Happy Birthday Oh-no!!

To my ever so sweet, sometimes sassy, and always adorable Owen:

Today you turn two, and you show us by holding up each index finger right in front of your face. You are such a delight. You have the most amazing vocabulary that surprises me every day. You love to laugh, and you love to hide, and you terrify me with your adventurous whims and stunts. Your ladder and daddy's tape measure are your two favorite things.

You call yourself "Oh-no," which is so ironic since that's probably the phrase you hear the most from mommy and daddy. Your laugh is infectious, and can turn my weary day into one filled with hope and promise.

Each morning, you awake by letting us know you'd like to come out of your crib ... "Mommy ... out crib." Then you play coy when we try to take you out and change your diaper, begging us for tickles. You play with the blinds, saying "morning, morning," and laugh when we tell you to stop ... they can fall down and hurt you silly. You continue to think it's funny.

Downstairs, you like to open the refridgerator and carry condiments to your toy room (ps., pudding DOES stain carpet, just FYI). You "go go daddy truck" to Gram's house each morning, and love playing and keeping Gram on her toes. Your cousin Parker is your favorite friend. You adore Aunt Woo and Aunt Kimby and ask every night on the way home to call Mimi. Just last week you learned that, without the tray on, you can climb all the way into your high chair ALL BY YOURSELF. My heart stops with fear ... and then sinks because I know you're growing up and growing a little more independent every day. {And the water works come as I'm writing this to you ...}

You brush your teeth each night by climbing on "biiiiig ladder," and sit on the potty (sometimes), and then hop into the bath. You love to undress yourself, and would change your own diaper if I would let you (remind me again why I won't let you do that??). After your lotion and Little Noses and pajamas, you ask Daddy to rock you but I sneak in sometimes and do it myself, cause it's my favorite part of the day. You read to us most nights, telling us what word comes next and turning the pages, then asking us to do it again. Before we say our prayers and turn out the light, you throw one of your "friends" (stuffed animals) over the edge of the crib and say its name over and over and over until we cave and get it for you. Then you snuggle with a little "tuck tuck" and fall asleep on the soft puppy Aunt Kimby gave you for Christmas.

And morning comes and we start again ... and I anxiously await each one to see what new delight you will bring to our lives. Just when I think I know exactly what unconditional love is, you do something new, something unexpected, something totally Owen, and I think: NOW, I know what love is. Like when you read the ravioli package to me in the grocery store and point out the words "iiiii loooove you," that aren't even there. Or you lean through the bars in your crib to give me a kiss, and then ask for one again, and again, and again. Sometimes I think my heart may just burst with all the love I have for you. I can't believe you've only been in our world for two years. I can't remember when you weren't with us ... it's as if you've always been.

Happy Second Birthday Oh-no.

All my love, and then some more,

Mommy