Dear Bucket,

Dear Bucket,
     Your dad and I have a tendency to come up with some wacky nicknames, hence one of yours being "Bucket.", but your real name is Timothy. You came into our lives two years and two weeks after our first child.  We were so thrilled to have a second son- brothers! Your entry into this world was terrifying. The doctor broke my water, thinking it would be a good idea to speed up my induced labor. It certainly sped things up.  I was ready to push 10 minutes later.  Unfortunately, this caused your umbilical cord to get caught next to your head while you were being born.  It was pinched in half.  Every time I pushed, you lost your oxygen supply.  We didn't find out there was a problem until I'd been pushing for about 20 minutes.  As you were starting to emerge, the problem became evident. Suddenly, there were a lot of people in the room.  The Dr. gave me a 4th degree episiotomy, cut your cord while you were still in me, and vacuumed you out while I pushed with all of my might.  Your first apgar score was really bad, like a 3.  Daddy rushed off with you to the nursery while I got sewn up for an hour and finally accepted some pain medication.  It was crazy!

Luckily, you were an easy kiddo.  You nursed like a champ and were pretty fast.  By the time you were two months old, you had some serious fat rolls going on.  You were bald and chubby and very sweet. Reuben loved you from the moment he found a snickers bar in your carseat the day you came home and you have loved each other ever since.

We will always feel a little guilty for not knowing until you were 2.5 that you had acid reflux, which explained why you threw up so much that I was a pro at catching it with anything available, and I mean anything.  This spawned the nickname, Chucker.  It had two meanings. The first was for throwing up. The second was because whenever you had something you weren't supposed to have, you would throw it.  I can't really remember why we called you Bucket.  I think it had something to do with your appetite and that song. "There's a Hole in the Bucket."

You have always hated milk and loved balls. Ball was your first word, followed by pump-ball, which meant pumpkin.  You never stopped loving balls, and you've played soccer since you were 2.

Tim, you are a fascinating combination of tender hearted and teaser. You cannot stand the thought of people or pets dying.  How many tears have you shed about my rabbit that was killed by the neighbor's dog when I was 8?  All you have to hear is "Dead Bunny" and you start crying.  You have a very sensitive heart.  But, you also love to tease people and make jokes.  You are just as likely to pull your sister's pigtail as to reach over and give her a hug.

Not to give you a big head, but you are brilliant, and hey, you do have a big head.  It took a few years, but now you do your homework without any encouragement from us and you find school to be fun but not very challenging.  Don't worry. That will change one day.  Muhaha!

Tim, you are one special kid. How many people do you know who have a social harem of girls           ( friends) at school?  That must be tough.  wink. wink.

You are artistic, motivated, competitive, kind, and messy. I guess you can't help your genes.

You have always been a fixer. From the time you were little, we could count on you to fix things, including your teacher's computer and a chocolate fountain at a wedding. If I can't figure something out, you're my go to guy. You're always happy to read a user's manual and tell me how to work something.

Even though you are also taller than me now, you will also always be my little boy.  Your dreams for yourself are my dreams for you.  When you were small you promised to become a builder and build me a house. Maybe that is your future, maybe something else.  Whatever you do, I know you will do it well with the same tenacity that you bring to life now. I know that you will use your strengths and your faith to conquer your fears.

I know you will be an amazing husband and father.  But, no matter how old you grow, please remember that I'll always be your Mommy. I'll always look at you and see a little bit of that baby boy from Baltimore.