my two year old

               It’s hard to believe that it was just two years ago that Baby Zane came into our lives.  While his ‘birth’ day played out totally different than I had ever imagined it would, the result was the most beautiful baby boy that I had ever laid eyes on. I fell instantly in love with those big brown eyes.   

His first birthday was a definite milestone, for him and me! It was the hardest, most challenging, sleepless, yet rewarding year of my life.  

So, here we are….two years old! At first I didn’t want to accept that he isn’t a baby anymore.  And then I decided to EMBRACE it! Two year old Zane is so much easier and more fun than Baby Zane.

When I think back to Baby Zane, I remind myself that he was SO unbelievably cute and sweet and perfect. And cranky. And cried 90% of the time. And never let me put him down. And NEVER slept. And that I had to do everything I possibly could to get that kid to crack a smile. And NEVER slept. Did I mention that he never slept?

On a good night, Zane fell asleep in the car or the swing and was successfully transferred to his bed.  And, not to beat a dead horse, but he was up every 2 hours. At least.

On a bad night, I would rock him, sing to him, walk up and down the hall bouncing him for HOURS while he fussed and cried. He would eventually crash around 11.  It really seemed like fiction when I would hear other parents mention watching a TV show or movie, or doing housework after their baby went to bed. I couldn’t run to bed fast enough when Baby Zane went to sleep!  I had to hurry and get my ‘nap’ started!

Let’s compare that to Two year old Zane.  He’s happy. He’s funny. He’s smart.  He’s still unbelievably cute. And he sleeps!  While still not the most consistent sleeper….I’m not walking a hole in the floor at night anymore.

The other night I got home at 10pm. We thought he was asleep….until we turned on the monitor.  He was sitting up in bed playing. I went in his room to tell him good night. He said, “Hi Mama! Up, Mama?”  So I picked him up. “Mama room?”  And, well, Matt was working all night, and while Zane never sleeps with us, I thought it couldn’t hurt just this once.  “Mama, TV?” 

Oh, alright.  So, he was up late.  But we were snuggled in bed watching cartoons. And he would occasionally reach over with his little hand and rub my cheek or my arm and say, “Oh, mama.  Hi Mama.  Ooohwah, Mama.” He is my bestest little friend.