Happy Birthday, Graeme!

My oldest son turns two today! Two years ago right about now I was just getting to the hospital (read Graeme's birth story)....wow, how much has happened in two years, it's hard to believe!

We celebrated with a "birthday dinner" last night. Daddy and Graeme grilled hamburgers, Mama made a lemon-raspberry cake (with yellow squash as a secret ingredient;) with cream cheese icing.

We're hoping to find a tricycle for Graeme's "big present" from us (and with some money from family)...meanwhile, we gave him some new markers, a huge thing of bubbles, and 8 balloons were hung up this morning, which I then took down so he could throw them in the air and play with them. It's amazing how those very small birthday treasures gave him so much pleasure.

Mama cooked the birthday boy his favorite breakfast: pancakes!!!! Macaroni n cheese was for lunch (another favorite), and he is now taking a refreshing snooze so we can go to the park this afternoon. What a day!

Indulge me for a moment as I write a brief note to my son on his 2nd birthday:

Graeme, you are a delight to have as a son. You are so loving - not a day goes by without your hugs, kisses, "lo - u" - filling our hearts with joy. You love to help. Don't ever stop running to turn on lights, pick up the broom, give your brother his toys...you have a true servant's heart, which is a blessing from God. Your motor skills, both large and fine, are advanced; while your language skills are slower, every day it seems you are trying a new word, and I am looking forward to having wonderful conversations with you this year. You know your colors, shapes and numbers already, and you even recognize "Mama" and "Graeme" when I write them down. Your favorite things to do are reading, helping, playing outside, and being with Mama, Daddy and Cole.

A Prayer For My Son

Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory.

Build me a son whose wishes will not take the place of deeds; a son who will know Thee -- and that to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge.

Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge. Here let him learn to stand up in the storm; here let him learn compassion for those who fail.

Build me a son whose heart will be clear, whose goals will be high; a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men; one who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past.

And after all these things are his, give him, I pray, enough of a sense of humor, so that he may always be serious, yet never take himself too seriously. Give him humility, so that he may always remember the simplicity of true greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, and the meekness of true strength.

Then I, his mother, will dare to whisper, "I have not lived in vain."
by Douglas MacArthur (edited by me to read "mother")