Dear Canyon,
Today you are three, bud. Three whole years this planet has felt your toes dig into the depths of its crust. Three whole years.
While pregnant, the thought of your appearance would often linger in my mind. Whose genetic traits you were going to favor and possess. I assumed you would have dark hair like your sister, and dark eyes like me. And although I assumed you’d look a certain way, I always had an instinctive gut feeling that my assumption was wrong.
When you entered this world, you were a tiny little thing with big feet and bear-like hands. You had wavy trails of baby hair across your scalp, no eyebrows and bright blue eyes. You were a curly haired towhead right out of the womb. My gut knew it all along.
Your journey started off a little shaky, but knowing your inner wild, I wouldn’t expect anything less. You cried a lot, but your radiating smile would soon conquer and the sound of your cries would fade. Your laugh was intoxicating. You yearned for and needed me constantly. And although it was exhausting, I didn’t realize, I needed you more.
Fast forward three years.
You are brave, wild and determined. I get told regularly how beautiful you are.
You are agile, but still baby-like. A fighter, but still compassionate.
I sometimes think about who you will become one day, knowing there is a purpose for someone as lively as you. And although I can’t say just yet, you’ve proven endless times that your strong will is what your success will rely on someday.
You have made my life more meaningful. You’ve inspired and driven me. Who knew a 25-pound boy could teach me more in three years than my entire life behind a small wooden desk.
Three years. Already.
I know as the years pass, I will be saying the same cliché words on this very day. It goes quickly, I know.
I realize I still treat you as an infant sometimes. I can’t help it. You’re only 3 and still my baby.
But that really doesn’t matter, to be quite frank.
Because when you are 73, I will continue to say the same.
You're my baby. Till the end of day.
Happy Birthday, peanut.
I love you
