To my 9 month old baby boy!

Where does the time go, sweet boy?  You are growing and changing so much!  Since I last wrote, you have become good at sitting up now.  You are even starting to maneuver (scooting, getting up on 3 "legs", pushing yourself back, turning yourself around in about a 4 foot space).  Any day, you will be crawling.  Yikes!  :)

You also got your first teeth (just like your brothers, just made it in at 8 months!  LOL).  You have your two bottom teeth now.

You have tried some foods now.  Avocadoes, olive oil, butter, zucchini, carrots (I think you are allergic), green beans, bananas (which you loved).

You have learned all of our faces, of course.  You also respond to EVERY noise you hear, especially when you are nursing (much to my chagrin).  You even know that the sounds of the stairs mean someone is coming.  It is very hard to get you to go to sleep when there is activity around you, even if you are super tired.

You are very good at finding tiny little things (that you are not supposed to have).  No matter how often I vacuum and sweep, you always find something I missed.  I have no idea how your brothers are going to play with Legos when you start getting around.

You like to study things and are great at transferring them between your hands.  And, boy, do you get mad if I try to take something away that you were interested in.  I forget how upsetting that can be (and, sometimes I forget to distract you with something else).

I was going to remark how lucky you are you haven't fallen (out of a bed or from a sofa, etc.).  But, you kind of jumped out of my lap last week and landed on your forehead on the carpet, from the chair.  I know it hurt and you were mad at me.  I think I lost a tiny bit of your trust there.  I am sorry, buddy.  You were too quick.  I am really sorry.

You absolutely love your feet.  You love to chew on them.  You love to take your socks off.  I have a feeling we might have a hard time with shoes, once you need them.

You love your brothers.  They love you too.  You love to be wherever they are.  You love to play; and, you are starting to know what to expect.  You always get excited and laugh when you see any of your brothers or your dad.  They love to play with you.

You do this thing where you pull your hair.  It must hurt; but, it does not seem to bother you.  I think you do it when you are overtired and overstimulated (it's always when I am trying to nurse you to sleep and its a bit of a struggle).  You like to feel things sometimes as you are drifting off--a blanket, my skin, your hair.

You are so amazing.

I love to hold you on my chest when you snuggle in to me or when you are sleeping. 

I love to just watch you discover the world.  It's wonderful.

I love you so much.  I just squeeze you sometimes (not sorry).  Oh, and your legs...and the dimples in your knees.  Too much.  Too much.  I love you always!

 

 

To my (soon to be) 6 year old son

I am so grateful that I get to be your mom, teacher and friend and witness your life, dear son.  You are amazing in ways you don't yet know.  I love you so much.  It drives you crazy that I love God more than I love you.  I pray that He will show you how that makes my love for you better. 

This year, you started taking Tae Kwon Do.  You have already earned your first belt and really enjoy challenging yourself.  We enjoy watching you.  We also like your instructors.  Good people.  Good examples.

You were sick for almost a year; so, to see you grow (and eat and eat and eat) is awesome!  You are keeping pace with your brother's height now.   You try to keep pace with ALL the things your big brother does; but, you also like figuring out who you are.

Your journey to reading independently has been long.  And, that's totally OK.  You did not have an interest for a long time; but, you have always loved looking at books.  When we sit down and sound out words, you are so good at it.  Sometimes I think you just like reading together better.  That's OK, too.  I will be here for you.

You had a sudden interest in numbers this year and seem to have mastered the basics for addition and subtraction.  You ask about math all the time.  I think that is awesome.  Possibly related to this interest is your ongoing desire to play Uno card game.  I love to play with you and see you increase your skills.  LOL.

I overheard a friend ask you about your favorite sport and you said, baseball.  We have been trying to get you into a league that is more fun than crazy competitive.  We'll keep trying.

You love to draw.  You love to draw "good guys" and "bad guys" (and all my attempts to explain to you that we are all "good" and "bad" are ignored).  Any other art projects, you rush through so you can get back to playing.  You love to paint; but, you still like to rush through.  LOL.

You have a collection of "books", full of your drawings, that you call your "Nim books".  You loved the movie, "Nim's Island".  I can only imagine your "hero/heroine" is some combination of brave and independent, like Nim.  Like you.

At 18 months of age, you discarded your sweet baby voice, in exchange for a deeper, louder voice.  You needed to be heard.  It is still very hard to get you to be quiet. 

When I ask you to put something away, I often find it later, somewhere hidden where it does not belong.  I don't understand this.  But, I love you for it.

I love you for who you are.  I love you for who God has made you to be. 

We have been trying to teach you that peace and love always win over war and violence.  Your dad and I pray about that, how to teach you, that your heart will be contented.

You recently started biting your cuticles.  I worry that you worry about too much.  You asked me the other day if bombs could get us.  I told you how fortunate we are to live in this country where many people work to protect us and have many tools to keep that from happening.  We prayed about it, too.

You are officially a two-wheeler after both of us got some bumps, scrapes and bruises!  LOL.  You are so proud and so good at riding!  You learned so quickly!

I am so grateful to be your mom.  I know how much you love hugs and kisses.  I try to give you lots throughout the day.  I love you my son.  I love discovering you, discovering you and the world. 

Happy Birthday, my sweet boy.

20 months

To my sweet baby girl...at 20 months.

When you hear a bird, you respond back, "caw!" We could be eating inside or playing outside, you will stop what you're doing to respond to those birds.

When someone toots in front of you, you toot right back and then say, "toot!" and giggle.

You have got some pretty sweet dance moves.

You can count to ten. All on your own.

You try to jump with both feet off the ground, but you haven't quite figured it out yet.

You love blowing bubbles...even into your milk or water.

We put a harmonica in your Easter basket this year. You love to play it! Best four dollars ever spent.

I have a feeling you will be the best big sister, my darling. We just need to practice a little patience.

To my 9-year-old son

It is very hard to believe that you are nine.  Your birthday was during our vacation; and, I am glad we celebrated the week before.

It is wonderful to play with you and watch you play.  It is great to be your teacher AND mother.  I love learning with you.  I love teaching you something and knowing when you "get it".  I love catching you in moments I can tell you are enjoying (reading, drawing, watching, playing, thinking, dreaming).

You love to be unique.  I love that.  I love witnessing you be you (like on the beach, in Mexico, where you danced like no one was watching).

You like to go for the laugh.  But, your favorite comics are "Garfield"; so, sarcasm is what you use the most (my fault for being sarcastic, too...I am trying not to be!).  I am sorry for the times I miss the joke and think you are being disrespectful (often).  Maybe we will get it right together...half the time I can teach you when it's not appropriate and half the time I will remember to laugh?

You love Legos. 
You love reading.  You will read anything.  You know stuff I don't even know AND stuff I didn't even know you knew (ha!).
You love making videos with your toys.  You figured out stuff on our digital camera that I did not even know it could do (and so it goes).
You love God (thank God).
You like figuring things out your own way.  Math, for instance.  I won't rush you.  You are getting it.
You love roller skating.  I think you want to keep challenging yourself.  You get better every time.  We will go again soon.
You love anything science.  Everything science.
You love art.  You love creating art, drawing, painting, building.  You like telling me that anything can be art.
I love hearing and seeing you play the piano.  I have enjoyed all the songs and sounds you have composed this year.  I am glad you went that direction.  It clearly suits you.

You taught yourself to swing this year; so, every time we go to the park, you want to practice (I did the same thing...I would still do it if I did not have your baby brother...I love the swings, too!)

I miss playing chess with you.  It's off your radar right now.

I love playing soccer with you and watching you play.  We will get started with some pick up games with our friends again soon, OK?

On the top of your list of things you want to be:  Inventor.  You often wonder aloud if something has been invented yet.  I think your most recent one was if there was yet an elevator with a touchscreen floor.

You are so patient with your younger brothers.  I don't know if I could be as patient as you are with some of the things.  You give up a lot just to make them happy.

Thank you for volunteering often to help out with your 7-month-old brother.  He loves it and I get a break!

I am in awe of you, young man!  I love you so much...more every day, every year! 

19 months

To my silly little goose...at 19 months.

You will hold just about anything up to your ear and pretend it's a phone. You have deep conversations and always begin with "hi" or "ello?" And end with "o-tay. Bye bye."

Your favorite things to say these days are, "oh my!" And "hooray!"

You started ballet class. You're warming up to it.

When we are at the table, you like to say, "cheer!" and clink glasses and drink. (Dada taught you this)

You like to put on Mama and Dada's shoes and walk around the house.

Your first full sentence was, "Dada ate apple."

You ate an ice cream cone for the first time while we were in Austin and you loved it.

You say, "hi-ah!"to almost anyone you meet. And I found out recently that you will walk up to strangers and take their hand and lead them to where you would like to go.

I love you exponentially each day. My heart may burst, you're so sweet...most of the time.