You turned two a week ago*, no sickness, no teething, all smiles and balloons. I made you a cake with red berries piled on top and you kept grabbing the berries off of everyone else's slices.
You have finally started to talk, we tallied the other day and counted just over 25 words which was more than I would have guessed. Ball, balloon, bird, and boots are your favorites; they are also four of your favorite things. Other favorite things include: owls, giraffes, airplanes, and for the moment, especially cats (which you call "meeeeeeooooooow"). Also group hugs: when we went to your 2-year checkup, during the period of waiting between the doctor and the nurse who follows up with the shots, we were sitting on the bench and you hugged me, then reached over for Lucy with your right arm, then for Daddy with your left.
You love to snuggle when you first wake up, still burrowing your face into my neck, still running your fingers through my hair like you've done since you were so little.
You like to cook with me in the kitchen, especially peeling garlic, ripping kale leaves off their stems, and pushing the on button of the food processor.
You have discovered that Lucy can draw things for you, and you hand her paper and make a request: owl, bird, giraffe, airplane. And again, most recently: cat. For the most part she loves to do it, and you both have quite a bit of fun that way.
You are an Aries, which I don't think about much except that our neighbor (who is also an Aries) mentioned, when you were just learning to walk, that she had read a book about how different star signs lead with different body parts when they move. Aries are headstrong, and they lead with their heads. At the time you were very much leading with your belly in a lopsided rumble, so I thought it wasn't true, but now, everywhere you go is running, and I think about it all the time. I watch you running down the sidewalk, head forward, leading your body by several inches; blonde hair shaped by the last haircut I gave you flapping like a little shelf in the wind.
You're growing! Happy Two!
I love you, Oscar.
Love,
Mama.
*Now two and a half weeks.
