It's birthday week yet again in the Phillips household. As you may or may not know, I tend to go a bit over board on birthdays when it involves my kids. If you are not my offspring...well, you pretty much just get the usual "happy bday" from me. For Jason and I, the whole birthday thing for our kids is not as much about the gifts and parties and decorations as it is about...I'm looking for the right word and can't find it. Well, it's just about them. It's about the sheer joy they've brought to our lives. The sleepless nights we've endured. The battles we've picked. The triumphs. Just the tough, long, bumpy, windy road of parenthood! Which I must say is the best road ever traveled and I highly encourage you take he trip down it someday, if you have not yet. There's nothing else like it.
And, back to Carter. Two years ago Friday, on a warm spring day, Jason proudly carried our brand new bundle, swaddled in a blue and white polka dot blanket, through our back door. Forever changing this family. I remember it vividly. My mother and grandmother waited anxiously on the couch with our almost 2 year old. Jason swooped our tiny new creature out to show Gavin and we were all greeted with tears from both boys. Gavin was unsure of what this baby was doing outside of the hospital. Why had he come home with us? Wasn't he going to stay there, at the hospital...forever? Carter, simply overstimulated from the new voices, sounds, smells...probably just wanted to crawl back into the womb where he could remain safe forever! It was not going at all how we had envisioned. But, then neither did the first time around with baby #1!
We did not know it then, but the days ahead of us were long. The nights stretched longer. Carter was an easy baby as Gavin began a difficult phase. Much of the past two years are blurry, to both Jason and myself, but when asked, we both agree, we'd do it again in a heartbeat. We've learned a lot. Our love for each other and our children is a deeper, stronger love than we've ever known and it's beautiful.
Just when we thought we could never love another child with as much love as we had for Gavin, Carter ripped into this world in record time, and took us all by storm. He is quiet, but yet demands security and attention. There is rarely a moment his face is vacant of a smile or a mischievous grin that has come to be known as "evil face". Carter has a lion, a ball and frog that he will not part with...EVER. They are his life. He doesn't enjoy food much, but can drink (milk, of course!) you under the table! His vitamins are his favorite food. The child seriously loves to brush his teeth. He hates going poop in his diaper, so he'd rather hold it in instead. He's a bit dramatic like his momma. He's a daddy's boy all the way.
In short, we are blessed to have this baby boy in our lives. Everyday we get with him is a gift to be treasured. As cheesy as it sounds, we are literally bubbling with pride. Jason and I are so proud of our little Carter Bear. And, because I print these for their baby books this is for you C-Bear: From the 1st moment we held you, we loved you. From the first time you smiled, you captivated us. From your first laugh to first steps, to rocking you every night to watching you gain new life experiences, you have become our world. Happy 2nd Birthday, to you, little dude!
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| Somebunny is turning TWO! |
