Dear Primo,

I don’t know how thirty months could have passed since the day I first held your squirmy new little body in my arms. I so clearly recall the struggles in learning to breastfeed you (and my stubborn refusal to give you a bottle – ever – which resulted in a great nursing relationship for over a year). I remember holding you all day long, even using only one hand to go to the bathroom, because you didn’t want to be put down or, alternately, I couldn’t bear to put you down. From that little dependent being you have grown into a running, talking in full sentences big-little kid who barely stops for a hug some days. Thankfully you seem to have inherited your Daddy’s love for snuggling so as soon as you get tired there are always lots of cuddles to go around.

You finally (FINALLY! That deserves all caps…) cut your last two year molars and overnight became a different kid. Well, at night anyway. You went from screaming in the night for hours and sleeping behind your door to sleeping in your big double bed for 12 hours straight. Thank God. We’ve gotten you a box spring for under your mattress now and you’re doing great with being a little bit higher off the floor. In a few weeks we’ll be getting you your frame to match your dresser & bedside table, and you’ll have a big boy bedroom. Sniff.

Two and a half is an interesting age. Thankfully we’ve avoided any tantrums to this point. (You scream or smack lightly, but you get over it in a second or two.) I think it’s likely because you are so incredibly articulate for your age. Perhaps the big tantrums are still to come but for the moment we’re doing very well with communication and working on delayed gratification. You’re a sensitive child and you like to make other people happy so often I can use that to avert your attention from something you’re not allowed to have or do. I tell you that someone else needs it to be happy and you’re happy to give it up for them.

You’ve got another little boy added to your group of best little friends and he lives right across the street! You have been playing with Alex almost daily and you both talk about each other all the time. He’s a great kid and comes from a great family who are a lot like us so we’re really glad that you like him so much.

You’re taking a gymnastics class right now on Tuesday afternoons (Tiny Tumbleweeds) and it’s like you were born a gymnast. You absolutely love it! It’s at 1:15, which is a time that’s tough for you as it used to be nap time, but you are a trooper and make it through every time. It’s a parent & tot class so I am with you the whole time, usually with Bella strapped to my back. You have learned the forward roll (which you had already been doing for months but now love the rhyme…stand tall, stand small, tuck your chin and roll like a ball!), front support, back support, side support, knee scale, stork stand, bear walk and more. You walk on the high beam, hang from the parallel and uneven bars and jump on the trampoline. You love everything about it, and you especially love the head coach ‘Scott,’ who you talk about all week long.

You are the ultimate Daddy’s boy right now. In your eyes, your Daddy walks on water. It’s great, but soon I hope you decide that I’m okay again too. You love me all day but once Daddy’s in the house I can’t help you with anything. I suppose I should just take the break when I can get it!

You are completely potty trained and I can’t believe how easy it was. We still put you in a pull up at night but it’s only been wet a handful of times in a few months. You were ready, obviously, and you love to have a bare butt so it’s a good thing! Daddy taught you to sit backwards on the toilet to poop so you wouldn’t have to use the little seat on top and, though it’s weird, it works great and you are now able to be totally independent with the exception of wiping your butt.

You love to do crafts right now – particularly sticker, which you can peel and stick for hours, and painting, playdough, drawing with markers & crayons, cutting (which is hard!), and using a glue stick. You also love to help me cook and bake, which is messy and super fun!

You adore your sister still but are now starting to be challenged by the fact that she wants to play WITH you (rather than beside you) and wants your stuff. You’re astonishingly good at giving her a trade item before you snatch away what she has, and with the exception of a few bops on the head or light smacks you’re very gentle. You love to hug and kiss her and it delights you that you always get her biggest smiles. The two of you talk back and forth regularly and love to have screaming contests. It’s incredibly annoying for Daddy and I (oh, the headaches) but seems to be a great bonding experience for the two of you. It’s one of the only parts of this age that I won’t miss when it passes. You are also the first to show pride for your sister when she accomplishes something. “She’s standing, Mommy!” you beamed when she pulled herself up for the first time. “Good job, Bella!” Even when Daddy and I are gone, you will always have your sister and I hope you are always the best of friends.

It’s difficult to put into words the amazing little person that you are. You are intelligent, empathetic (for a two year old, anyway), incredibly active, musical, athletic, loving, cuddly, inquisitive, and downright hilarious.

I can’t imagine what life would have been like without you. I love you, and I always will, but I also like you. You are just a fabulous guy. Two and a half is a cool age and our family life is awesome because of you and your sister.

I love you right up to the moon and back, and I’d give you the stars if I could.

Love, Mommy
xoxo