A Letter To My Son On His 3rd Birthday

He just had to eat some frosting before we lit the candles!

Dear Vincent,

I’m a little late with this letter. We had a really busy weekend since your birthday fell on Saturday and now you’ve been sick the past day after getting a vaccination at the doctors. (Ironically you were sick on your 2nd bday as well!). You were so cute when they gave it to you. I thought for sure you might cry but you didn’t even realize what had happened, until we got in the car and you said “Hey Mom, something hurt me”.  It’s the little things that you say each day just like that.. that make me laugh. That give me reason to smile.

Vincent-zoo-2yrs2I can’t believe how much you’ve grown this past year. At the start of 2 years old you were still doing what I call “dolphin speak”. It basically consisted of a bunch of “eh eh eh eh eh’s, some “eh??”  and a whole lot of pointing. Sounding just like a dolphin would if they tried to speak English.  The doctor assured me that your speech would pick up near the summer but you know me, I was worried as always. Thankfully I was wrong and by the time summer rolled around you had mastered spoken word! and boy did you let me know it. I haven’t heard any silence yet. Sometimes you even talk in your sleep Smile

 

Trying to wrestle pregnant MommyIt was in the summertime also that you and Mommy started to talk about something new that was about to happen. Your little brother. Most kids your age probably wouldn’t have given it a second thought, but you.. you kissed my belly and told me you loved him. That made it a little easier for me when I had to think about leaving you and going to the hospital. You see, you go everywhere with Mommy. You’re my buddy, my sidekick. The thought of leaving you home even though it was with your Dad, for even 2 days made me so scared!

Bye Bye DiapersEvery night when we went to bed, since you refused to sleep in your own bed most of the time you would lay next to me and I would tell you how baby brother was going to come live with us. That he was going to come out of Mommy’s belly at the hospital and then we would bring him home and he would sleep in your room with you.  I told you that you had to be a big boy and give up your diapers because baby brother would need them and that you would be a big brother!

Do you know you potty trained yourself? Oh yes, you did. You’ve always been so independent it’s almost unbelievable at times. You were rolling over at 2 weeks, pulling yourself up at 6 months and by 2.5 years you were done with diapers! We used up the last of them and Mommy never bought you another.

Get out of here Mommy!Not long after baby brother came home you decided that we could throw your pull-ups away and you’d be a super big boy and use “Mommies toiley” as you call it. Guess what? It worked..  Oh there have been a few accidents here and there but by the time you turned 3 they were few and far between.  I find that miraculous.. because nowadays you go to the bathroom all by yourself and you tell me to get out! lol. 

 

On the way to see Great GrandmaThis past summer you also went on your first long road trip and got to meet someone very special. Your Great Grandma. It was the first and the last time you would meet her, as she passed shortly after we left… but while we were there she knew you had come to visit her. In fact, she was ready to go but she waited until you got there because she had made Mommy a promise to meet the most important person in my life. That was you. You were such a sweet boy. You stood at the end of the bed and you told her you loved her. That one action meant more than anything to me in the whole world at that time. I’m crying right now thinking about it. I wish she could have known you longer but you and I both know she’s watching over us.  Ever since we came home you told me “Great grandma high in sky” and just when I need it you remind me of her out of the blue.

Our proud MarineNot long after that you had to say goodbye to your Uncle John as well, but not in a bad way. He was growing up himself. He graduated and joined the Marines. I had to tell you he went off to school because quite frankly little boy, I don’t want you to know what war is, or why your uncle has to protect our country. All you need to know is that your Uncle loves you.

 

Mommy and Uncle John 2003 On the days when I miss your Uncle I think about him as a little boy and then I look at you and realize time goes by so fast.. and I want to cherish every moment I have with you.  You remind me so much of him sometimes, especially with your stubborness.

It’s really scary to think that he’s about 11 in this picture and those years only seem like yesterday. Will your childhood go by just as fast?

P.S. I hope you never do like Mommy did when she was young and take up smoking. It’s stupid!

 

I love my baby brotherAfter summer was over your baby brother finally came to live with us. I was really scared of your reaction. Would you love him? Of course you would. You have literally been the best big brother I’ve ever seen. You must kiss Aidan 1000 times a day. If we leave him at home and go to the store you quickly ask me where he is. If he’s crying in his bed you come get me. If he needs his diaper changed you want to help.  I never thought a toddler could be so good with a new baby, but you have. You’re an amazing big brother.

Well honey, it’s been a very eventful year for you. There’s so much more to it than I’ve said here but you’re sick right now and I want to lay near you in case you need me. And Vincent, I want you to know… I will always be there when you need me. I will always love you and your brother more than anything in this entire world. You’re my big boy. You changed my life so much that I can barely remember my old self. You’ve helped give me strength to be a better person for you and your brother. I only hope that when you’re old enough to read this letter that you’ll still be telling me every day “I love you mommy whole bunch” because I love you dear boy, with all my heart!

Happy Birthday baby and lots of hugs and kisses for the next year.

Love,

Mommy

mom and vincent 2008

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