"Once our eyes are opened, we cannot pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know, and holds us responsible to act." Proverbs 24:12



“There are no strangers here; Only friends you haven’t yet met.”- William Butler Yeats





Monday, September 22, 2008

Thirty Months!

Dear AJ,
Oh, sweet boy. Today you are 30 months old and you've arrived going head-on, full blast as if you were breaking the record for the speed of light. If asked, and I'm sure the other two-thirds of your trio would agree, I am a horrible Mama at this stage of your life. I know. I don't love you. It's horrible that I don't let you have a bowl of M & M's for breakfast and worse yet, I have the audacity of picking you up and sitting you in time-out while you are killing, I mean playing, with the puppy by dragging him by the collar because you want him to "run with you". The horrors!

You don't understand why I don't appear to be whimsically in love with you when you turn on the kitchen faucet and spin it around so that the water is pouring on the counters as you casually walk away to go play with your dump truck. I know I would also lose a popularity contest with you when in a split second during those moments when for instance, I reach for a diaper to change you and you've managed to squirt out 2/3 of a bottle of lotion on the bed while my back is turned. I scowl at you. My grimacing look half-filled with amazement at your Superhero abilities and the other half at the mess I have to clean up.

I remember one day after walking into one of your mishaps (I think it was the day you spilled the gallon of vegetable oil on the kitchen floor) and saying as tears welled up in my eyes, "Dude! What have you done?" (mind you, I never say "dude"). You looked at me and said, "Dude, nothing!" as the oil dripped from your little fingers and your shirt was stuck to your body. I didn't know whether to laugh and cover you in kisses or whack your bottom.

You have erupted into the terrible two's with so much tenacity that many times I'm not sure who's the smarter one. I swear I could sign you up as a minnie MacGiver, since you can slip in and out of places unseen, even without a piece of chewing gum and a paper clip! Hindsight is 20/20, and I realize now that I neglected to ask your birth mom about this, but I just know that deep in there somewhere you must have some Houdini in your gene pool.

I'm not sure why, but I find that my maturity somehow eludes me when it comes to parenting you. While you nap, I often spend my mornings thinking about how I will outwit you. At times, I think I am a genius when I come up with a plan. I quietly (so you don't see it coming) high-five myself and dance around as if I've just been nominated for a Pulitzer prize, especially when I've devised a way to keep you out of the pantry or the art & crafts drawers filled with crayons, playdough and sidewalk chalk. Aaahh...yes, sidewalk chalk. Sidewalk chalk on the walls, furniture and TV, has developed into your weapon of choice lately. I digress. Only to find out a little later, that you've moved on to bigger and better things such as the CD rack or the junk drawer that you now easily reach. It's always something new and unexpected. You keep me on my toes.


At times, I think I could be doing something big to help improve the world we live in. Something to avoid disaster on earth. I think about the scientists out there researching if and when asteroids will be crashing into our planet. Then I stop and compare myself to them, and I realize that I am helping mankind. I am averting catastrophic destruction from occurring. How you may ask? By keeping you in check.

Although, I must admit that sometimes you have me questioning my sanity. When I walk into a room and find one of your creative endeavors I ask "Who did this, AJ?" It amazes me how without skipping a beat you say, "Kai" with such certainty that I had to stop and think if maybe, just maybe, Kai may have done it in the few minutes he had alone before school. I should know better. Finally, after intense interrogation, you break and say, "AJ do it. I sorry, Mama. I never do it ageen. I pomise." Then you stroke my face. Oh, how I wish you weren't so stinkin' cute!

But you know what? Even if you don't give me a break, even if you laugh in the face of danger, even if you think that you have Mama wrapped around your finger with those amazing eyes and bashful smile, I wouldn't change a thing. I love and melt when you raise your arms for me to pick you up and you snuggle your adorable, little face into my neck. I love feeling your warm breath against my skin and when you whisper "scatch me back, pleeze." I love your sweet, wet kisses. I love how the pouty lip forms when you speak to Anna Grace and she doesn't answer you. You rapidly walk over to me with that little spring in your step, arms folded, lips protruding, furrowed brows and loudly exclaim, "Anna Grace no love me, Mama!" You love to see me have her come over to you to hug you. Your face radiates love when she smiles and says, "I love you, A.J.", as she puts her arms around you. I love how you always give big bear hugs and never fail to say, "Awwww" as you squeeze the lucky recipient.

You are so compassionate. You can't stand hearing someone cough without running to them and tapping them on the chest while asking, "Are you OK? Are you OK?". You're the first one to run towards someone who is hurt and the first to say, "It's ok. No hurt." or "AJ kiss it better."

I can't believe that you are 30 months old. Two and a half! Where has time gone? I'm enjoying every second of being your Mama, but I so wish I could slow you down. Even if for just a bit. You are growing way to fast for me. Although you are and always will be my baby. I love you so much. Thank you. Thank you for always making me strive to be a better Mom. I may not be a perfect Mama, but you know what? I'm so glad I'm YOUR Mama and I'm never gonna stop loving you. There hasn't been a day that has gone by since I first held you 30 months ago that you haven't made me smile big and made my heart fill with pride to say you're my son.

12 comments :

Michelle R Photography said...

What a great post, and one that AJ will enjoy reading when he gets older. If I saw that sweet face and heard " I sorry, Mama. I never do it ageen. I pomise.", I think I would turn to mush. What a cutie!

Charlotte said...

AJ is such a sweetie ! I remember when you brought him home ! Has it been that long girl !

Please spread the word for me on my adoption fundraising ! I need some prayers and some help !

Charlotte and crew ( adding a new crew member )
www.myarcticprincess.blogspot.com

day by day said...

This is adorable, Ohilda! I could relate to EVERY word! Something about boys...my son(now 15) was just like AJ! I loved the part of your story where you say you try to come up with plans to outwit him. lol!

It's a good thing little boys are so darned cute, huh? : ) I used to tell Ryan that God made him extra cute so that amidst all of his "badness" I could look and see the sweet smile and change my mind about sending him to the moon for a few weeks. hee hee!

Aus said...

Oh my - perhaps you have the solution to the energy crises on your hands - 'bottled AJ'? Sorry - couldn't resist! He'll enjoy that post - I hope that you are archiving all of this!

BTW - love the new 'decor' (both on the blog and on the TV - 'chalk' is a great color!). As soon as I can hijack Marie's laptop I'll update ours!

hugs -

aus and family

The Byrd's Nest said...

I am just dying over here! You crack me up and AJ cracks me up! What a little stinker he is!!! But it's really hard to look into those eyes and be upset for too long huh Momma?

The Byrd's Nest said...

Oh and by the way....I LOVE the new blog look!

Anonymous said...

What a sweet mama for such a sweet boy! He is so handsome!! They really are growing up too fast, huh?

Jill from Killeny Glen said...

Ohilda, I remember so very distinctly when you were at the hospital when AJ was born!! How I prayed for your family! THIRTY MONTHS ago!!!??? That little guy is adorable!
Jill
Mom to five fabulous kiddos!
KinneyChinaAdventure.blogspot.com

Waitingfaithfully said...

Oh sweet, cuter-than-cute, A.J.! Thirty months of blessing your mama and keeping her on her toes--not easy when one is standing in a huge puddle of cooking oil! Go mama!

Thanks for the sweetness, love the pictures. He really has that "Aren't I really cute"? look down, doesn't he?!

Love it!

Blessings~

Tina

Sherri said...

Oh, how I miss having a little boy in the house. You are so blessed....your mind will stay sharp because you will never be able to rest!

What a cutie pie.

sherri

Ronda said...

Ohilda,
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog-I am having fun meeting new bloggers. I loved this post because I think my kids at times would nominate me for "meanest mom" because I MAKE them shower, eat veggies, practice piano, etc.=) Your family is so adorable and your AJ is so cute-love those big brown eyes.
Ronda

waiting4Isabella said...

My AJ - I love him too pieces.

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