As I started thinking about writing this blog post in honor of Ben's second birthday, I was immediately filled with guilt.
I didn't write one for Aaron's birthdays, so would I be knocked down a few notches in the "good mom" ladder? I'll write for his next birthday, I promise.
******************************
So, happy 2nd birthday, Benjamin.
When you're old enough to read, but more importantly understand, I'd like you to read this and know just how much you've been loved.
Your labor was easy. Painful, but easy. And fast. I labored all day at home, not even realizing I was in labor until my mother-in-law suggested that I start timing those "tinges of pain." I got to the hospital and couldn't even sign in the contractions were coming so fast.
I was 9-centimeters upon admittance to the hospital.
I pushed for 21 fast-paced minutes and there. you. were.
And I could describe your personality in the same way: Easy. Fast. And sometimes painful.
You were happy and easy-going for the first 18 months. We barely even noticed you were around because you were so peaceful.
Then you turned a year and a half and BAM. There you were. You were (are) full on in all that you do. When you're happy, you're ecstatic. When you're sad, you're gloomy. When you're mad, you can throw a temper-tantrum like the world has never seen before. When you're giggling, you're belly laughing like an old fat man. Seriously. I wish you could see yourself. You are fierce.
But you're strong. You were just six months old when we learned that you'd be a big brother. I had just envisioned you always being the little brother. You were forced into a role that you didn't ask for.
Then you were asked to grow up and sometimes take a back seat to some very grown-up issues that Mommy and Daddy had to deal with. You sometimes got "lost in the shuffle" of life, of a new baby, and of being a little brother, too.
You learned to hold your own, to share, to play, and to take care of others. You've learned to hug your baby brother, tell others to "sssshhhh" when he's sleeping, and take pick his bottle up when it's fallen. You have such a sweet and gentle heart, and I hope you never lose that.
Somewhere in the last months, I blinked, and you've grown up. You became two. And now you're my little man.
Happy birthday, Benjamin. I love you, Mr. Blue Eyes.
