for the boy who stole my heart.

Today is the day. Cartier turns 2 today and don't you dare call them terrible because to me he is just a sweet angel boy! This is where I'd like to write that he calls me "Auntie" and knows that I love him best of all his aunties and am his favorite, but that's not true. He doesn't really call me anything. "Ma" sometimes, but not because he thinks I'm his mommy, but because he calls lots of females "ma". Cut him some slack, he's two!Maybe he does know I love him best. :) We do have a special bond/relationship/whatever you want to call it, though. I know he loves me too. After I spent a good three months straight with this stinker, he would cry when I left. I mean fall on the floor and have a fit cry. Don't shut the door to the bathroom because I can't see you cry. Don't you even dare pick up your purse and head towards the door because I know that means you're leaving cry. Watch me show out and deny anyone to who wants to pick me up and console me cry. This boy is keen on theatrics.
We had the sweetest little routine down, too. I would pick him up at 530 in the morning and when I opened the door to get him from the carseat he would always greet me with the sweetest 4 tooth grin and a "hiii!!!!". He couldn't get out of that seat fast enough. Leaning towards me to pick him up and take away for a day of adventures. "Give grandma a kiss," I would tell him before taking him out of the car. A quick, fake kiss he would give and then off to my house.
He quickly remembered my dog, Osi, and turning the corner of my street he would start to say "Puppy! Puppy!" I would grab his things and take him in and hewould immediately stand frozen, shutting his eyes tight with a smile on his face while Osi excitedly circled him and showered him with kisses. He would giggle and run down the hall so that she would follow. I would watch the two of them for a few trips up and down the hall until he decided he was over it and would start to act like he was scared (he never fooled me!). He would come take my hand, lead me to the living room and prop himself up on the oversized seat for one and look at me like, "hey, lady! I know the drill! Put in A Bug's Life, already!"
So we would watch A Bug's Life, sometimes Lion King, and eat our breakfast together. Then off to play. Sometimes we would go down to the park in the neighborhood across the way and swing and slide for hours. Other times he simply wanted to walk and run, up and down the sidewalks, around the block, there was no hill to steep for this little guy. I would follow behind smiling at the little conversation he would hold with himself.
Then back to the house for lunch and a snooze. After lunch, he knew the routine. He would gather his sippy cup, retrieve the coziest blanket and march is little legs on over to me. "Snuggle?" those big doe eyes would say as he waited for me to lift him to my chest and cuddle him to sleep. I think that may be what I miss most about Cartier. He was the best sleep snuggler you could ask for.

I'm missing him a lot today but wishing him the happiest 2nd birthday a boy could dream of. Happy 2 years, Cartier!