a letter to my Moose

Happiest birthday, Mighty Moose

 

Sweet, sweet Amos,

You're TWO!!! (: For the past two years you have been and continue to be the biggest joy to your daddy & me. You are so, so fun! And boy are you smart. It is so neat to carry on a conversation with you (and funny because of your Southern, and I mean Southern accent) and to get tiny glimpses into your heart. You have sailed into big-brotherdom like it's nothing. Watching you treat "Solly Sol" with kindness & gentleness warms my heart - I know you two are going to be the very best of friends one day.

I'm trying hard to soak in this stage of life with you while balancing the needs of an almost 2 month old. You've become so independent since Solomon was born - which is definitely bittersweet. You constantly want to do things "all my-telf" (all by yourself) and are pretty darn good at doing things all by yourself (even if you are as slow as Papa Olander). I love watching you learn and being the one who gets to teach you new things right now. We're currently working on recognizing numbers and letters. You can already count to 15,  know (how to say) your ABCs and can spell "Amos."  We're currently working on recognizing the difference between "R" and "K" and "C" and "O."  And, you know that "i" has a dot. Seriously, Amos, you blow our minds with how smart you are...you're setting the bar high for your brothers & sisters. Oh, and your memory is pretty insane. You get that from your daddy. You pay attention when you're being read or sung to and can end sentences in books and can sing James Taylor's "Something in the Way She Moves" (I'm hoping you'll dance with me at your wedding to this) and Willy Wonka's "Pure Imagination."  You love balls and aren't picky when it comes to which one is your favorite (we have at least one of every kind you can think of). And, you remember who gave you every single ball. You also love balloons and your favorite color is red. You eat like a bird most of the time and drink enough "mmmmeeeee---yulk" to cause me to want to buy a dairy cow.

I hope that I will always remember your blonde hair and blue-eyed two year old self. How bossy you are, but how sweet you are too. I want to remember how you've just discovered that you can actually get out of your bed (even though you aren't supposed to) and come pitter-pattering into the hallway claiming, "Uh-Oh! I'm awake!" Or how you say, "Mel does" when you bounce the ball a certain way, or "Papa does..only outside" when you spit, and how you ask to call Car Car "on da phone." I want to remember how you love to go to the farm to see Andy, Cindy & Cayden's "GOATS and horsies," how Papa is your "very best friend," that you love "cokie" (coke) and "peta-butta" (peanut butter) and what a good helper you are when I ask you to do anything (most of the time). I want to remember how you love ba (your blanket), how you fight nap time like it's your J O B, and how you kiss baby Solly Sol on the head and tell him, "it's OK" when he cries.

Amos Michael Martin, keep growing big and strong! You are brave, you are kind, you are smart, and you have a purpose that is greater than anything your daddy & I could dream up for you. I love being your mama and cannot wait to grow with you over the next year!

"The Lord your God is with you, Amos, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing." | Zephaniah 3:15

(the mighty moose turns one)