To a little dude who just turned two.



Hey buddy, how's it going? The big 2, eh? Yeah, it's pretty cool. The one-year-olds wouldn't understand. So look, I just wanted to tell you just how proud I am to be your father and how much you've changed my life. Admittedly, you're the second child and often times that probably feels like you walk in the shadow of big sis. And I know, she got the slick imovie on her birthday post and you're just getting a regular ol' still photo. But that's the thing about you. You don't see it that way. Somehow, you see everything with a huge toothy grin on your face.

That's why you are such a blessing to me. At the age of two, you are an incredible inspiration, an example of how to face life - with a smile.

I remember when you were like six months old and had to have surgery on your bum bum. It tore me apart to have to hand your little, skinny body over to the surgeon. My heart raced for the entire 45 minutes. Finally, they came and got me. I walked back to the recovery room. You were wrapped up in bandages. As you began to come to, the nurse warned me that you'd be in a lot of pain and would probably be crying like a maniac. But what did you do? You looked up at the nurses and blessed the room with the biggest smile ever. I remember one of the nurses actually clutching her chest and gasping at the sight. You little charmer, you.

You give the best loves. There's nothing like your little arms wrapped around my neck. There's nothing like hearing you yell "Dadda!" as I walk through the door at the end of the day. Then you run as fast as your little legs will carry you over to me and jump into my arms. I hope you always do that. Even when I come to visit you in your college dorm. Sure, it might be sort of embarrassing and your roommates will think you're weird. But what do they know?

Technically you have the smallest heart in our house. I think it's supposed to be just over the size of your fist. That's pretty small, little dude. But the reality is, you have the biggest heart by far. I've never seen such instinctual care for others. Sure, you often club the other little kids over the head with your toy shovel, but you immediately follow it up with a hug and some loves.

I can't wait for you to pick me up after work and take me to Chuck E. Cheese's for your birthday. We're going to party like there's no tomorrow. It'll probably be pretty epic. Just remember to pack a tube of antibacterial.

Thanks for being in our family, Jamison. You are such a joy. You are nicknamed after a very special man in my life, my father. That means you have some pretty big shoes to fill, but you're already well on your way. You're obviously a very special spirit. And I am the fortunate father who gets to call you son. I love you, stinkin' Wugs. Happy Birthday, buddy.