[Love Letters] My Baby Is Three Years Old

Dear Thomas, 

Okay, Mommy has to start this birthday letter off with a confession, unfortunately.

All last week you were bugging me about taking you and your sister to Borders. “I want to go to the bookstore! I want to go to the bookstore!” It was like you had a 50% off coupon burning a hole in your pocket. 

So your dad and I took you two to the bookstore on Saturday. It was pandemonium. People everywhere, snatching up books, leaving some shelves empty. I headed toward the cookbooks with your sister behind me, and I thought you were sticking behind with your dad. A couple minutes later, we go looking for your dad.

“Hey, I see Thomas!” your sister said, tugging my arm and pointing away from where we were heading. I turn and I see one of the store employees holding you. “It’s okay; we’ll find your mommy,” she said to you. Your cheeks were red and wet with tears. 

I ran up to her and took you. “Thank you,” I said, hugging you tight. 

I thought you were with your dad and your dad thought you were with me. Come to find out, you wandered to the front of the store and couldn’t find your way back to us. 

If I can be honest, my heart stopped. Because I thought about what could have happened. It is crazy out here and don’t think for a minute that I don’t pray every day that you and your sister stay safe. If you weren’t in my life….I honestly don’t know how I would cope. It would be like someone reaching into my chest and pulling out my heart. I don’t think I would survive. 

I told your dad a couple months ago that you were something special. I can tell. I can’t even look you directly in the eye for too long; otherwise I feel like you’re messing with my soul. Your eyes just say it all, little boy. Plus you share a birthday with the most powerful man on the planet, so that’s a sign of good things to come, right? 

I’m still in shock that you, my darling baby boy, are turning three years old this week. I mean, my stomach most definitely looks like you were a fairly recent resident. I can’t believe how fast time has flown by. 

There is something about these past couple of weeks that has me cracking up laughing. Whether it’s your new discovery of the phrase, “That’s not fair!” or your nightly requests for me to let you sleep with a sandwich, you definitely know how to make your mama chuckle. 

My absolutely favorite thing to do—by far—is share new foods with you. You love food as much as I do, and that’s really saying something. I’ve loved being able to hand you anything and you will try it with no hesitation. Raw carrots? Yup, you like those. Sliced bell pepper? The red ones are your favorite. Smoked andouille sausage? Sure, nothing’s too spicy for you and even if it is, you just keep on eating. 

Sometimes I think you got the best of all of us. You’ve got your Nana’s eyes and dimples, your dad’s stubbornness, my passionate side, your PopPop’s talkativeness (is that a word?), etc. You’re kind of perfect, dude. 

Your sister is about to start kindergarten in a couple weeks, so it’ll just be me and you at home together, something that hasn’t happened since my maternity leave. I was going to put you in preschool as well, but I wanted to hang out with you for a little bit before letting you go. You’ve got such a personality now and I want to soak it up. 

As I end all of these letters, know that I love you more than life. I’m always here in your corner. Always. 

Love, 

Mommy