Journaling Reads:
Every mom thinks her kid is perfect. He sits up the first. He has perfect manners. He learns quickly. He never hits. He's an angel.

Well, my little boy, you're no angel. You throw six tantrums before lunch. You hate eating veggies and won't swallow one unless I mush them and mix them with yogurt. When you don't get your way, you lie flat on the floor and make your whole body go limp so I cannot make you get back on your feet. You find a way to get your hands on every one of our things no matter where we hide them and how safe we think they are from you. When we call for you from one side of the house to the other, all we hear is a resounding "No!" coming from the room where you're wreaking havoc. You still can't put two words together to form a sentence (except for "No Way!" which you've mastered.) You hate having your hair washed and will run out of the bathtub at the sight of the shampoo bottle. You hate circle time and refuse to be a part of it. You're impatient and won't wait for your turn in line, instead you will scream like your arm is being chopped off until some mom takes mercy on me and lets you cut in line.

Yes, my son, you're not perfect.

But, you're sweet and kind. You are an equal opportunity hug giver. If you hug me, you run around the house until you can find Daddy so you can hug him, too. If you eat something you like, after you take a bite, you reach over and give me a bite as well. With a paper and pen, you can play by yourself for hours. You will not hurt, push, or shove another kid. Ever. You say hi to everyone and give them one of your magical smiles. In case they didn't hear you well, you say ten more hi's, louder and with more enthusiasm each time until they can't help but laugh. You get very excited by dogs, birds, cats, and bugs, but you won't ever hurt them. You crouch slowly and watch them from a distance. When you eat something you like, you go "Mmmmmm," persistently until I reciprocate. You let me tickle you even when you're mad. You love running around the house with me chasing you. You giggle loudly as you run and you look back every few seconds just to make sure I'm still there. When I leave for work in the mornings, you come to the door and wave "bye." When I put you down at night, you blow me big, loud kisses and then say "shhh" and "bye" before you lie down. You are so full of love that it pours out of your eyes.

I love that you're not perfect, David. I love that you're a little human being and like all of us, you have your bad moments and your good ones. I love that we get to celebrate every day together. I love that you're in my life. You are my life. - march 2007