Don't Blink

Oh sweet Gaby boy, happy birthday to you! It's almost impossible to believe that you're 2 years old today. Someone told me you would grow up quickly and while I believed them, I never imagined it would go so quickly.

I blinked. You went from a little baby who needed me for everything to a strong willed, independent, funny little boy who doesn't need me as much. Note to self, do not blink again!

Gabriel Matthew, you truly are the light of our lives. Not a day goes by that we are not beyond thankful that we were blessed with the privilege of being your parents. You are so friendly and just love people and they love you too. Everywhere we go people stop and talk to you, remark on how cute you are and you never fail to bless them with a smile.

Your laughter is positively infectious. One can't hear it and help but smile.

Your inquisitive nature is endearing. To see the world through your eyes must be amazing.

Your love is all encompassing. If everyone just loved like you, the world would be so much better.

Your 2nd year of life was a year of hard work. Physical and occupational therapy each week, 3 different stints with constraint casts (one of them being for 3 weeks!) and continual work at home. But Gabers, it has paid off! You are able to pull yourself to standing position, weight-bare on your left arm, climb stairs, do lefty jobs and get anywhere you need to go. Your perseverance and try-until-you-succeed attitude never wavers and you amaze everyone who knows you.

You are so smart Gabe! You repeat just about everything we say and try to do everything we do. Reading books is one of your favorite activities and some days we spend hours sitting together reading books; I think that's one of my favorite things we do. I'm not sure if it's all the book reading or just your natural smarts but your vocabulary seems to grow everyday. Mommy, Daddy, Nonnie, Papo, Sammy, Etan, Jake, Caleb, Thomas, doggy, book, cup, baboon, zebra, ball, balloon, veggietale, bobby, larry, talk, phone, dance, couch, up, help me, please, okay, binky, eat, again, ride, cheese, banana, pool, swim, swing, tubby, car, truck, sky, bird, giraffe, shower, hold me, watch, fan, on, off, uncle, auntie, ride, amen, play, shoes... and I'm sure there's many more. You're learning your body parts and colors. You're using toys how they're intended to be used and not just throwing the balls that go with them. You are so smart and ripe with potential. I can't wait to see what God has planned for you.

A few of your favorite things:

• Bob, Larry and Veggie Tales. Your first 5 word sentence was "help me, bob larry please." You said this as you scooted up to me dvd in hand.



• Dogs! You love your doggies and point them out wherever we go. Sometimes at night when you wake up I hear you ask for your doggie over the monitor.



• Hats. While you don't always like to wear them, you love to point them out; at stores, in books, everywhere! Sometimes you'll ask for a hat and then make faces at yourself in the mirror with it on.



• Wrestling with daddy. And Daddy loves it too! Although we need to teach you who you can wrestle with (Daddy, cousins) and who you can't (friends your own age).



• Cars, trucks and trains - really anything with wheels!



• Balls and Balloons! You may have a Harry Potter Happy Birthday balloon in the kitchen right now.



• Water! Swimming, splash pads, tubby's... you love to get wet! We're fortunate enough to have a pool and splash pad 2 blocks away and a baby pool on our back deck.

Right now, Gabriel you are sleeping in your bed in your own room most nights. It's a big change from co-sleeping but you are doing so well. You eat just about everything and love to drink milk and water. You love to play and find your Independence but you also love to cuddle, sit on my lap and be rocked to sleep. I'm not sure how much you weigh or how long you are but we'll find out next week at your 2 year well child visit.

Happy birthday, sweet boy. We love you to the moon and back. Your family and friends love you. And Jesus loves you.

And after these 2 years I don't plan on ever blinking again.

photo's courtesy of Erica Cambarare Photography