Dear John,

Well (as you're fond of saying these days), it's almost that time again...your birthday! This time 3 years ago, I was 30 min away from having my water broke and beginning the longest 24 hours of my life :) Watched your birth video not too long ago - the real one w. all the tears, exhaustion, anticipation, fearful moments (from your listless right arm). I don't know that it won't ever be emotional to relive those moments waiting & finally welcoming you into the world. Knowing what I know now - I mostly see how our world would never look or feel the same after June 18, 2008. We were blessed to become parents and we count blessings every day that you're the sweet soul who made us Mama & Deddy.

In this 3rd year you have grown & changed so much. Still constantly amusing & amazing us seemingly every other breath. In between those moments, you're growing your lil' tenacity and that personality of yours sure keeps us on our toes! I've made several people chuckle in the past year when referring to you as my "spirited 2 year old" - you're all that & then some :) If you were any more a chip off your mama's block - well, I don't know that you could be! And while you wear our patience relentlessly into the ground sometimes - we're still so proud of you & all your "spirit."

As a byproduct of that overwhelming "spirit", you spend a fair amount of time in time out. Truth be told, you should know that we're often just around the corner trying not to let you see us laugh. You amuse as much as you frustrate :) With your constant talking, singing, kung-fu'ing - there's certainly never a dull moment. "I want to talk" - if we had a dollar for every time you rebut us w.that line we could buy a lot of "surprises" for you at the "big store".

In the last year you have become a great big brother to Ella. Watching you with her sometimes takes our breath away. Your ease, tenderness, helpfulness and attempts to make her laugh at you delights us beyond words. Yes, sometimes you hug her too tight, you snatch a toy from her - protesting, "she doesn't want that one" (interesting, when she's firmly grasping/chewing on it), you "accidentally" cause her to fall over, you get nose to nose in her face (which she clearly despises) or you cry & thus she feels the need to cry. By and large though - you are a great big brother and I find myself often saying that I hope you always live up to the adoration she clearly has for you! You two are clearly smitten with each other and we just soak it up knowing that it will be fleeting for at least the ages of 5-15 :)

I don't want to get long winded here (as I tend to do), but I do want you to know how proud we are of you. You have set the bar so high and we just look forward to all the joys, adventures and laughter that we'll continue to be blessed with being your parents. We love you son and hope that you have the happiest birthday EVER!

Love ~ Mama & Deddy

you're my blue sky...you're my sunny day