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Three

On this cold day in January, three years ago, I was admitted to the hospital to give birth to my second son.

Having had the easier labour and delivery ever when I delivered my first child, I was confident things would go just as smoothly the second time around.

However, I went into that delivery room much more prepared than the first time—I didn't bring a suitcase filled with novels with me. Not only did I pack more appropriately, I was wiser as a mother, with over two years of experience under my belt.

After my son was born my sister brought me fettuccini alfredo from my favourite Italian restaurant. I ate my dinner and watched CNN as my new baby slept soundly beside me. This time around, I wasn't afraid to close my eyes, and I didn't jump with each sound or movement my baby made. I even managed to sleep that night, something I didn't do for 72 hours after my first son was born.

I was so much more relaxed. And very blessed, to be the mother of these two little boys.

The next day, my best friends came to visit and rather than panic and break out the Purell, I was calm, happy, and talkative.

"Loukia, you are so much different this time around! It's like you're not even the same person!" my best friend pointed out to me.

This was true. The second time is much easier, in every way.

My little monkey is the biggest ray of sunshine in our lives, making us laugh uncontrollably daily. He is hilarious and brilliant. The things he knows, the things he asks, and the things he says—mispronounced words and all—leave me in awe all the time. When I pick him up from my inlaws or parents house after work, he runs to me, smiling, and recounts his day for me, telling me everything that happened.

He is such a character, such a little actor, and so very dramatic! His theatrics make me giggle. If we lived in Hollywood, he'd be a star, with those facial expressions and big eyes that let him get away with anything.

One of the most amazing parts of motherhood is knowing your children so completely. He is similar to me in many ways, but vastly different too—he is very social, more outgoing than I ever was as a child, and enters a room with purpose and determination. If he's late to the party, he joins in, not missing a beat. He's a confident child, an athletic child, and the most energetic child, always ready to go.

He share a special bond with my grandmother, which is lovely to see. My grandparents don't really have a 'favourite' when it come to their three great grandchildren, however, I know he warms their heart like no one else, and he's the reason they shorten their summer vacation to Greece year after year.

He calls sugar 'sugie'. He loves to snuggle and he talks non-stop, in Greek and in English. He loves hearing stories, and he loves playing with his older brother and riding on his plasma car.

He is fiercely independent, and has been doing many things on his own for a long time, like feeding himself. He makes me proud. He like to negotiate with me about why he should have just one more snack before bedtime, and why he needs to watch just one more episode of Caillou before I turn off the television.

His brand new double bed and brand new comforter sit untouched in his room. He still sleeps with me at night, in my bed. I just can't transfer him yet—I love having him snuggle up next to me, his feet sprawled all over my body. I kiss his little baby toes, and inhale his sweet scent, knowing that one day soon, he'll be too big to sleep with me.

Now that he is three years old, he's not an infant anymore—however, he will forever and always be my baby.


Happy Birthday, lovely little boy!

Comments

Unknown said…
Happy Birthday to your sweet, vibrant boy! And I love your new look! Very nice, very YOU. :-D
Jill said…
Happy birthday to the munchkin! And I agree - love your new page. So clean. So sleek!
I LOVE this post!! Aww he's so cute and how great is it that he can be so vibrant and happy. Don't worry I still sneak my little one in with me whenever I can.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Good job mom!
Faiqa said…
Awww, happy birthday to your baby!! Also, people born in January? ARE AWESOME. ;-)
What a sweet, sweet post! The way you love your children is really touching – they are so, so lucky to have such a devoted mom! Happy birthday to your baby!!
Lady Mama said…
Happy Birthday to your beautiful little boy! Hope he has a wonderful day. p.s. WHAT happened to your blog? I love it!
Scary Mommy said…
Awwwww!! Happy birthday to your big boy! He's so adorable. :)
Managed Chaos said…
Happy birthday to your cute little guy. And your blog looks fab too!
Avitable said…
Happy birthday to your son! I love the new design, too.
Pam said…
Lovely, lovely post and lovely new look!

He'll be proud to read that some day.
Anonymous said…
Great Post Loukia ! God bless him e is adorable !!!!!!!!! I let my 3 yr old sleep with me still too ...i cant help that i love snuggling her! I wish her Dad would "get that"...lol
writewrds said…
Lovely post and lovely new look! Your son with be proud and happy to read it some day.
Chantal said…
Happy Birthday Big Boy! Beautiful post Loukia!
Aw Happy birthday!!

{ps love the new look of the site!}
Melissa Chapman said…
AWW your boy is precious!!! you are such a good mama and i love your new blog design- so chic:)
Yay Happy Birthday! I can't believe he is 3. Such a cutie! And hey - the site looks FABULOUS!
Liz Mays said…
Happy Birthday to your sweet baby boy!!!
He is darling. I love his Luigi costume.

And I applaud you for just enjoying the "little guy" time - not stressing out about him sleeping in your bed. He'll leave long before you're ready for it anyway. I so enjoy having little ones climb into bed with me early in the morning (and "early morning" sometimes that means 12 a.m.) My only problem is that I can get all three at once and that just doesn't work at all...

The new design is very you - just perfect. Love it.
BusyDad said…
Wishing the little dude a very happy birthday! I'm sure he approves of the new site layout too ;)
Bon said…
what a lovely, lovely post about a lovely, lovely boy. :)
Mama Kat said…
Little boys are sure special!! :)
Mom2Miles said…
Happy birthday to your little man! I can tell just from the pics that he's full of personality.
Happy Birthday to the adorable little guy! And congratulations to you, my lovely friend, on 3 years of "mom of 2"-hood!

ps - LOVE the new digs! Beautiful design. :)
Shell said…
Oh, he's so stinking cute!

And look at you, fancy mama! Love your pic!
CaraBee said…
Happy birthday to your little cutie! They grow so fast!

Love the new digs! Madame Napwarden does such good work!
Alicia xoxxo said…
Happy Birthday to your cutie patootie! He is adorable!! Love the new look!! Very sleek!
OHmommy said…
Happy birthday to your little guy. What a beautiful post for him to read.

PS... love your new page.
rachel... said…
Happy birthday to you both! Love the new look of your blog!!!
Anonymous said…
Happy Birthday!! He is just so darn cute! I totally agree with you- I was SO much more relaxed the 2nd time around!
Anonymous said…
Such a lovely post for your lovely little one. Happy Birthday!
Stephanie said…
Happy birthday to your baby and a happy birthing day to you! Hope you bought yourself something pretty:)
Sniff, sniff! Happy Birthday to your beautiful son! That was such a touching post.
Jessica said…
What a beautiful birthday post, I have two three year olds... they are amazing little people aren't they? I love how you shared that moment in the hospital of eating fettucine and relaxing, it is funny the moments we remember so clearly that are tied to defining feelings. Stopping by from SITS and enjoyed meeting you!
LisaDay said…
Happy birthday little guy. Aw, babies who aren't babies but are still babies. I so get it.

Happy SITS day.

LisaDay
Stopping by from SITS. Your little boys are so darn cute. Looks like they are having a great childhood. Happy SITS day to you and happy belated birthday to your little man.