Birthday Letter to Jansen

jansen, the birthday boy

Dearest Baby Jansen,

You turned two years old this past week. I am blown away at how fast time has passed, actually zoomed right past us. I have not even had a chance to complete your baby book with all the important dates of when you first rolled over, crawled and walked. I have them written down, thankfully. A day in my life seems to be a month in yours. You have grown up too quickly and skipped over so many of the important steps.

As the third boy in our family, you have two older brothers to look up to – and that you do indeed. Jacob and Jordan have no interest in the Disney channel, so therefore neither do you. The big boys do not even look at Duplo Lego any more, so therefore neither do you. They play with all things superheroes and know how to create monsters out of the small Lego pieces – and you therefore do your best to follow suit!

You are the baby in the family, which is apparent at bed time. Jacob and Jordan go to sleep in their bunk beds every night like clock work. They have a story read to them, then it is “lights out” and they comply with a tired sigh and a “good night mama”. You, my dearest Jansen require a little more handholding than them.

These days you refuse to go to bed, let alone stay there unless both dada and I are in there with you. When I say “bed” I am referring to mama and dada’s bed – since you have also decided that your toddler bed must be meant for someone other than you. There we are – mama and dada, in bed… after songs, a cup of milk, a reassuring hand on your back – held captive, waiting for the sleep fairy to sweep you off your feet off to dream land. We cannot even THINK about sneaking out of the room a minute before you have dozed off – or else the entire process starts all over. But because this is what you apparently need right now, at this stage in your young life, we do not mind obliging and complying with your very convincing requests.

As much as you are the youngest, you are also the oldest and wisest in some regards. You have a way of teasing your brothers, taking their toys, running away and taunting them with the contraband in your possession. You can push them to the brink of a meltdown very easily, but right as they teeter on the edge of hysteria, you ever so sweetly hand over the item held captive in your big bear claw of a hand. With a sweet and gentle smile you manage to make everything “all better” and in a blink of an eye all is forgiven.

Thank you, Jansen for blessing our family and our lives with your gentle presence. I cannot recall a day without you, nor do I want to. Your sweet disposition will lead you far in life, and I am already so proud to be your mama. You truly make me happy when skies are gray – I can only hope to do the same for you – each and every day. Happy second birthday.