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| Comparison of your first and second birthday celebrations |
Ford,
As you approach two years, I want to take a moment to write about the sweet, feisty, smart little boy that you are. A challenge in every way, but one of the greatest blessings your dad or I have ever been entrusted with.
I did a miserable job at keeping up your baby book. You and I, we were learning together in that first year. You were adjusting to this world as I was adjusting to being a mom, and God rooted out lots of my selfishness and autonomy through you. During your first year -- especially the first five months, as you were a colicky little babe, crying all day and night long, many times -- I was brought into a greater dependence on our Heavenly Father. At first I would ask him to make you a happier baby. "Lord, please... my friends' babies don't cry like this. I am trying everything (everything!) to get him to stop, and I can't figure out why he is so sad." But you continued to cry and cry. Then I began to pray that the Lord would give me a stronger back and a deeper resolve to be able to "handle you." I asked that I would be up to the challenge. Little by little, the days started to be filled with more smiles (from both of us!) and lots of joy. By the time you were eight months old, we were two peas in a pod. I cherished our "Ford and Mommy time," whether we were just going to the park or playing with blocks or visiting friends.
When you were seven months old, I was laid off from my job as a communications specialist for a medical device company. It was, in many ways, a huge answer to prayer. I received a severance package, but better than that, I was able to spend a few months of focusing on you, my precious boy. I quickly learned, though, that I was a better mom -- more present during my time with you -- when I had at least a little bit of part time work, so I began taking some consulting jobs and would spend your naptimes writing.
When you were almost nine months old, your dad and I took a trip, just the two of us, to China. We wanted to visit your dad's Uncle Steve, who was a pastor in Hong Kong, and we did a tour of the mainland too. You stayed with MeeMee for the first seven days, then Grandmama the last six days. Ohhhh how your dad and I missed you! Your grandmothers would send us pictures and videos of you during the almost two weeks that we were apart. We called it our "Daily Ford," and I would look at the pictures and videos over and over on my iPad. When we came home, it was the sweetest feeling seeing you at the airport and realizing you knew who I was. Grandmama was holding you, then when you saw me, you started kicking your little legs and smiling like a mad man. I held you and you rested your head on my shoulder, and I swear you were hugging me tight. On the car ride from the airport back to our house in southeast Dallas (Ponderosa Way), I sat in back with you. We grinned at each other -- you from your carseat -- and then you grabbed my index finger, put it in your mouth, and started to chew. Suddenly, a tiny tooth broke through your bottom gums! Your first tooth at nine months, and you waited until I was home from China to cut it. Thank you for letting me be a part of that milestone!
As for other milestones, I will record them here for your future wife, as she may want to know what to expect with your own babies. You held your head up a little late, around three months. My guess is that the huge size of your head (you were always off the charts! it's those big brains.) held you back a little on that one. But you made up for it with the other milestones: rolling from tummy to back and back to tummy ahead of schedule, crawling at seven months, walking at 10.5 months. You had the strongest little legs, even when you were a newborn. You didn't like to be held close, and you were happiest when you became mobile, able to crawl and pull up and walk and see the world on your own. My little boy, independent from the very start. We gave you your first solids when you were six months old, having a little "party" to celebrate your first half year of life. I made you big sweet potato chunks with ginger and steamed pears with cinnamon. You loved the pears but didn't care for the sweet potato. We skipped "baby foods" with you (no purees), opting instead to give you whatever we were eating, for the most part. You were a pretty bold eater, and I was grateful, as I love exploring different kinds of cuisines.
You have also proved very verbal from an early age. Your first word (besides babbling things like "da da da") was "no," uttered around eight or nine months while Daddy was giving you a bath. You said "dada" before you said "mama." Daddy was your favorite, favorite person during your first year. When you had me completely puzzled and frantic in those early months, Dad was the only one who could calm you down. He would throw you up in the air, hold you upside down, or bounce you like crazy on his knee -- and you couldn't get enough. When you were born, I didn't get to see or hold you for four hours after the delivery, due to some complications in my recovery. Your dad was the first to hold you, and you two bonded instantly. Seeing him as a father has been such a sweet gift to my heart. You have brought out so much good in us, and we praise God for you and the work that He has already done in our lives through you.
We had a huge birthday party with all of your friends and our families when you turned one. You ate it up! You were such a good host, and all of my friends remarked that you were the only baby they had seen who LOVED being sung the happy birthday song; other babies would freak out and cry. Your favorite part, predictably, was the giant sprinkle cake I had made you. Right before you turned one, we learned we were expecting your baby sister, Vivi. That caused me to be very intentional about spending time with your during your second year (age 1), as we anticipated her arrival and as I prepared to lost the one-on-one time you and I had enjoyed to that point.
Your favorite toys during your second year (age 1) were BOOKS, counting toys, and anything related to the ABCs. You knew all of your ABCs by 17 months and could spell your name by 20 months. You would say, "F-O-R-D! Ford! Datshur name, Ford!" (that's your name, Ford!). You also love your colors and shapes, calling stop signs "octagons" or "stop octagons." You had just turned 19 months when you said your first full (multi-word) sentence: "God made bellybuttons." You would repeat Genesis 1:1, "God made the heavens and the earth," after us, but one day, on your own, you ran into the kitchen where your dad and I were sitting and said very emphatically, "God" (pointing to the sky)... "made" (molding something with your hands)... "BELLYBUTTONS!" (pulling up your shirt). We put you in Mother's Day Out at 22 months. Your teachers at MDO and at Sunday School at Watermark were astonished at how bright you were ("He can count to 20! He can spell his name!"), and I would beam with pride as they would tell me how exceptional you were. I began praying that you would not consider yourself wise in the world's eyes, but use your gifts for God's glory, remain humble, and love others before yourself.
You had a strong will like I can't even describe. Some of our biggest battles were over naptime, getting dressed, taking baths, getting in your carseat... Basically, if it wasn't your idea, you didn't want to do it! I started to dread taking you to the park, because unfailingly, you would throw a GIANT tantrum when it was time to leave. Your dad and I keep telling each other that a strong will is not necessarily a bad thing; we just need to help you channel your resolve into doing good things and building others up. We often remind you of the three L's: Continuously LEARN, step up and LEAD, and bring LIFE to others. Over and over these days we encourage you to "bring life to others." Your dad, similarly, puts you to bed every night by telling you the five S's: Step up, Speak up, Stand firm, Stay humble and Serve the King. You invariably chant those commands along with him, which warms my heart like I can't even describe. I pray that as you grow you don't just know these words, but that you will truly apply them and make them your own.
Still, I tell myself that although I could do without the tantrums and the battles of the will, I am blessed to have a child who loves others and whom others love in return. When we walk through Watermark, I swear more people know you than me! Your Sunday School teachers and other childcare workers wave to you and call you by name. Your best friend at this age is Caleb Rodgers, a playgroup friend and such a sweet, feisty, smart boy as well. You two met when you were just a couple of weeks old! You two are birds of a feather, and Caleb's mom and I will often laugh as we compare notes and find that you two will both skip naps the same day, throw fits over mealtimes on the same day, and more. You and Caleb call each other "dude," then giggle hysterically. You frequently wake up and ask to go to "dude's house."
We did a lot to help prepare you for Vivi's birth. We read books about being a big brother and talked a lot about the new baby. I had one of my old baby dolls, and we'd talk about how we need to be gentle with babies, we don't touch their eyes, etc. I expected Vivi to cry as much as you did when you were born, and I was afraid that might upset you, so we told you that babies cry to tell us what they need: diaper changes, milk, sleep, etc. When Vivi was born on March 29, 2013, you were 19 months old and could not have been more excited and more sweet. We had taken you to our neighbors' house, and you were happy to spend the night with Grampa Don and Grammy Carol (Mathus) until MeeMee and Pop arrived from Boerne. When you first met Vivi in the hospital room at Baylor UMC Dallas, you wanted to get a closer look, so you were placed in bed with me to say hello to this baby, your sister. You just grinned from ear to ear. Eventually you demanded to "hold her," and I helped you support her as you sat in my lap. When it was finally time to leave, you were devastated, and you wanted to take Vivi with you. Before you left, I gave you a set of Hot Wheels cars and a helicopter, and that helped soothe the sting of having to say goodbye. We brought Vivi home on Easter Sunday, and you loved having so much of your family around -- MeeMee and Pop, Uncle Matt and Aunt Brittney, Uncle Brett and his girlfriend Hannah. You also got to visit with Great Uncle Brett and Great Aunt Penny and their dog Lucky, which you thought was great fun.
Around this time, we sold our first house and prepared to move to our house on Yamini Drive in Dallas. We were packing for a move, caring for a newborn and then you were sick with EVERYTHING for about three weeks straight. You had been SO HEALTHY up until this point, but suddenly you got ear infections in both ears (your first ear infections!), a horrendous stomach virus, pink eye in both eyes, hand foot and mouth disease... It was ridiculous! Since we were so preoccupied and you were sick, you started watching TV. Elmo was your favorite, but you loved the movies Finding Nemo and Cars. You also adored Blue's Clues and Dora the Explorer. It was also around this time that you started to say "MY [fill in the blank]!" whether it was "My iPad!" or "My car!" or "My cup!" You also began your constant refrain of "MY DO IT!" to let us know that you did NOT want help with something. I can sense that we are getting closer to two years of age! You love all things with wheels and have started making your Little People toys have conversations, which usually go something like this: "Hewwo! [How] are you? Good. That's silly, boy. Don't cry. Later!" You are constantly looking for ways to serve me and Vivi, bringing me my shoes and insisting I put them on, finding Vivi's paci and putting it in her mouth, taking our cordless vacuum and pushing it around the kitchen while exclaiming, "Mess, mama!" This morning as I was tidying the kitchen, you told me, "Good job clean up, Mama!"
You love spending time outdoors, riding your Spiderman Bicycle, Lightning McQueen car, playing T-ball, playing with your sand and water table, swimming, watering the plants... Your FAVORITE is being outdoors at night. You will search the sky until you find the moon and say with incredible enthusiasm, "MOON, mama! That's a moon!" During the day you'll look up at the sky from the car window and say, "Sun... clouds... No moon. There's no moon, mama." Funny enough, you were born facing upward -- a variation from the typical position of most newborns, who face downward. I've heard that babies who are born in that occiput posterior position like you are called "stargazers" in some cultures. That is certainly you, my Ford: a stargazer, or perhaps a "moongazer."
My prayer for you as you begin your third year (age 2) is that you will come to know Christ at an early age, and not just a head knowledge, but a true heart love and gratitude for the gift of His life and a desire to become like Him. May you not seek to become wise in the world's eyes, but to serve the King and serve others before yourself. I ask that God shapes your character and conforms your will so that your determination is channeled into things that build others up and bring life to others. You are such an exceptional boy. As I stroke your forehead and your cheeks during your sleepiest moments, I marvel at the fact that I am your mother. What a sweet, undeserved gift that is. I love you, my precious boy.
Thank you, thank you Lord, for giving me my Ford. You are a good, good God.
