to my terribly wonderful two year old

Tommy you are two years old and life with you is anything but terrible. How has it been two years since you can into my life and made me a mother? How can so much life, and so many sweet, precious, irreplaceable memories be squeezed into just two years? We made sure to celebrate big with balloons and Thomas the train and corn on the cob and family (a few of your most favorite things) before leaving town. And even though today will probably be spent house hunting I couldn't let this favorite precious day go by without notice.

Sweet Tommy you are true joy and you brighten everyone's day with your full-on eyes closed cheesy smile or your enthusiastic "Hi!" and "See ya!" that you shout to everyone. Your first words when you get up in the morning, as your tripping around the crib in your sleepsack, are usually some combination of "ball," "Daddy," or "Hun-we" or, especially lately "suitcase!"  You seem to have some sort of word quota you think you need to meet each day, and there are few silent moments in our house that aren't filled with your chatter (usually about balls, or trains, or something to eat, or balls) and I love our little conversations.

I love how you want to lay on the "pill-wo" with me before bed and then you start listing every single thing or person you saw or did or touched that day. You call me "Bobby," which sounds like Mommy only slightly British and like you have a cold, and it's hard to turn down any of your demands when they start out that adorable. I am not prepared for the day Bobby becomes Mommy.

You are the most adaptable little guy I know.  It makes me so happy to see you so comfortable in yourself, and your place in our family, that you are able to face so many huge changes better than many adults would (even better than your dad and I have at times). In the past two months alone you've left behind your first true home, spent weeks and weeks not sleeping in your own bed, and you've flown across the world like it was no big deal.

You have a sweet and feisty little spirit. You are so stubbornly independent, running here and there with such purpose like you know exactly where you're going, thank you very much!  And when you wipe out or fall and then immediately shout "Okay!" it sometimes tricks me into thinking you're older than you actually are. Of course other times you come running full speed at my legs wanting to be picked up and you lay your head on my shoulder with your thumb in your mouth and I have my baby again. I am so excited to see you become a big brother. I doubt you really understand what it all means but the way you lay on my belly and say over and over "hi baby hi baby hi baby hi baby" makes my heart swell picturing you with your little brother. I hope and pray you two will be best friends for your whole lives.

You've gotten really proficient at screaming NO! even when no one did, said or asked you anything, but then are (usually) quick to correct to "no tank you." I see such a tender heart in you, especially at meal times when you throw out your hands to either side and shout "Grace!" and then finish with a hands-raised-halelujah-Amen! I hope you always have as much passion and move through your life with as much purpose as you do now.

 These two years are hands down the best years of my life. Not being your mom, not knowing you as only your daddy and I will ever know you, is simply inconceivable. I am so excited for all the adventures we're going to have with you in this next year and watching you settle back in to our new normal here in Korea (or Key-ah as you say). Tommy, you are my little buddy and I love you endlessly.