Michael.
Michael is two today (though we aren't telling him much about that until Wednesday, since Daddy is busy working overtime so we can buy him suitable two-year-old presents).
I took Michael to the train station today to look at the trains and trolleys come in and out (read: awesome entertainment for a two-year old which also happens to be free!) and had to drive right past the hospital where he was born.
Unfortunately the traffic was stopped going through town because of the annual Gay Parade that marches through that part of town...ah, what a way to bring back the memories, although I was happily secluded from any of it while our poor families, faithfully staying in the neighborhood hotels, I fear, got the worst of that unhappy coincidence.
But back to the point.
Michael.
No words can possibly capture the fullness of this little personality.
He is a constant joy to watch and I am always stunned by what his little mind is going to produce next.
He is a complex little boy sometimes, full of overwhelming surges of passion and also overwhelming tides of gentleness and affection. The sort of affection that will have him grab even something as insignificant as a foam alphabet letter and give it hugs, cradling it in his arms and rocking back and forth making consoling noises, as if to tell it, "Don't cry"...or petting the doggy embroidered on his onesie and crossing his arms to give it hugs...
...or giving Matthew hugs and kisses unprompted...or, my favorite, barrelling into your arms because you held them open long enough
Michael is a gift to me in terms of my own growth as a person.
His candid frankness reminds me to keep house a little better. When things are not clean, he will tell me, and I would love for my boys to grow up to be on the tidier side of things.
He imitates everything and that is a reminder to me to be pleasant more, to speak in a gentler tone to him, even if I feel like speaking more harshly, to smile more even if what I am doing isn't necessarily making me happy.
We sometimes butt heads, but not because we aren't alike, but mostly because we are the same. We both have a strong emotional streak that can get easily ignited. Sometimes, when he reacts strongly to something, I react right back without even thinking that I am the adult and need to show him a better way to deal with it. It's a good reminder that he will only learn by example...and the attitude/tantrum that is making me the most crazy at any given time...well, I should take it a little easy on the kid because that right there? He got that from me.
He's a funny little contrarian that loves to do the opposite thing, but amazingly has the ability to know when you are jokingly saying "Don't do this" and when you are being serious. He has a keen sense of humor and really plays it up when he knows he's getting a laugh or when you are egging him on. I can get him to eat a whole meal by telling him
not to eat it and one of his favorite books is "There's a Monster at the end of the Book" because it is a whole book based off Grover telling him
not to turn the page. Clearly the author had a child like Michael.
I love how he doesn't want to hold my hand when he is in familiar territory because he is a big boy and can do it on his own, but when he is a strange place, he grabs my finger tight.
He knows that a spontaneous "I love you" from him goes really far with either of his parents.
He doesn't hold grudges long. He can have a dramatic moment one minute and then be done with it and ready to be goofy again. He has taught me I need to be more like that because while he is on ready to be sweet again, I'm still smarting from that previous tantrum. Sometimes I fail to remember that my response and attitude and how quick I am able to recover from his tantrum is a pretty big factor on how the rest of the day will go.
Michael, though he is independent, confident, and determined, is really sensitive to his parents' approval. He loves praise. He looks around and is eager to repeat whatever earned applause and reaction.
Michael, despite only being two, is amazingly
reasonable. I can't tell you how many times we've been able to turn the tide of a situation just by explaining to him our expectations or the consequences of whatever positive or negative behavior we are trying to encourage or discourage. This also applies to his needing to part with a toy or object...giving him ample warning and allowing him to say "goodbye" reduces an astronomical percentage of tantrums with him. If he knows what to expect, he can follow along very well.
Michael is both social and introverted. He loves to be with people...he will follow me in the apartment wherever I go and is heartbroken if he can't. For instance, I used to keep him out of the room when I would lay Matthew down, but when I would close the door on him, even if he knew I was coming right back, he would be devastated. He just wanted to be included, so he comes in with me to put Matthew down for a nap, he'll say Goodnight and easily goes out when it's time to. (Though I have actually discovered him somehow sneaking toys/water cups into Matthew's bed when my back is turned!).
But Michael also needs some "him" time. If we're in a big group (like camping, for example), he needs to spend some quiet time away from the crowds...and from time to time, he wants to sit in his bed and play with toys and when I ask him if he wants to come out, he'll say, matter-of-factly, "No." and when he is ready, he'll let me know.
Michael is truly my buddy. He is no longer a baby I care for, but is becoming quite the companion. He points out whatever his toddler eyes see, he makes jokes, and he'll even say "Bless you, Mommy" when I sneeze. He sings songs, sometimes intentionally messing up the words just to be funny, he makes Matthew laugh and says "thank you" to him when Matthew "shares" a toy (while I'm glad he is at least being polite, whenever I hear "thank you Maffew", it is more of an indication than not that the toy was probably pried out of his hands...but praise the good things, right?).
As we are able to see more and more the goings-on inside Michael's little mind and the articulation of his personality, the more exciting parenting gets and most certainly the more rewarding.
Even when I was pregnant with him, I could sense how Michael would be...and every step of the way, his personality has truly been unique and hysterical as it unfolds.
Again, there are simply no words to describe what a little treasure we have in him...from the first moment we see him in the morning and are promptly instructed "On!" to the shenanagins of his nighttime routine...Michael has a spark of life that we are in awe of and are blessed to have helped God author...but sometimes we both look at each other knowing that his little ways didn't come from either of us but are uniquely his own.
Happy Birthday Michael Jr. We love you!
