(Warning to Grandparents who read this for Cruz updates. Long, sappy post ahead with minimal photos!)
In just a few short weeks (because seriously, life is just zooming by), Cruz will turn three. How is that even possible? My little baby, who used to fit in the crook of his Daddy's arm, is now a Star Wars-obsessed mini Dax and sleeps in a big boy bed (most of the time).
This year has been absolutely nuts! From our road trip across the country and other spontaneous camping trips, to transitioning Cruz to a new school or bringing him to his first ACL Festival. We have been non-stop for 10 straight months, possibly only really spending time at home one weekend a month since January. Meanwhile our daily lives start and end on time because they have to: school lunches made, groceries bought, dinner prepared, trash out, plants watered, teeth brushed, Cruz bathed... Did someone feed Lizzie?!!
We have survived the "terrible twos," which might have been amplified, if not jump-started, by all of the chaos. There were tears on both sides. There was some spanking on both sides. But there was more. The result of all of the overstimulation on us was a need for Dax and me to over-control everything about Cruz. But I could not hold him back much longer and once I could accept that, I could really let the love grow. Wherever we were be it the Grand Canyon or our backyard, we just needed to enjoy Cruz for who he was becoming: an independent, funny and fun-loving, smart, curious, adventurous, and truly amazing little boy.
And why does he make our hearts sing? Because when I give him five more minutes to play, he negotiates me down to three. He will eat nearly any type of food you put in front of him. He loves to hike, camp, garden or do anything out of doors. You can feel the appreciation or happiness exuding from his full-faced smile from some of the simplest pleasures or appreciation, like riding a bus or drinking a glass of milk.
A year has almost passed, but Life isn't happening too fast because I'm not appreciating the little moments or because I can't keep up with those stinky little feet I love to hear echoing through the house. It is because I don't want this time with him to end: where even though he thinks he's a big boy, I can still snatch him up and attack him with a thousand kisses or bring him back to our bed to snuggle and sleep until he wakes me up with a hug to say "It's time to eat breakfast, mom!" And all I want to do is roll over, hug him back and say "I don't want to wake up yet, Cruz. I just don't want to let you go."
