Today

It was your last day in the parent-tot gymnastics class. For half your
life, we've gone to these classes, me following you around as you
learned your way around. Lately, it's become clear that you're ready
for a change - the classes are filled with newly-minted 18 month olds
and the difference between you and them? It's astounding.

Saturday you'll move to Miss Annie's class. You've been eyeing her
classes for months, asking me when you get to go. And just as
importantly, it seems, you want me to sit down in the chairs with the
other parents.

You finished off your time as a parent-tot student by climbing all the
way to the top of the climbing wall, the jumping off into the foam
blocks, and laughing your newly-minted 3 year old ass off.

Three

Yesterday, you turned three. Your party was a success, you loved being
the birthday girl. I hope your day was magical, because it should be
nothing less.

I got up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom and saw your
light flash on. I looked, and you were standing up, this little flash
of blue from your sharky pajamas, turning on your light. You stumbled
into the bathroom and asked to come to our room, but it's too early.

So I took you back to your room and sat with you until you fell back to
sleep. I remembered the night after your birth, when I was a wreck.
You woke several times that night, but all I could do for you was
breastfeed you, many times falling asleep as I did so. Andrea had to do
everything else because I physically could not. The recovery from your
birth was so tough that I didn't change your diaper for 4 days.

But tonight, these three years later, Andrea slept while I cared for you
in the middle of the night.

And so my birthday girl, I continue to be amazed by you and to be so
grateful that I'm your Mom. Sweet dreams, tonight and every night.