Dear Baby Bear,
Now that you are 2 years old, I'm not sure how we'll continue your monthly updates, but I hope to continue writing to you in one form or another. I'm also not sure if you will appreciate these letters when you are a grown man, or if you will consider them borderline obsessive. But, one day, you will have babies of your own, and you will understand the tremendous feeling of wanting to boast about your child and frantically remember every moment of their lives.
Every day that goes by I look at you and feel a tiny bit of sadness that my baby is no more. Your chubby baby rolls are gone, you cannot be held, or rather, refuse to be held, you have your own opinions about everything, and one day, the kisses will stop. But, during those same sad moments, I catch glimpses of kindergarten Eli bringing home art projects from school and proudly displaying them on the fridge, or teenager Eli mopping around the house with a broken heart for a girl, or Eli as a father, being tender and caring towards his own newborn son. Then I remember that we get a whole lifetime of this. Of seeing you grow, and learn, and become the amazing person I know you will be. It's a constant struggle, that of a mom, to want to keep you small, and safe, and innocent, but the want to see you grow and reach your potential. 
For now, we take it one day at time, and try to enjoy every minute, of every day we get together. You have only been part of our lives for 2 years, but they are hands down, the best 2 years of my life. You make every family gathering, every holiday, every day more enjoyable. As your personality develops and we get glimpses of what kind of big kid and adult you'll be it gets more exciting. You are certainly an entertainer and you like to be in the center of it all. You like to make people laugh, and you are constantly applauding yourself for things you think deserve it. And I'll be right there alongside you to cheer you on.
I hope that for as long as you live, you will always know how loved and needed you are. You are my everything.
Love,
Momma
