Tuesday, January 19, 2016

To my 17 month old boy

Since fall, you have been pointing to squirrels and trying to say "squirrel" by clearing your throat.  It comes out as something like, "squ-ccck".  Good try, bud!

You say some version of, "da" or "da-da" or "da-da-da..." for daddy and you do the same for mommy; but, not usually when I am with you.  You usually only ask for me when I am not with you.  I look forward to the day you open your arms to me and say, "mama".  I love you soooo much.

Speaking of which, one of my absolute favorite things is when I open my arms to you and you run into them and bury your face in my shoulder.  Gah!  I will take as many of those as you will give me.

So, in case I forget to tell you, I absolutely love your chubby baby feet.  I have always loved baby feet...until about age 3.  I just love them.  So, I have included a couple of pictures of your beautiful feet.  They will carry you far, my love.

You understand almost everything we tell you (so, I remind everyone to be careful what we say!).  When I tell you something, I can tell you are processing it and trying to figure out what I said...and, more often than not, you go and do what I said.  You are amazing! 

So, lately, you have been taking my phone and hiding it; but, when I ask you where it is, you take me right to it.  So far, so good. 

You are getting better with your spoon and fork and cup every day.  Because we use cloth napkins at every meal, you have also been wanting a napkin lately.

I don't know when you started this; but, you often sit on mommy's or daddy's feet or push yourself against us when you want us to pick you up (or take you with).

You still don't say much; but, your brothers got you to say, "Hot Baby" this week.  LOL.  I heard you say it once.  We tried to get you to perform again for daddy without luck.

We have started dancing in the kitchen (again); and, you have joined right in.  But, instead of bee-bopping, you twirl in circles and get dizzy.  Super cute, dear boy!

Your dad is working on a lot of stuff in our house right now; so, of course you HAVE to help.  And, of course dad HAS to indulge you, lucky boy (lucky dad).  So, everything takes a bit longer; but, it is with more JOY!

You are an absolute joy!  I even think your 6 yo big brother has bonded more with you (and also with us) this last month.  I love to see that!  We love you, my son!










Thursday, January 14, 2016

5 months






































To my sugar Plum...at five months.

You really started noticing your hands and playing with your feet these past couple months.

You are drooling nonstop and constantly chewing on something. No tooth yet!

You will reach out and touch my face and look at me with those big blue eyes of yours and I just melt.

You grunt when you are hungry.

You started sucking on your lower lip just like your big sister used to do, and I just think it's the cutest thing ever.


You are so close to sitting up unassisted. We just need more practice.

You are very into examining different textures. 

Your high pitched squeals of delight and laughter are just music...easy listening and sure to put a smile on my face.

You think Greta is hilarious and my favorite thing right now is just to see you two together, laughing.



Saturday, January 9, 2016

2.5 (that's 2 years and 5 months...not to be confused with 2 and a half years)


























To Greta Maeve Essig...

You are very interested in names and relationships. I am your parent. You are my child. Estella is your sister. "Jonafan" is your dada. You've called me "Mama Essig" on more than one occasion

When you woke up one morning, you crawled into bed with Estella and snuggled with her and said, "when Stell grows up, we will be best fwends!"

If we ask you a question, you often respond with a yes or no and then say, "I had to think about it a little while."

You have been so into imaginative play for I don't know how long. When I nurse your sister, oftentimes, I will look over at you and you are pretending to talk for baby or one of your little people. Today, for example, you put all the people from your camper van into the little house your cousins made for you and sang them your favorite song, "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" and whispered, "Go to sleep. Go to sleep little childrens" (long pause) "o-tay. It's time to wake up. You want to watch sump-thing? That sounds good."

All you wanted for Christmas this year was cookies. And luckily, Santa obliged.

You have been doing exactly the opposite of what I ask of you. It's pretty frustrating. Also, you've been throwing random tantrums lately and when I ask you what's wrong, you are quick to regain your composure, and reply with, "Nofing."

Oh, my Greta, I love you so much. I'm amazed by you everyday. I keep looking at old photos of you when you were Estella's age...which wasn't that long ago...and my heart just aches...but at once soars. It's such a complicated thing...being a mother. I love to watch you grow and explore and learn new things, yet, I don't...because I just want you to stay little. I called you my baby the other day and you got so upset, saying, "I not a baby! I Teta!" and in that moment, I imagined you as a teenager. And that just made me sad. You made me a mama and you will forever be my baby. And don't you forget it.