Dear Anthony,
Friday you were 27 months. That sounds so strange. Now that you're past 2, I should probably stop counting by months. My life before you is a distant memory, but I'm pretty sure I used to think that was annoying when parents counted their child's age by months after the 24th.
I still think of you as my baby most days, but you are trying to prove in every way that you're becoming my little boy instead.
You learned to count to 10 on your own, and you can count to 8 in Spanish (further if prompted). You say so many words, there's no way to count. And you attempt to say phrases that are longer and longer. I can see you trying hard to figure out what to call unfamiliar things. I see you look at concepts and try to turn them over in your mind, figure out how everything works. Even things you've done a million times (that maybe you took for granted before) have now become fascinating in a whole new way.
I can tell you've had a growth spurt since your 2-year check up, and I think it's time we started a little height chart on our wall. You feel more solid, and when I walk around with you in my arms I can tell how much you've grown. I walked past a mirror with you in my arms, and I couldn't believe you are over half as long as I am. The growth is evident in your pants as well. Your little waist isn't growing very fast, but your legs sure are! There is either serious shin exposure, or if I switch you to bigger pants then they're falling down and dragging the ground.
Your favorite things to do are play with trains or run down to the park. We take long walks, you swing on the swing by yourself, you climbed all the rungs of the ladder on the monkey bar set alone, you have no fear. At home we build and rebuild your train tracks in new ways, build stackadoos into amazing vehicles, and you pretend to eat your stuffed fruit with a delightful "mmm....yum!" and a pat on the tummy. You never cease to entertain me! Most of the time you're entertaining yourself as well, and I love how crazy your laugh is. I want to bottle up your happiness and save it forever.
Recently you started playing with your vehicles while laying completely flat on the floor. The first time you did this we were at the park on the basketball court, and I laid down right beside you to see what perspective was so amazing. There are still so many new things for you, and I love to watch you discover it all. You're so independent sometimes that I think you might run away and not turn back, as you race out to make your discoveries. And just when my heart starts to hurt a little, you turn around say "mama, hand!" so you can drag me along on your adventure, too.
You make my heart swell so much that I think some days it could burst. I know you are slowly stretching it out, increasing its capacity. The day you were born, I loved you as much as I could. Now my heart has grown, and I love you so much more than the night we first met.
My sweetest son, you are my utter and complete joy.
I love you.
Mama
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We had a picnic play date with our neighborhood friends last Friday:
