I thought the first year of your life was the best year of my life. I thought wrong. This past year was even better. And so it will likely be that each year you get older, before you become an adventurous and defiant, testing-the-limits teenager, I will love being your mom more and more.
You amaze me with all of your developments, your likes and dislikes, and you make me smile regardless of what kind of day I am having. When you hit 14 months old I thought you were a handful. Walking, but not yet talking, you needed constant supervision. At 17 months things shifted and became more fun. You began showing signs of independence, such as feeding yourself with an adult-size fork and walking up the stairs to our first floor apartment. You were this age when you first uttered the word “Eee-dee,” your name for my dad whom we call Sidi and who is a big presence in your life. You said his name with such purpose and then broke out in a huge smile when we exploded with delight. Somewhere in your 21st month you went to bed and woke up the next morning with hair on your legs. You were 22 months when you first urinated on the potty. And even much younger when you became aware of your poop. Don’t worry, I won’t embellish on that one! You recently began chasing pigeons at the park. Not to taunt, but I’m not thrilled about it nonetheless. I love you bud, but no kid of mine will harass animals.
Your fascination with trucks and construction sites is a constant reminder that I am raising a little boy. You get a kick out of high-fiving and fist-bumping dudes whom you do not even know. You like to hide from me and get a rouse from making me look for things I need that you intentionally hide. You stop me in my tracks when you do these cute and mischievous things that show your big and emerging personality. I am in awe of you, and I love you.
Happy Birthday Budinsky!
My big boy on his 2nd birthday!