August 7, 2007 | Mama Smith

one more week

Until our little B turns two. He’s transformed over the last few months into a high-energy, talking, running, 100% boy.

He refuses to pee on his potty sitting down, but demands to stand like his dad. He has surprisingly good aim for a toddler, keeping the surrounding tiles thankfully dry. He drew his first letter in the backseat of the car, announcing “F, Mama! F, Papa” to our surprise. He climbs in and out of the tub – the same tub his head barely came to the top of a year ago – pausing to shout “Horse, Mama. Hee-haw! Hee-haw”, his version of “Yee-haw”. He dotes on his little brother, tickling his belly and kissing his neck until Levi is choking with laughter.

He can simultaneously drive me absolutely insane one minute and melt my heart the next. That’s the daily absurd emotional paradox of being a parent.

some glimpses

Birthday gifts from my parents to B waiting to be unveiled, the pictures hopefully reminding him who they’re from…

Homemade pizza dough has helped pass these hot, indoor days. Creating creatures to bake and eat. Or, in Brighton’s case, just stirring and smashing the dough in a bowl passes a good half hour or so.

I found Brighton “clipping his toenails”, as he told me, with the salad tongs. The metal clank reminding him of the toenail clippers, I’m assuming.

As for our little gurgling, laughing Levi, he is a constant reminder for us all to just chill out during these stressful weeks, and enjoy being a family. His smiles unite us. We often find ourselves surrounding him on the bed, entranced by his coy glances and dimply grins.