Super Ben

Ben and his dada, Berkeley, CA, Canon Digital Rebel XSi

Dear Ben,

You are two and a half years old today.

It's hard to believe that you are even more adorable than you were when you were a baby. Seriously Ben, how is that even possible?

It might have something to do with the fact that you are talking and saying hilarious and endearing things. You are the only one I know who can talk about himself in the third person and have it sound totally normal. "Ben scared. Ben not tired. Ben no sleeping. Ben NO SLEEPING!!!" The other morning, In a moment of pure and total maternal pleasure, you hugged me really close and whispered in my ear, "I like you..."

Ben, you know how to make a girl melt.

It's amazing to see the you-ness come out in you, the pieces that I can see now have always been there, the pure undiluted Ben-ness of you. I cherish each and every detail, the quiet confidence you have, your love of physical comedy, how sure you are of your place in the world. You are my superhero Ben, not because of what you are capable of doing, but how completely you occupy your own spirit.