Day 7: You, Two

When you wake in the morning, you will be two

(provided you sleep past 5:44 a.m., which is no guarantee).

It will be, for the most part, an ordinary day –

We’ll have morning milk and stories,

you will play while I make breakfast, and then make a mess of the same,

which I will dutifully clean.

We’ll walk to the pool for swim lessons and tell everyone we meet

that it’s your birthday. Will you know the difference?

The afternoon will, in all likelihood, be spent in the garden –

You’re such a good helper

(even though we didn’t really need to water the basement window).

We’ll have a nice dinner, run you a warm bath,

and Daddy will put you to bed with your favorite songs.

And all the while it will be your birthday –

Imagine that!

I will remind you of this marvelous fact throughout the day,

periodically exclaiming, “Guess what, sweetie pops – you’re two!”

To which you will respond with a resounding: “TWO!”

(wondering why your mother keeps telling you this, as if it were important)

and continue with the all-important business of

being you

being two.