This past was written the night before Miles’ birthday, Feb. 1, but our host was down and therefore, so was our website. (BOO!) So this post, minus the last two sentences, were written last night

Miles likes to be made into a Miles sandwich. You pile on the cheese, a yellow blanket, the mayo, a white blanket, the lettuce, a green-ish blanket and I guess the slices of bread are just colorful pillows. Then John picks him up like a big sandwich and takes a big fake bite. Miles erupts into giggles.

If you didn’t know, sandwich making can make your nose itch.

Today is Miles’ last day to be two! The best birthday present he could give me is he is still taking an afternoon nap. It’s really a gift to himself because when he naps, the evenings are so much fun. But when he doesn’t nap, it’s just a big ‘ol grouch-fest until bedtime finally happens. So THANK YOU Miles for being such an awesome napper!

Three years ago John and I had no idea we were hours away from being parents. We foolishly thought we had plenty of time before Miles came. We went to bed with nary a bag packed and my hair was the most matted mess you could imagine. Boy were we surprised at 3 AM, running around like crazed lunatics throwing things in bags, calling my parents to watch the pugs, texting my friends (just because, that’s what I do) and of course, pausing to breathe through contractions every few minutes. John and I laugh now at how stupid we were to not be prepared a mere 16 days before he was due. (Granted, we had just found out Miles was breach and had JUST planned his delivery for the 8th.) But still, we learned our lesson and will have our bags packed PLENTY of time ahead for King baby 2.0! There were other crazy things that happened the day and week Miles came into the world (I’ll spare you the details) and as much as that clouded my birth experience, I have come to realize that for me, having a birth that was the opposite as I had planned was my first lesson as a mom to let go of my control. Who knows what Miles will grow up to be and do. I can guide and suggest, but he’ll choose his own path, just as he did when he chose the way he was born. Sometimes I think the one lesson I need to learn in life is just letting go of control. It seems to be the one thing God has been teaching me over and over. So I imagine Miles, a boy with lots of passion, energy, curiosity and yes, his OWN plans, will continue to give me lots of ways to continue to learn to let go of control as we both grow.

Regardless of Miles’ crazy beginning, I still find myself looking back on those first few days we had Miles and loving the memory of his sweet little newborn baby preciousness. After Miles’ bath at night, when he is all wrapped up in a towel, I can’t help but think back to his first days after he was born when he was all swaddled up like a burrito. He’s such a sweet punkin and I just love him more every day.

Here he was, a few days old, once we finally got him out of the NICU and into our room. Our little “banana burrito,” as we called him. (Yes, we are weird and make up the strangest nick names.)

Happy Birthday to Miles! Two was such a great age, but I have a feeling being three is going to be even better. It already is!