Seven Silly Lovely Years with Clyde Joseph

To my sweet child who was born with pointy ears...like Yoda,

How I thank God for you.  You will just never know, till you have a precious, precious baby boy yourself. 

Just so you know, your name caused much controversy....I hope you continue to love it.  We love it and we love YOU.  I guess it's a good sign that you named your fish Clyde-clyde, your praying mantis Little Clyde and the goat we rescued Clyde Joseph...  Your great-grandfather, Clyde, was a precious man.  He was delighted to know you were coming.  I'm very sorry you didn't get to meet him.

You were the cuddliest baby boy around.  I always adored the way your forehead wrinkled up.  You were always hungry.  ALWAYS.  But you didn't like taking the time to eat.  But if we dared to stop the flow of food you screamed like a banshee.  You seemed to expect to have food flowing down your throat while you continued to perform all your explorations.

I thought for awhile, that you were an angry toddler.  I felt so sad for you and didn't know how to help you, but apparently it was just frustration bubbling over from not being able to talk til you were 3 1/2 years old.

But when you talked...you really talked.  And your only volume was MAX.

You weren't much for toys when you were small, you were mainly drawn to wires, metal and outlets.

If you were missing, I would be sure to find you in a garbage can or cabinet somewhere.

Something that I always cherished was how fiercely protective you were of your sisters...like when you pushed a boy down who was twice your size, because he was teasing your big sister.  Or when you chased that dog away with a bat after it licked your new baby sister on the head.  And you were only two.   And you couldn't talk.  But you loved those girls SO much!

I've never seen a body move so much.  So many of my pictures of you are filled with a blur.  You are the blur.  Always moving.

You ooze happiness.  A more playful kid I've never met.  You never cease to make me laugh.  Like when you were constantly filling the toilets and garbage cans with toilet paper, even though you were ALWAYS punished.  The way you practically LIVED with one of 3 stuffed snakes around your neck for 3 years NO MATTER where we went.  How many times did I call poison control????  Oh my.  You are fearless, my little roller-coaster rider.  Although I did accidentally find your fear.   You turned out to be terribly afraid of blue-female-changelings.  Like the one in Star Wars episode 2.  Sorry about that.  And then I forgot about that and let you see a clip of Mistique from X-men.  Sorry about that, too!

You have such a fierce love in your heart, like I've never seen in a child.  I've witnessed you cry so many times after you heard about something sad happening to a loved one.  Even if it wasn't THAT sad.  Even if it was 40 years ago and THEY didn't care about it.  Your heart is so tender.

You have such a deep capacity to forgive.  You never hesitate in your willingness to forgive and forget.  You quickly come to the defense of those who have wronged you.  You love others so much, and will pain yourself, to give others what they want.  I don't understand this in someone so young.  You humble me. 

I suppose it's because of how deeply you love those around you, that you dole out the compliments so much.  I never realized how much I loved being complimented til I got to hear your sweet voice always telling me how beautiful I am, how I'm the best Mommy ever.  You sense when your Daddy is down and you are the first to encourage him.  You give your sisters more confidence.  You are amazing.  And most people who are around you, probably don't even know it. But those of us who REALLY know you, have a richness and joy in our hearts that you have brought to us.

You bring a zest to our lives, Clydie Monster.  You are indeed the BEST BOY IN THE WORLD!

 

 Thank God, He made you.  I can't imagine life without you.