Happy second birthday, buddy!

It has been a momentous year, full of many firsts, developments and new tricks.

   A typical day begins at 7:30 with a question over the monitor or through the walls: “Mommy, where are you? Daddy, where are you?” After playing a bit in your crib with Snoopy and Winnie the Pooh, it is time to feed the fishes in your aquarium. Mommy makes you breakfast (pancakes on the weekend – you like to “dip, dip, dip” them in maple syrup) and then it is off for the day’s adventure.

   Because the weather here is generally mild year-round, there are lots of visits to the park or the animal farm. The Children’s Discovery Museum is another favorite destination. Each Saturday we head to Quiznos for lunch – you get very upset when we don’t.

   You have a favorite cashier at the grocery store and enjoy paying (we’ll see how long that lasts when it’s coming out of your allowance). After lunch it’s time for your afternoon nap, generally from 12:30 to between 2:30-3. When you get up, it’s time to play.

   When it is warm we play in your sandbox on the patio or kick the soccer ball around. Other times you like to read My Big Truck Book or My Big Train Book. These books have pictures of various types of trucks/trains and you have memorized all of them. Your memory is remarkable. After a day with the train book, you knew almost all of the dozens of trains, including the difference between a French commuter train, a German commuter train, a Swiss passenger train, and, of course, the Pendonlini.

   You have a voracious appetite for books, and we are reading them to you constantly. One of our current favorites is Close Your Eyes, the story of a little tiger who doesn’t want to sleep. His mommy explains the wonderful world of dreams to him, and at last the tiger is ready to sleep. After one recent reading you exclaimed, “That’s a good book!” We couldn’t agree more, and the thrill of watching you grow from an infant to a toddler has been indescribable. I can only hope you’ll experience this joy with your own children someday.

   You have a bedtime ritual that goes something like this: diaper change, feed the fish, brush teeth, read a story or two, then sing a song. We then put you in your crib (and big boy bed for the past two nights) with your favorite green blankie. Pooh and Snoopy are there too, and we blow kisses to you and your animals. You then blow out the lights (which is actually Mommy and me turning them off, I’m not sure you’ve caught on to this yet).

   Your favorite bedtime books include Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs, Goodnight Moon, “the book of poop,” Time for Bed and Curious George. Some of your favorite songs are “Row, Row, Your Boat,” “Itsy Bitsy Spider,” “The Alphabet Song,” “Wheels on the Bus,” “Little Red Caboose” and “Frère Jacques.”

   This was a year for lots of development. You learned how to walk, climb stairs and use utensils. You know most of your letters and can count to 12. Your vocabulary is extensive and you’re starting to speak complete sentences.

   You love to sing, dance and play jokes. Tickling is a daily occurrence. You’ve already volunteered at a Stanford speech study and at a vegetable garden, and your Mommy and I are committed to instilling in you an appreciation of community service. So far you have very much enjoyed helping out.

   What I will always remember from this amazing year:

    * You taking your first steps like Godzilla, running uncontrollably with both arms swinging wildly overhead;

    * Your Tinky Winky Halloween costume;

    * Watching the sunset with you in Death Valley and the thunderstorm over the Grand Canyon;

    * The way you dance to the Curious George song;

    * Ringing the bell of your tricycle on Christmas morning;

    * Falling asleep on the living room floor as we watched the trees blow in the breeze;

    * The way you laughed as we took turns throwing Snoopy and Pooh in and out of your crib;

    * You running through the sprinklers at Disneyland, screaming happily;

    * How brave you were at your first haircut and how scared you were meeting Santa;

    * Watching you say good-bye to your first friends, Simon and Stony;

    * Your Manny Ramirez point; and

    * You falling asleep on my shoulders after a day exploring tide pools.

   You’ve become quite the little traveler (no you can’t cash in your frequent-flier miles to go to Carnival). This year you went home to Boston a few times, Minnesota, Nevada and Arizona. The sights included Disneyland (where you kissed Mickey Mouse, even though you call him Stinky Mouse), Yosemite, Death Valley, the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, Sedona, Napa and Big Sur. You and I spent a weekend at Uncle Jon’s watching March Madness (“go game!”) and going to Chuck E. Cheese.

   You’ve seen a lot in your young life: You’ve been on an airplane more times these past two years than I had in 25 years. When you add this year’s adventures to last year’s trip to Kauai and the Red Sox World Series victory, you really have witnessed some remarkable things.

   You constantly surprise us. You pick up words so quickly; we’ve really had to watch what we say around you. The kindness and empathy you show toward others really encourages us. You’re quick with a kiss or a “bless you,” and you’re one of the most polite toddlers I’ve seen with your “pleases” and “thank yous.”

   You have a mischievous sense of humor, offering to share your snacks with us before pulling them away at the last minute and breaking up in hysterics. But I think what surprises us most of all is just what excellent company you make. We truly love to be around you because you are easygoing, fun to watch, adorable, curious, cuddly, friendly and unpredictable. As Doc says in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” you are “much better than the radio.”

   If I could offer the future Calvin any piece of advice, it would be to recognize just how fortunate you are and be grateful. You live in a time of endless possibility, where the only boundaries are the ones you set for yourself. Too often we take for granted how miraculous and wonderful life is, and we end up wasting our time on things that don’t matter, or worrying over people or events we cannot control. Each day on this earth is a tremendous gift, and life is very short.

   But don’t take this as cause for despair – take it as justification to maximize your talents, pursue your passions and lead a life of fulfillment. If I ever counsel you to be an accountant or a lawyer, feel free to cite this paragraph to me. And then tell me you’ve decided to play the cello or the oboe instead. Spend your nights with the biggest dreams, and your days realizing them.

   Most of all, we want you to know that we love you very, very much. You have changed the way your Mommy and I view the world and each other. You fill our lives with joy and love. While I’m not sure we’ll ever be able to repay you for that, I assure you we will do our very best. Enjoy a wonderful birthday.

     With all the love in my heart,

        Daddy

Sunday, April 16, 2006