And oh, how your mommy loves you
Dear CJ,
As much as I adore both you and your sister Tacy, it’s you over whom I get most protective.
Tacy is one of those kids that people can’t help but love. She’s bright and funny and polite and considerate, and in spite of her dubious fashion sense (I know, I really shouldn’t talk), she’s as cute as a button.
You are also bright and funny and polite and considerate, and although you battle me occasionally regarding clothing choices, you still submit to matching outfits.
But you are also incredibly stubborn and disinterested in meeting the public’s expectations regarding your behavior. You purposely lock your car door from the inside so that you can laugh while I stand outside, knocking on the window. You argue with me about the weather (“Rain!” “Snow!” “No, it’s raining.” “NO! SNOW!”). You’re bossy and illogical (“Sit down, Mommy!” “Okay.” “WANT MILK!” “CJ, I just sat down.” “Peeeeeeeeees?”). You shriek and cling to me as if your day care was really Guantanamo when I drop you off – and when I pick you up, you report, “P’ay wi’ fends. Poopy diaper. No nap!”
Most people, other than your daddy and Tacy and me, don’t see how amazing you are. They see a rambunctious little girl with messy hair who still isn’t potty trained and speaks her own language – when she isn’t screaming loud enough to shatter glass. Even your grandparents have been subjected to your disdain. Your speech therapist is probably the only person outside our family who has seen you at your best.
They don’t understand how funny it is when you say, “Be cayfuh. Fa’ down, bonk ‘a head, hut yaseff.” Or when, even through tears of frustration, you still use your manners (“CJ, it’s time for bed.” “No, t’anks.”). Or that when we refill your sippie cup, you have to “uh-lock ‘a door” before we can open the refrigerator.
They don’t see how you kiss everyone good night (“Mmmmmmmmmmmwah!”). How you press your nose and cheek against mine and sigh audibly, over and over again. How you pop a CD into the player (you’re partial to Jimmy Buffett) and take your daddy’s hand, inquiring, “P’ay chase?” And when he doesn’t respond quickly enough, you shriek, “Nah-ee, nah-ee, boo-boo Daddy!”
They don’t see your burgeoning independence as you scale the desk to grab your daddy’s cell phone so that you can “take ‘a pitcher”, or as you clutch a lollipop (why do all liquor stores hand out lollipops?) in one hand and drag a chair from the kitchen table to the edge of the family room, so that you can “wats Doh-wa” while enjoying your lollipop.
For all of your compulsions, you’re remarkably easygoing in other ways. You’ll happily sit on the potty (“Poop comin’!”), but you’re not in any hurry to ditch the diapers (“CJ, when are you going to be potty trained?” “No, t’anks. Di-pah fine.”). And we manipulate your good nature to our advantage, such as when we’re watching a presidential debate and you turn to us to ask, “Doh-wa comin’?” and we reply, “Yes, Dora’s coming.” Maybe you won’t see her again until tomorrow morning, but just the promise of Dora is enough to satisfy you.
Every once in a while, someone outside this house sees how wonderful you really are – and even documents it. But most of the time, you reserve your charm for us. And I’m honored – honored to be the one that you love so much that you’ll show me that side of you.
Happy third birthday to you, my special girl.
Love,
Mommy
January 24th, 2008 at 2:49 am
I’m a relative latecomer to Mothergoosemouse and I feel like I’ve learned so much about CJ just from this letter. Thank you for sharing.
January 24th, 2008 at 4:23 am
Oh, happy birthday darling CJ! Interesting, complicated kids are so much fun to be around. My nephew was like that, and because I knew him so well and understood his heart, he’s let me in on all his secrets and goings-on in his brain over the years. It’s a wonderful ride.
January 24th, 2008 at 4:30 am
I loved this letter. I, too, have one that most people don’t get to see how wonderful he can be. And I tend to be protective of him, as well.
Happy birthday, CJ!
January 24th, 2008 at 4:36 am
awww. I really need to write up some lovely letters for my own socially unacceptable but beautiful and brilliant offspring. They take after mummy after all.
Loved this:)
January 24th, 2008 at 6:35 am
Happy Birthday big girl! Loved the sweet notes from your mommy…
January 24th, 2008 at 6:37 am
Awe. Happy Birthday CJ.
LMAO at: No thanks, Diapah Fine.
HAHA
January 24th, 2008 at 6:47 am
Happy Birthday!
I must say, during my visit I was charmed by both of your girls. Tacy, for playing Blink with me and being the outgoing, social person she is. And CJ, for snuggling right up next to me content or a couple times even crawling on my lap.
Julie, you’re doing a wonderful job with both your girls. You see them for what they are – both very different, but very wonderful in their own way.
January 24th, 2008 at 7:29 am
Oh Happy Birthday, Beautiful Munchkin!
Three is so much fun! So much wonderfulness (yes, I know that’s not really a word, but it SHOULD be) to look forward to!
Rosey is *fascinated* with CJ. She thinks she’s ‘ooh, pitty gurl, Mama.’
and wants to know if she’ll come to play.
January 24th, 2008 at 7:47 am
Oliver locks his door from the inside, too. And sits there and laughs hysterically at me as I climb through from the other side of the van to unlock it.
Happy Birthday to CJ!
January 24th, 2008 at 7:55 am
CJ is sweet and charming in her own way and you and Kyle have done an amazing job in recognizing it and celebrating it.
Happy Birthday, CJ!
January 24th, 2008 at 8:13 am
I too feel like I’ve learned a lot about CJ from this post. And a lot about you, too.
She’s a whole bucketful of cute, that one. Happy birthday!
January 24th, 2008 at 8:15 am
Happy birthday CJ!!! I think I need some more rosy cheek kisses very soon.
January 24th, 2008 at 8:30 am
Happy birthday CJ! I loved hearing her voice shine through in this letter.
January 24th, 2008 at 8:31 am
Happy 3rd birthday CJ! What a sweetheart. I LOVE that photo of you with her Julie.
January 24th, 2008 at 8:44 am
That was very sweet. She’ll love reading that when she’s older. Happy Birthday CJ!
January 24th, 2008 at 9:36 am
This is really beautiful. You sound like a good team!
January 24th, 2008 at 9:40 am
Happy birthday CJ!
January 24th, 2008 at 9:56 am
What a sweet letter to your birthday girl. Really beautiful. Happy birthday!
January 24th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Beautiful! Just like her.
Happy birthday, little one!
January 24th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Happiest birthday, sweet girl. Wonderbaby awaits the day that the two of you can take over the world together.
January 24th, 2008 at 10:46 am
WOW ~ that was a really neat post, thank you for that. I too REALLY appreciate my babies!
January 24th, 2008 at 10:52 am
Happy birthday CJ! Lovely letter Mom.
January 24th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Aw, sweet girl. Happy Birthday to CJ!
That picture of the two of you is stunning.
January 24th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Sweet, sweet girl! Happy birthday to her (and to you, people always forget we were there!)!
Tomorrow my own special girl turns 10! Yikes!
January 25th, 2008 at 9:55 am
It’s especially moving because of the honesty.
January 25th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Such sweet words. For such a sweet looking child.
Happy Birthday CJ. May this be a fabulous new year filled with loads of fun and excitement and lots of love!
January 25th, 2008 at 11:25 am
So gorgeous! Turn around and she’ll be 13. As they say when you’re at at-home mom: The days can be long but the years are so very, very short. And they are.
January 25th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Happy Birthday CJ!
That is a lovely letter to your baby girl.
January 25th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Julie! That photo of you and CJ is amazing – AMAZING. So beautiful. Wow.
Isn’t it funny how we do worry over one child more than another. I have one that will sail through life with nary a problem – she slips away from trouble like water on a duck’s back.
Then, I have another that hurts deeply, long and hard, and I worry about her incessantly. I see all the mysterious wonder she holds – even what she can’t see for herself, but not others. They don’t see it …yet.
This is a beautiful birthday tribute.
Thank you.
January 25th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Oh, Julie.
So sweet.
xo
April 20th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
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