your renovations, ahhh! We’re doing some of our own, and what an adventure that is!)
Thank you for your kind words and for sharing your own stories, I loved reading them!
Bill McGRATH
He is beautiful and a real pleasure- so glad to know he has wonderful parents and that he is loved
tworedbowls
We are so lucky to have him! Thank you so much, Bill!