Joy

Dear son. You were a joy today. It wasn't anything extra-ordinary you did. You were just being you. This morning went fast as we stayed busy cleaning and tidying up the house getting ready for Aunt A. to arrive from Indiana. You L O V E the vacuum and "helped" by playing our usual game of chase (I vacuum, you run from it or stand in front of it- depending on your current mood). You giggled and laughed and ran laps around the couches the whole time. You only cried when you ran up from behind me just as I pulled my arm and the vacuum backwards. Ouch. Now we know your head is tougher than the vacuum handle. We haven't seen Aunt A in about a year, but you ran around saying, "E, B, Aunt A." all morning! (She loved it- she loves that you know her from the video chats we do.) Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle S, and Grandma Dawn met up here for lunch. We tried to get you to take a nap, but you were a bit too excited to have cousins here- and special events mean special privileges- so after you got out of bed three times I just let you stay up and play. You followed cousin B around like a puppy. You loved playing in the sandbox with him! Once everyone left I sent you downstairs to play while I helped sister. After a few minutes of hearing nothing (never a good sign) I went downstairs and there you were, fast asleep. You were all curled up on your stomach and had "Mr. Bear" tucked under one arm. I wanted to freeze that moment and keep you as my little boy. I carried you up to the window-seat upstairs hoping you'd wake up on your own. (I knew you'd be tired, but it was better to keep you up and risk your grumpiness than let you nap now and be up till ten!) Nope.So I prepped the kitchen for cookies and then whispered in your ear, "Do you want to come make cookies with Mommy?" I got the sweetest, "Ok!" in a sleepy voice with eyes half shut.

First, however, you propped up Mr. Bear and made sure he was ok, and then you took my hand and came to help.
And help you did! In ways only a two-year-old can. You ate pinches of sugar and brown sugar (while liking your fingers after each bite- not to worry, we washed them again!), helped "stir" with a wooden spoon and by holding the back of the mixer while I did the actual mixing. You even snatched dough from the cookie sheet, took bites, and then put them back- and all the while was my sweet, helping little boy. I could not help but smile as you grabbed a handful of flour out of the bowl to taste that as well. You didn't like it- and dusted your hands back into the bowl.... mostly.
You could. not. wait. to eat those cookies. You blew on them as I pulled them out of the oven and instantly wanted one. We had to go play primary songs on the piano to distract you while they cooled. You told me which songs you wanted to sing and played right along with me. I love playing with you!
Once you got a cookie, you popped the whole thing in your mouth (flat-handed push!) and were thus covered in gooey chocolate. Not to worry- you like your hands clean, so you wiped them on the dishtowel. When I mentioned I needed to clean up the mess, you grabbed the same dish towel and proceeded to "wipe up" the floor on your own without me asking. The mess was really just spread- but just not seeing it (out of sight... out of mind...) and the fact that you wanted to help made it all ok.
Afterward you pushed your stool up by the fridge and started singing the ABC's by yourself. "A,B,C,D,E,F,G, H, I, K,K, L, .....uh,uh, oh, P! Q, R, S. T, U, V. W, X, Y and Z. Now I know ABC, next time... sing me!" You are adorable.
Thanks for being so forgiving. Sometimes I get upset with your two-year-old stubbornness and curiosity, and then I'm reminded that you're only two, and you do so many wonderful things. You love to help. You love to sing. You love to play with sister. Yesterday you put all your toy trains on her chest and tried to pry her hand open to have her hold one. You put your train tracks all around her chair and then looked at me and exclaimed, "Nice Brother!" Yes. You are a nice brother. You give her kisses, and hugs (squashes). You play peek-a-boo with her. You try to hold her whenever she is laying down or crying. You mimick my, "Come here, Baby." and, "It's ok, E."Thank you son.
Thankyou for being so loving and sweet.Thank you for being my joy.