Dear Auggie,
You will make the best big brother. I am so confident in that and so is dad! We can't wait to see you in action. You may only be 2 1/2 years old, but you have a tender-heart and a spectacular personality. You are such a wonderful little boy. We can't imagine life without you and we are so thrilled to say we have known you your whole life :)
Dad and I have tried to make these last few weeks with you as our only child, our only baby, as special as we could. We wanted to spend some quality time with you, enjoying just you - as we know our lives will all change. For the better of course, but it is surely going to be different. And I want to remember the special things we did! And I want you to know how excited and happy you were to have mom and dad together with you giving you such undivided attention, doing some extraordinary things. We have never seen so many smiles and so many squeals from you. It is the best feeling ever.
You and I spent one Friday night at the tree lighting in McHenry while daddy was working. I let you pick out any cookie you wanted from the coffee stand and you got to eat that M&M-studded cookie in the front seat of the parked car while we waited for the festivities to begin. We had a nice conversation. You had a cookie for dinner, you were thrilled. Then we stepped out into the brisk night and you shrieked once the lights went on. You ran up and down the gazebo ramp at Veterans Park after it was over screaming with glee. "I'm running up Mama! I'm running down Mama!" I was never so happy we did something spur of the moment. It was then that your love of Christmas lights was born, I think!
Your first Christmas we took you to see the Zoo Lights in Chicago at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Last year we didn't go because it rained cats and dogs. But we decided to make the trek again this year the Saturday after Thanksgiving even though I was 38 weeks pregnant. We knew you would enjoy all the lights and spending time with Sam and Jack too. You were in love. We saw you smile and pose for the camera so many times that we knew you were ecstatic. When you blurted "This is spectacular!", we about died! What a fun family tradition we have started.
 |
| I know its blurry, but we loved this picture because you were so smiley! |
We went out on Monday to get our tree so that we could decorate our house and get everything ready before the baby comes. We knew if we went on a weekday, we would be the only ones there and we could drive up and find our tree without having to walk ten miles! Not fun for pregnant mom. We put on the Charlie Brown Christmas CD and drove out to the tree farm, full of anticipation. You loved running around all the pine trees as dad and I debated on which one would be the perfect addition to our front window this year. You picked up branches and called them your trees. You had to bring one in the car with you, which now sits on your shelf next to Oscar the Grouch. We knew you would want to help dad cut the tree down, and sure enough you were enthralled with it. You kept bending down to see what he was doing. Then we got back in the car, paid and decided we would have breakfast as a family of three. Our best breakfast yet! You ate all your pancakes, slurped down your milk and and played with puzzles the entire time.
You and I spent Tuesday at Starbucks visiting Mimi and Aunt B and Gail and Ann and Leon for a last morning out. While I enjoyed a coffee, you were on top of the world as you got to have a Snowman cookie and chocolate milk for breakfast. Such a lucky boy!
On Wednesday, we took you swimming in Lake Geneva at the water park first thing in the morning. We got the entire water park to ourselves for an hour and watched you revel in playing in the pool, so much more comfortable with the whole concept since this summer. I got to sit in the sun in the warm water (pretending I was in Hawaii) and watch you and dad splash and laugh and go up and down the water slides. Unfortunately, there are no pictures as we were all in the water for an hour and a half. But trust me, you had a blast! And so did we.
You and dad set up the train around the tree one afternoon...something dad has done for you every year since you were born. He gets as excited about it as you. You sat together and watched it go around and around. This year dad has taught you to work it all on your own. And at least two or three times a day, I hear you say to dad, "Dad, you want to play trains with me?" And I hear the same response from dad each time, no matter what he is doing. "Sure, buddy. I'll play trains with you." And you will turn on the light to the train and watch it circle two or three times.
And one morning, you and I just snuggled together, under blankets, watching Sesame Street. And I thought, what a great feeling! You normally aren't a "snuggler" but today you sat so close and I cherished each second.
So, dad went to work tonight and you and I were here to keep each other company and did our nightly routine. We climbed into my bed and you got to pick out all the books you wanted to read. You brought in your blanket and your noni and we snuggled close on top of all the pillows and we read till your hearts content. Then, you climbed into your big boy bed and we turned on your Charlie Brown Christmas lights and you oohed and ahhhed. Then I tucked you in and I threw the blankets up like parachutes until they fell on your smiling face. I gave you a kiss, rubbed your nose and then I had a few tears, thinking, this is the last night I will tuck in my only baby, my first baby before #2 comes along. It will never be just you and me again. And though it will be amazing to have another addition, it was a special 2 1/2 years with just you.
And you touched my face as I said, "I love you, Auggie."
"I love you too, Mom." You said, so wonderfully.
And then out of nowhere you said to me "Don't be sad at all, Mom. It will be okay." Who knew you would have such wisdom? I, of course, lost it. And through my tears, I said, "Yes, it will be okay. You'll be a great big brother."
And I closed your door and thought of something I was reminded of the other day - my most important job right now is being a mom. The most important role in my life, probably. And there are days I feel so fulfilled, there are days I could resign, there are days that I can't wait to get up and go to "work" and there are days I am challenged and need to fake it to make it. And now I am being promoted to mom of two! And I am so happy to have you, Auggie, by my side to help me and to be the greatest big brother and most wonderful son and helper you can be.
I love you so! I hope you will always know!
xoxoxo Mama
No comments:
Post a Comment