A Letter to My Little Man

Dear Jack,

Three years ago today, you entered the world and changed my life forever. When you were born and I first saw your precious face, everything that defined who I was changed in a mere instant, and I knew I was born to be your mom. What I didn't know then was that you were born to be my son and that having you would change me in so many ways and teach me so many things I never even knew I needed to learn.

When you were born, I thought you were the most amazing thing I'd ever seen. Until you were 3 months old and first began to really smile at me, and then I thought that was the most amazing thing I'd ever seen. Then you were six months old, and you sat up and laughed, and it was the most amazing thing I had ever seen. When you were 10 months old, you walked for the first time (and you haven't stopped moving since) and that really was the most amazing thing I'd ever seen. Until you started talking (and you having stopped since!) and your words were the most incredible things I'd ever heard. In the past 3 years, you have left me awestruck countless many times.

I will never, ever forget the first time you counted to 10 (in the bathtub) or the first time I watched you peddle your tricycle for real (down our sidewalk) or the first time you slept in your big boy bed (when you were barely even 2 years old). I'll always remember the first time I heard you sing a song (Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star), the first time I listed to you saying your ABC's, all of the block creations you've made, the first time you made your own breakfast (Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla ice cream) and the time you made your own waffles (before you even turned 3).

Throughout your life, I have repeated the phrase "this is my favorite stage" over and over again, and now, I'm saying it again. You, as you are now, are my favorite Jack.

Your light shines brighter than it has ever shone before. You're a Super Hero and a good guy, and sometimes you wear bad guy clothes, you are a boy who loves to wear pajama shirts and happy pants. You love odd looking socks, you play more with your imagination than any toy you've ever had, you still love fruit more than almost anything, you won't eat peanut butter (still) and you love jelly sandwiches. Mickey Mouse and Iron Man are your two favorite people and you still love trains, airplanes and firetrucks. These are things I will always remember about you and your 3 year old self.

When I ask you if you're a silly goose, you tell me no. When I ask you if you're a crazy mouse, you tell me no. So I ask you what you are, and you tell me "I'm just Jack!" And I'm so glad you are.

So, Jack, on this first day of the fourth year of your life, you are still the MOST amazing thing I've ever seen, and I wish you a happy birthday! I hope with all my might that you'll always know how special you are to be Just Jack, to be you, to be the son that you are to your dad and me and to be the person you will be to the world.

I love you more than life itself, and I always will.

Always,
Mama