He is now 2!

Two whole years since this little boy came into the world wide-eyed and curious.

A child of eager enthusiasm, who thinks the most awesome thing in the world a big, roaring truck with a dog riding along.

 A son who heartily admires everything that Daddy does and still needs Mummy to cuddle every hurt away.

 A boy who wants to start fires (with little effect so far); build castles to knock down; bake cookies and help cook; wear cologne and shave; read books about trains and watch Curious George any time he can.

 As a brother he is eager to help "Shurshoo" learn to ride the rocking horse and climb up things, and occasionally be selfish and have to sit by himself.

He chases flys around the house, helps with dishes, spills his water, then grabs a towel (or other nearby cloth) to clean up the mess.

 

Two years of boyness! He's loud, he's busy, he's affectionate, he's sticky, he's naughty, he's helpful. A few days ago he said, "I love you" for the first time.

My son of the Big Sky country, with a heart just as big and personality to match.

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Ethan St. Patrick Mallery!

 

My Craziness, my little Hims, my Sunshine boy, my wee laddie

Mummy loves you so much!

 

Anne Bradstreet, Mother

Diverse children have their different natures: some are like flesh which nothing but salt will keep from putrefaction, some again like tender fruits that are best preserved with sugar. Those parents are wise that can fit their nurture according to their nature.

 ~Anne Bradstreet

 

 

Sidenote: Happy Sweet Sixteen to my fun little sis-in-law Raydeemie!

And thanks for introducing Ethan to frogs.

 

 

If

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise.

If you can dream-and not make dreams your master;
If you can think and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn out tools.

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss;
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the will which says to them, "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds worth of distance run-
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son.

~Rudyard Kipling

I read this poem often to my son. I hope to etch it into his memory as guideline for who will be the heroes of his youth, and mark he strives for as he grows.

A little bit of direction for the day ahead

 

Here's to a new month. And I ask myself...

 

Who will I share new things with?

What will I learn of the world afar?

When will I have that next poem come to me?

Where will I have new adventures?

Why am I so amazingly blessed of God?

How can I contain the joy of the life I will experience?