stay sweet, my baby boy

A LETTER TO COOPER

JUNE 14TH, 2016

I never pictured you as a big brother at the age of two. Technically you've been a big brother since you were 16 months old, but it never really counted before now. There you are, sitting on the couch watching your favourite show, with a bowl of watermelon slices and a baggie of goldfish. The watermelon is for you while the fish are to be doled out slowly at Jillian's request. 

She's always at your feet. You're her favourite person in the world; who could blame her? She pulls on your shoes, she tugs on your shorts trying to get you to sit on the floor with her. She's a bit of a pest. Too big to just sit there like a little baby and too little to be off doing her own thing. And you handle it like a champ. When she takes a tumble you lean down and give her a hug. When she starts to make that fussy sound at the end of the day, you say "bye bye, Jee," and wave while Dad carries her to bed.

Seeing you sit there with the bag of fishies, handing them out one by one, it makes my heart feel like it could explode. Two babies, and yet you're both growing up. 

For now, it's tugging on the velcro straps of your shoes, but in a few short years it'll be running into your room while you have friends over and embarrassing you. My message to you is this: please stay sweet. Stay good to her always, even as you both grow up. Hug her when she's sad, help her when she needs it, and cheer her on. Stay sweet, my baby boy. 

love, 

mom

xo