Toddler

Hey there mister almost two year old.  Do you know how you drive your parents absolutely nutty with your crazy ways?  How you are always pushing us to the brink to see how much you can get away with.  The throwing of food on the floor, overturned pet food and water bowls, screaming, jumping and climbing on things you shouldn't.  Slapping me, slapping other kids, laughing in my face when I say no.  Saying bye dada when u want him to leave.   I've never been pushed to the edge this far before and then add in a healthy dose of sleep deprivation and it's like some sort of mid evil torture.  But here's how you really get me kid---

I see you run full speed for a puddle (after picking a "gape"/rose hip from a bush). And your hair is blowing all crazy blonde curls around your face and your covered in chocolate cookie and you jump with such enthusiastic glee that I cry laugh because your mine.  Your pointing out sailboats and laughing with closed eyes and you want up up up "carry you" and you want to touch that tractor and you want to walk alone but holding my hand.  And you know I feel it.  I get that every second is fleeting and someday you won't hold my hand, but someday you might not throw food either.  And it's a crazy roller coaster for anyone who loves a toddler.  The wanting to grow up a bit and the holding him a bit to tight sometimes and kissing his smushy cheeks because right now u can.  The fighting over of independence and dependence.  And I see your dad in your personality and myself In you aNd all our relatives but I mostly see you Alden.  My ball of crazy energy jumping monkey on the bed.  The nighttime small feet against my belly.  My crying, loving, goofy, toddler.  I adore you and you couldn't be anymore perfect to me.