Two Years

Our Precious Wilder,

Today you are two years old. Big changes have happened in the last year and we can't believe how much you have grown and learned. It has been such a delight for us to watch all your new developments since your last birthday. We are so proud to be your parents, Wilder. 

At two years old, you are all that is "boy." Your loves this year have been sports and trucks. You love to hit, kick, head-butt, throw, and bounce any ball you can get your hands on. And if it has wheels you want to know what it's called, what it does, and if it's possible for you to please maybe drive it. Your favorite games are baseball and "struction site" (construction site). And you want to be outside at all times in any type of weather. 

You have so much charisma and you don't know a stranger. You love to laugh and make other people laugh. Your personality is so genuine, open, and friendly that people just love to be around you, to watch what you're going to do or say next. You are inclusive and inviting; you love to get everyone involved in what is going on. If someone is sitting quietly by, you make a point to pull them into the action. You are very perceptive and sensitive to other people's emotions. You get teary-eyed at sweet things like the song "You Are My Sunshine" and the book I Love You, Stinky Face. It amazes us that you can pick up on the emotion of things like that. You give big hugs and big smiles but you also have a mischievous streak and a tendency toward bossiness. We love seeing all the different character traits blooming in this miniature person who just two short years ago was a 7 lb. 4 oz. squirming, red-faced newborn. 

You are so incredibly smart, Wilder. We have been amazed by you time and time again in the last year -- the things you pick up on and remember, associations you make, concepts you understand that are well beyond your years. At 18-months I had a list of 120 words that you knew. That list has quadrupled in the last six months. You devour books and love to have things explained to you. Your attention span is unbelievable and, when we're reading you're not just listening or looking at the pictures, you're actually taking it all in and turning it over in your head. You are so observant. You notice things I would never look at twice and are always making connections between things that you see in real life and things that we've read or talked about days or weeks before. It's so hard to describe but it's like you're constantly putting the pieces to a puzzle together in your head. 

I always ask you, "Do you know how much your mama loves you?" and you usually respond, "Yes." The other night, you had your first nightmare that scared you awake (about an alligator eating your toes) and as I was comforting you I asked if you knew how much I loved you. You said, "Yes. Big!" You have no idea just how "big" your daddy and I love you, Wilder, but I hope you do know that we will never stop. You are an exceptional child. We are so proud of the little person you have become in the last two years and we look forward to watching and helping you continue to grow year after year. You are more precious to us than diamonds, sweet son. 

All our love,

Mama + Dada