So Drake, I want to write this little bit directly to you, so that one day when you have a little boy or girl who is as stubborn and strong willed as you are, I can enjoy spoiling them and sending them back home :)
Drakey,
You are a complete and total Mama's boy. When you get hurt you always run to me crying, sometimes it a fake cry, but I baby you just the same and give you a kiss. After the kiss you are usually magically better and ready to run off to tackle your brother or torment the dog once again. When we go to the grocery store, or any store where you are required to sit in a cart you insist on having a snack to eat. I realize it is 100% my fault that you have come to expect this. The thing is, now I literally cannot shop without having something for you to eat. You are a master at contorting yourself to get out of the seat belt on the cart all while screaming bloody murder if I try to shop without feeding you. Nearly every shopping trip involves you yelling or screaming for a portion of it because if I don't gauge my time correctly before you are done with your snack I'm basically screwed. I'm pretty sure you have been responsible for making a few young check out girls decide to wait until they're older to have kids as they watch me try to hold you down in the cart with one hand while swiping my debit card with the other. Some days I just go ahead and count this as my cardio for the day because by the time I make it back to the car, wrestle you into your car seat and load up the groceries I've got a decent sweat going. Then, there is the joy of taking you out to dinner. For the most part we just avoid this as much as possible because right now, it's just not an enjoyable experience for us or any diners in a 15 foot radius of our table. We have actually (on more than one occasion) had people move tables because you don't possess an inside voice. It's a good thing you're cute! :) Just today we went to the library. Not a great place to take a kid who isn't able to speak quietly, but we do go frequently. My hope is that on one of these trips you will notice that you are the only one laying on your back kicking and screaming in the computer area where adults are trying to study. I've perfected the art of carrying you sideways (to avoid being kicked) while also toting a stack of books to check out. When you wake up both in the morning and from nap you always give me a hard time when I try to take you out of your crib to change your diaper. I've tried everything to make this easier for both of us but nothing as of yet has helped you wake up on the right side of the bed.
So on the particularly exhausting days I try to remind myself that your strong willed ways are really a blessing. They are tough to parent, especially at an age when you can't communicate as well as you'd like, but strong willed people can grow up to be wonderful leaders if nurtured correctly, and Buddy I promise you I'm trying my best. And, if you decide that 2 years old is the year to give your Mama a bit of a break and stop throwing fits, I would be okay with that too :)
I love you buddy! You bring Daddy, Kellan and I so much joy (sorry, Jake doesn't agree - he's just old and grumpy)! I hope you are always as fun loving and full of laughter as you are right now. Happy almost birthday Midder!
Love,
Mama
