Dear Will,

I had such a fun day with you today and I'm really, really lucky to be your Mommy. I can't believe you're nearly two and a half, yet at the same time I can't remember what life was like before you came into this world. I wanted to take a minute to write down some things that you're doing right now so I can remember these moments forever. Because you're feeling very big and time feels like it's going by very fast and I'm realizing that I'm not going to get to keep you little like this for long.

- You "roar" at everyone. It's the way you greet people and though it may be a tiny bit embarrassing at times, I'm totally and completely in love with it. You tuck your chin down to your chest and you roar as you bring your head up in a swooping motion. I need to get it on video!

- You can count to 15 (!!! where did you learn that?!) and you know how to spell your name. Instead of saying "seven" with an "s" at the beginning, you say, "evan." You're learning your ABCs and love to sing the song, even if you don't know all the words.

- You come into my office every night to give me a hug and a kiss before you get your paci. It's one of my favorite parts of the day. You're sweet smelling from your bath and your hair is so soft and I love the way you straddle my lap and snuggle your head down into my chest. I love it even more when you say, "Mommy, I wuv you sooooo much," completely unprompted.

-You're a cautious child. You think before you do anything and it always takes you a little bit to warm up to situations where there's lots of kids around or it's very noisy. Today at Safari Champ, you got halfway up the big-kid playscape and started crying. Once I came up there to play with you, you were perfectly fine...and by the end of our playtime there, you were going up and down and running and jumping all by yourself. I was so proud of you!

- I absolutely adore the way you say, "Oh-tay" in response to questions. It's so cute!

- When you don't want to do something, you say, "Hmm, maybe not." 

- You are stubborn as anything. Not really sure where you got that from.... ;) You point your little finger and say, "Das not oh-tay!" It's insanely frustrating and incredible hilarious and I find myself fighting back laughter while trying to discipline you at the same time.

- You get on the scale in our bathroom every day and proudly declare, "Forty-nine pounds!"

- You say, "Yeah, I know," all.the.time.

- You are such a little backseat driver. You tell me when the light is red or green ("GO mommy! Das green light!"), you tell me to "race 'em!" and to go faster and faster. You love pointing out tractors, trucks and trailers, mail trucks, and school buses as we drive.

- When you say something, Daddy or I have to repeat it back to you. Example...in the car on the way to Gram and Papa's house, we always pass over the bridge with the train parked underneath. You say, "Look! Das choo choo train tracks!" and if Daddy or I doesn't immediately say, "that's right! A choo choo train on the tracks!" you'll keep repeating it louder and louder until we do ;)

- One thing people always remark on is how sweet you are. Your Sunday School teachers always tell me this and it makes me smile inside.

I know you're going to grow up and get big and I'm going to love each and every stage you're at, but this one is by far my favorite. We are so lucky to have you in our lives, sweet boy!