Austin and Ashton, my little boys, you sit at the forefront of my mind on any given day and at any given time. I spend plenty of time talking about you, and even more time thinking about you. Today, you are mine, I am proud. I love you, both, all the way to the moon and back. You are mama's special boys, something you know because I whisper it in your ear every night before you take your evening "nap." And then I'm reminded that I, in turn, am your special girl.
As it turns out, you exist in 98% of my daily conversations, naturally. You are the best two things I have to talk about...well, aside from your daddy!
One day a kidless friend of mine said "I like to talk with you about your boys, because you never say anything bad about them." (Which was apparently the opposite of her other friends with kids.) Wow. I was blown away, and flattered at the same time. Boys, don't get me wrong, you have your moments. Austin, you are so much more beautiful when you let you smile run wild, and Ashy bear, that paci tends to get in the way of your advanced vocabulary. At four, and as a big brother, Bubba can have an attitude and I think you got it from your Titi Jenna. Where else would you have gotten the excuse "I can't, because my legs are broke," from? Ashton you tend to be whiny when your blankies are missing or that red, white and blue thing isn't attached to your lips. Truth is, we all have faults and it's part of our human nature. But to me, you are perfect. Perfect for me, and perfect for your daddy. When I think about you, I don't envision the screaming match you had with yourself last night, or the 15th fall you took on the way home from the park (Ashy, you are quite the clumsy little thing). I just think about the joy that you bring me, daddy, and the whole rest of our family. You two little boys are so very special, and I want that to be known.
I agree to accept your imperfections, and see you for who you really are. I will choose to look at you through the lens that God intends, and to bring out the amazingness in you long before clouding up my mind with the parts of you that are a little rough; we all have those. You deserve the best; the best that daddy and I have to offer - which we think is a lot. The better parents we are for you, the better the men you will both become. There is no hiding that you have one proud set of parents, who love you so much that joyful tears fill our eyes just thinking of you. Austin, no one can end a good joke better than you, "Awww, I'm jus' kiddin.'" And Ashton, I heard you mumble something in the back seat, even though you keep saying "I sa-id NUSSING!" It's these little things, Bubba and Ashy Bear, that make my days so great.
Just keep being you, and everything else will be alright.
Love,
Your Special Girl
