Two years ago I had a baby in a bathtub.
I know. Crazy.
But I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat. Not because I truly loved every minute of the bathtub ordeal (which I did), but because of what we got out of it.
This little man:

Our Bubbie.
We had no idea how precious you’d be.
Bubs, we love your smile.
And your giggle.
And your phrases.
OH, your phrases.
“Blank-blank, too?” Asking for your blankie when you wake up, swollen eyed and smiling.
“Brang dees?” “Bring dees?” Dees is the pacifier, which you still love. We always said we wouldn’t have a toddler with a binky. We said a lot of things. Now we don’t say things.
“Bruhbuh!” Brother, whom you love. Most of the time.
“E-eat?!” Your constant request. It’s almost always for apples, grapes, or pears. Or fries.
“Whatch moonie?” You LOVE movies.
“Whatch Pete Pan?” More specifically, Peter Pan.
“Be fun! Be fun!” You’re kind of obsessed with him.
“Ship ‘live! Ship ‘live!” You swing your sword around and cry, “Ship Alive!” Quoting from your movie, of course.
“Gi’nt! Gi’nt! Fi-f-f-fummmmmmmmm! Fi-f-f-FUMMMMMMMM!” Giants. You kinda have a flair for the fantasy.
“All. We. Yike. CHEEP. Haf. Gone. ‘Stray. ‘Saiah. Phree. SIX.” Quoting Isaiah 53:6, like Brother. You have no clue what you’re saying.
“Good guy. Good guy, Dad!” You’re meaning to say “bad guys.” You say this with a furrowed brow and try not to smile.
“Coff-coff? Hot? Coff-coff? Jink? Pease?” Okay, so our two year old needs his cuppa. Don’t judge.
“Come, Mom. Come-come, Mom.” You take my hand, insistant and ready to show me what makes you happy. I love this one.
You light up our life, Merritt Will.
Happy Second Birthday, little one.




















Melinda says:
He is so cute! I love his phrases!! Happy birthday Merritt! :)
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November 1st, 2009 at 6:37 am
Darcy says:
Oh my gosh, is he really two years old??? I remember anxiously awaiting the announcement of his arrival!
Happy Birthday Merritt!!!
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November 1st, 2009 at 6:47 am
Nicole says:
Wow… two years? TWO years? Not possible! I remember that day so clearly. Wasn’t it just last week??? :)
He’s growing up into a little man! I see the ‘baby’ fading and the litte boy emerging. Such a beautiful, precious thing to see. And, lol, his phrases sound an awful lot like Caleb’s. :)
Rejoicing with you guys today! Happy B-Day, Merritt Will!
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November 1st, 2009 at 7:59 am
Samantha R says:
Happy 2nd Birthday to your cute and adorable and simply lovable Merritt!
I can’t believe he is already 2 though :)
I remember that birth story well and how I smiled and laughed and tears rolled down my cheeks and I celebrated with you!
God is good, isn’t He?
Love ya,
Sam
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November 1st, 2009 at 8:00 am
Caroline says:
Happy Birthday Merritt!!!
I would also like to say thank you for allowing me into your life through your blog. Just by reading your blog and about your life I get so much encouragement.
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November 1st, 2009 at 8:46 am
Katie says:
Oh my word – I can’t believe Merritt is TWO. Seems like I was just reading about his birth, anxious for the birth of my own first little lady. Now he’s two and Hazel is a big sister!!
What a fun little man – and so handsome!!
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November 1st, 2009 at 10:32 am
Jaclynn R. says:
Wow, 2 years! So cute and so sweet. And obviously such a huge part of the laughter in your house. =) I loved the Isaiah 53:6 translation. *grin*
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November 1st, 2009 at 11:52 am
Michelle says:
It was the story of Merritt’s birth that brought me to your blog. I was pregnant with my first and my mom thought that I would enjoy your story and I did very much. Happy Birthday, Sweet Boy!
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November 1st, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Shari says:
Happy Birthday Merritt! Or is it Mernit Wee-oh? :o)
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November 1st, 2009 at 2:07 pm
April says:
Aww…happy birthday, Mer-Mer! You are much loved, even by adopted aunties halfway across the country who hardly ever see you! :-)
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November 1st, 2009 at 7:04 pm
Judith says:
Adorable! Happy birthday Merrit!
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November 2nd, 2009 at 4:11 am
Ginger says:
WOW! Two years! I first stumbled on your blog when you wrote about Merritt coming into this world! And now he is two! Wow! Happy birthday little Merritt! LOVED this post. And he is looking like Troy!:)
Ginger~
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November 2nd, 2009 at 7:02 pm
vickie says:
Happy Bithday Merritt!!!
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November 4th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Megan says:
“We said a lot of things. Now we don’t say things.”
Ashley, I had to laugh at that, ’cause it’s so true! Thanks for all the writing you do at YLCF. :)
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November 5th, 2009 at 8:14 pm
Melanie says:
I love that you wrote this all out. Because you know you’ll forget the way he said things…it seems like you could never forget, but I know I forgot practically everything I didn’t write down.
And we made our oldest throw away her pacifier the day she turned THREE. I can’t believe now that I let her have it that long. So yeah….now we don’t say things, either. :-)
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November 8th, 2009 at 2:34 pm