PYHO- To my Baby Loves

Dear Aiden,

Aiden!  My darling boy, sweet as pie and all personality.  These days you are insisting on doing everything on your own.  Big things, small things -- everything all on your very own!  It's a kind of bitter sweetness that I never knew existed.  I love it because it's validating as a Mommy to see your baby boy grow into a loving, self-assured, imaginative, beautiful, independent and very kind little boy.  It's bitter though because I loved being the one to do all of those things for you.  I know that it's a Mothers job to teach you to do all of those things yourself, to teach you to be kind and sympathetic to others but to not let people walk all over you and to teach you how to grow into your own person so that one day you can be a wonderful grown man with good values and a good upbringing and childhood.  It does go by so fast though.

Today, as I sit thinking about your 4th birthday I really feel extra blessed to be your Mommy.  Because you are amazingly kind for a 4 year old little boy.  You have an imagination like no other I've ever seen, and I can have better conversations with you than I can have with most adults, you're so smart.  And you're sweet!  Lord, are you ever sweet -- you're just as sweet as pie, and you love everyone around you with your full heart.  You're the first one to offer something of yours to a sick cousin or friend, giving them candy, toys, juice, food or whatever it is that you have that you think will make them feel better.  You say 'I Love You' to all of your family and friends before you leave them, and you give out hugs like nobodies business!  I'm proud of the little boy that you are, and I'm proud of your Daddy and myself for having raised you to be the child that you are.

It won't be long until you are four years old.  Has it really been almost four years since the first time I saw that angelic little face of yours?  I love watching you grow, but I miss your younger days.  I suspect that it's always going to be that way, even when you're 40.  You've taught me so much about myself, about love and about the world.  Most importantly you taught me that with little boys you want to lay something over them while you're reaching for the diaper to put on them because that split second is the second they will choose to pee, directly on you, almost every time.  Before I had you I was a whole other person!  I am a better version of myself because of you, you. Jagger and Daddy truly do bring out the best in me.  It is because of you that I know how to be a better wife, a better friend and a better person in general.  You taught me what love truly is, real unconditional love the kind that can't be broken.

Don't grow up too fast, love!  Always know that Mommy is here for you, no matter what you've done or what you've been through.  You're such a special little guy, and you're pretty handsome as well, if I do say so myself!  You've got a HUGE personality and you're not like anyone I've ever know, child or adult.  I love how innocent you are, and how your personality can capture an entire room full of people.  I love how sweet you are and how bad you feel when someone else is sick or crying.  I love how much you love your brother, how protective of him you are and how you like to play with him and share with him.  

To sum it up and quote one of our favorite books to read together:

"I love you through and through!  Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow too!"