The Best Part of Me

Gage

I can't believe that you will be 5 tomorrow.
Five.
"A whole hand."
You are very excited about being "a whole hand old."

You are absolutely the best part of me.
You are not perfect, but you are perfectly ours.

I am not perfect.
You make me want to be better.
You make me want to be stronger,
More patient,
Kinder,
More forgiving...

You are truly the best part of me.
And yet, you are your very own person.
You like cowboy boots and cowboy stuff.
That's all you.

You are the shyest child I've ever known.
That's God's little joke, right there.
I am not shy.
I'm loud.
I'm out there.
I say what just pops into my mind---all too often.

Your daddy & I both love you beyond measure.
And yet, we see you so differently.
He sees you as strong and fearless.
He gets the rough-&-tumble ticklish little boy.
...the one that wants to karate chop and FIGHT!

I see the cautious but curious child.
...the one that resembles the baby
that I've watched grow and learn over the last 5 years.
I get the snuggly, thoughtful side of you.
...the one that wears his heart on his sleeve.

You are everything good that I could hope to offer the world.
I am so proud of you and the little guy that you are.
I love you "the whole world."
......no matter what.