18 Months

Liam John-

Today you turn 18 months old. Eighteen months ago you entered our lives and nothing has been the same since. Was it only eighteen months ago that daddy excitedly exclaimed, "It's a boy"? Was it only eighteen months ago that Samuel became a big brother and mommy was once again outnumbered in the household? Where did those eighteen months go?

In the past eighteen months you have gone from being my little baby to my little boy. You have developed into a little boy full of imagination, curiosity, wonder, and energy. You bring so much life and entertainment to your household. From your crooked little sly grin to your rolling belly laugh, from your glare out the top of your eyes to your belief that you really do disappear when your eyes are close, you make us laugh.There are so many things I want to remember. I want to remember that your favorite thing to do right now is brush your teeth, at least 10 times a day. I want to remember how blue your eyes are when the sun hits them just right. I want to remember how you smell when you get out of the bathtub and how snuggly you are first thing in the morning. I want to remember how appropraitly you sign "please" especially when you really want something. I want to remember that you are always up for a graham cracker, granola bar or banana or how you just know that I am trying to hide something green in a spoonful of applesauce. I want to remember how much you love animals. I want to remember the smile that you give when you do something on your own or the sparkle in your eyes when I return to pick you up. There are so many things I want to remember about you right now and so afraid of how quickly I know I will forget.

I want you to remember that you are my special little boy. That each day would not be complete if I didn't share it with you. That my favorite thing to do is to watch you grown, watch you discover things for the first time and feel the pride in you becoming more and more independent. I want you to remember that I will always come back for you and that I will always be here whenever you need me. I want you to remember the way it feels to do something for the first time or how good it feels to laugh until your belly hurts. I want you to remember that even with your eyes closed, mommy can see you.

Today not only marks the eighteenth month of your life but today marks a very significant day in our country. At noon today, with you asleep in my arms and tears rolling down my cheecks, I witnessed the inaguration of our 44th president, President Barack Obama. Today is a day that I am so proud to be an American, to be part of a generation that has come together to say enough is enough, a generation where an Aftican American man is given the opportunity to lead the nation. I will always tell you that you can do whatever you want to do and that you can be whoever you want to be, today I say that with a little more confidence, a little more faith and a little more truth.

An eruption of cheering filled the air today as President Obama took oath, today people are dancing in the streets, gathering at parties, and celebrating. Today I will hold you in my arms and honestly whisper to you while you are sleeping,
you can truley be whoever you want to be buddy.

Well, if you want to sing out, sing out
And if you want to be free, be free
'Cause there's a million things to be
You know that there are

And if you want to live high, live high
And if you want to live low, live low
'Cause there's a million ways to go
You know that there are

You can do what you want
The opportunity's on
And if you find a new way
You can do it today
You can make it all true
And you can make it undo
you see ah ah ah
its easy ah ah ah
You only need to know

Well if you want to say yes, say yes
And if you want to say no, say no
'Cause there's a million ways to go
You know that there are

And if you want to be me, be me
And if you want to be you, be you
'Cause there's a million things to do
You know that there are

Well, if you want to sing out, sing out
And if you want to be free, be free
'Cause there's a million things to be
You know that there are
You know that there are
You know that there are
You know that there are
You know that there are
-Cat Stevens

Love,
Mommy