Sage Day 2011

Today is the second celebration of Sage Day - the anniversary of the day we brought Sage home from the hospital. It is Sage's day to be special and for those near and dear to her to share with the world the joy of having Sage in our lives.

Sage, I love your belly. When you laugh from your belly, the whole world, and particularly your sister, laughs with you. It is infectious pure joy. Your belly is home to your beloved belly button, the last vestige of your physical tie to me. Your big belly is also the source of reassurance that you continue to be healthy, to thrive and to love, love, love your food. All of your food. Every last bite of anything we put before you. I love your adventuresome eating, too.

  

I love your mischievous sense of humor and the sideway look you give when you know you are pulling our legs. Even after two years of being a twin mama, I remain curious about and take delight in your relationship with Lucy. The sweet moments of unsolicited sharing and affection, the creative, goofy synergy as you try out new words on each other and fall into fits of laughter.  I admire your creativity and initiative as you engage Lucy in games and silliness made up on the spot. I am in awe of your endurance as you two giggle and talk and frolic in your cribs for hours after we put you down for a nap.

Sage, I love that you are so laid back and can let lots of things (like other little kids stealing your toys) slide...but when you've decided that something is important to you, you hold your ground. We'll keep working on your tactics for holding that ground and try to eliminate hitting, biting or pinching. I admire that while you don't sweat the small stuff, you have a sense of fairness and justice. I am proud of your problem solving abilities - it is a treat to see you solve puzzle after puzzle. I respect your stubborn independence and find humor in the fact that those traits I looked forward to seeing in you as a young woman may be the greatest challenges of parenting you as a toddler.

Speaking of teeth, I feel guilt for your chipped tooth and the gray one. If I could go back and catch you a moment before you fell, I would. If only I could. My parents, your Grammy and Papa, told me to have fun in my childhood and that they'd fix all the scars with plastic surgery once I was grown. I expect we may have to extend this offer to you as well as it seems that despite my best efforts to find a way to both allow you to explore and grow and to keep you safe and sound, there have been and will be some bumps along the way.

I am learning to soak up every moment of your tight hugs and sloppy kisses when you give them as requests for hugs and kisses are met with your trademark "Noooo" as often as they do in the sweet Sage love these days. But when you do cuddle in, you still melt into me like a newborn. In those sweet pudgy belly and body-melding hugs, you are still my baby for at least a moment longer.

My sweet Sagilicious, Sagekins, Sageroni...Happy Sage Day!


Postnote (10 pm on May 20th): We celebrated Sage Day today by sleeping in until almost 9 (yeah!) and then went to a twins club playgroup at Emerson and Carter Dragoo's. We ate burritos at Moe's and inflated the bouncy house when we arrived home. After a great nap, we bounced some more and played in the driveway while grilling steaks, brussel sprouts (seriously, a Sage favorite) and potatoes. Dessert involved blueberries, of course, with angel food cake and ice cream. Sage talked with both sets of grandparents who called to wish her a happy Sage Day. After dinner, we read a few books on the hammock and it was bath and bedtime. A lovely gorgeous spring day to celebrate Sage.