Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Letter to Baby

Dear Owen,

You are 19 months old now and I adore every bit of you.  Your hair is getting long, it's starting to look like a mullet.  Can you say party in the back?  Your feet are growing like a weed, your tubes are starting to work their way out and your throwing arm is getting stronger.

Your vocabulary is growing and now includes the words 'bubble', 'ish' (fish) and 'mo' (more).  We have to tell you to take your paci out, say the word, which sometimes you do, and then you put the paci back in.  But I'm so glad you're learning more words.  Your receptive vocabulary is still amazing, so I know the expressive part will get there in time.

You've been running a fever for about the last 4 days off and on  I got a phone call from your school last week and had to come get you.  Your M came and picked you up, took you home to rest.  The rest of the weekend you would have spurts where you felt great and played, then would spike a fever and crash.  M took off Monday from work to keep you and Daddy was able to take off work yesterday (Tuesday) to keep you.  You stopped running a fever finally so you'll go back to school today.  We took you to the ENT I work with and you were fine ear, nose and throat wise, so off to school you go now.

Getting to stay home with dad must've been tons of fun.  Daddy made a pallet in the floor for you to lay on and relax.  You went to the store with him and got a bunch of groceries and a new ball.  Daddy even took you to the park and pushed you in the swing.  What fun!  Monday evening Daddy came to pick you up from M and took you back home so he could keep you Tuesday.  Mommy and Luke stayed at M and Pa's for the night.  I'm sure you loved having Daddy all to yourself for a night!

We put up a little basketball hoop and you love it.  You are pretty good at making baskets already and I know you'll be our little basketball player.  You have a knack for it already!  I have a feeling you'll be into a few sports.  If it includes a ball, I'm sure you'll want to play.

You're cutting your canine teeth right now, and to be honest, I think that's been part of the fever, if not all of it.  You are still a terrible teether and I hope you get them all out of the way sooner than later.  It's no fun for you or for us!

When you and Luke play together, and something happens, you come running to mom and dad and point and say 'bubba' to let us know that he's done something that upsets you.  Or you come running to us and say 'uh oh' to let us know there's something wrong.  You're really good at getting your point across.

We love you Owen.
Mom and Dad

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Letter to Baby

Dear 18th month old that calls me mom,

You are the cutest, stockiest, funniest, cuddliest, most adorable mean little stink on the planet.  Seriously.  You hit when you don't get your way.  You pitch fits of epic proportions.  You throw, knock down or kick when things just don't go the way you planned it would.  It's really a good thing you only act this way at home or around people you're most comfortable with.  So far we haven't had any incidents at school.

You love dancing.  And music.  Any music can get you on your feet moving and grooving.  And you love playing 'Ring Around the Rosie'.  You fall down and clap your hands.  One of you're favorite songs says 'Peanut sittin' on a railroad track, his heart was all a flutter.  Along came a choo-choo train, smashed him flat! (Clap your hands together here) Choo-Choo peanut butter'.  You move your little arms like you're a little choo-choo, and when it comes to clapping your hands together, you get the best little look on your face like it will be the best clap ever.  Seriously too cute.

You're in nursery now at church, and because church is during your nap time, it's really hard.  You scream and cry when I drop you off, but then when you get settled and I come back to check on you through the mirror, you're playing and having a grand old time.  Your nursery leaders are so considerate to you and your pacifier addiction as well.

You've learned a few new words, the most notable is 'melmo' otherwise known as 'elmo'.  It took me a while to figure it out, but when you started pointing to your diaper, which has elmo on them, I put two and two together.  Your mom is a pretty smart lady, you know :).

You are loving oranges.  Not so much a fan of orange juice, but you can chow down on some oranges. You still love chicken, black olives, fries, fish sticks and peas.  You've tried rice a few times and despise it.  And all of a sudden you won't eat grilled cheese sandwiches.  What's up with that?

You love climbing all over your dad, painting with Luke, playing Trouble with the family, loving on Baxter and stealing Luke's toys.  Oh, you love to torture your brother.  You can be his best buddy, but you can be so mean to him, too.  I know that's just brothers and how you roll, but I really wish you could be just a little kinder to your brother.  He loves you so much.

You're not a fan of the snow.  Not just a fan, but hate everything about it.  Sledding down the hill?  Nope, hate it.  Build a snow man?  Absolutely not.  You just would rather the weather produce no snow or ice and you could be satisfied.

We love you little one, for always.
Mom and Dad

Saturday, March 1, 2014

Letter to my 4 year old

Baby Luke,

Turns out, you're not so much a baby anymore.  As you would put it, 'I'm 4, I'm not a baby, I'm a big boy.'  As a matter of fact, you've sprouted up this past year.  You're face has changed into a more little boy look.  You have a TON of hair.  You have opinions and the vocabulary to back them.

This past year has been so awesome.  We've had vacations to the beach, twice.  You loved the sand and playing with daddy, and for a few minutes you actually liked the ocean, but then you were over it.  We've been to Dallas to play and shop.  We've been to Branson and Silver Dollar City.  We've been to visit your Grandma and Grandpa in Northwest Arkansas.

At Silver Dollar City you loved riding the rides.  You're favorite was the roller coaster - kid sized.  I can't believe you liked it!  You're definitely more of dare devil than I realized :)  We waited in line for the parade and in true Luke fashion, you made friends with the kiddos beside us.  We weren't able to stay for the parade because you and Owen were just way too tired.  We had a great little trip and I think that we may make that a yearly trip.

You're learning so much!  You know you're 'ABCs', you can count to thirty, you know shapes, colors and the sounds the letters make.  You can write your name.  You love to look at the letters in all your books and try to figure out what they say.  Your preschool teacher is Mrs. Amanda and we think she's great.  She lets you and your class do so many fun things.  You paint, draw and craft.  I know you always have a great time.

Your favorite movies right now are 'Planes' (we're watching it right now), 'Wreck It Ralph' and of course, the all time favorite, 'Cars'.  You love playing the game 'Trouble'.  We play it all the time.  Your favorite part is sending mom and dad home.  You won last night, but when you lose, you're a bit of a sore loser so we're working on being a good sport.  Dad has yet to win a game.

We still stay at M and Pa's some during the week, and you love getting away with murder there.  You and Owen seem to rule the roost while we're there.  You sleep with mommy on the pull out couch, and most nights we're fine, but we sleep with a pillow in between us because your little foot likes to find its way to my back.  Ouch!

Your vocabulary is amazing.  You pick up everything and are really pretty articulate.  You've turned into quite the little helper.  You can turn the lights on by yourself, you can wash your hands, put your shoes on, clean up toys, put in a DVD by yourself, get into the car by yourself.  All of these little things really add up and help us so much!

Oh!  and you're FINALLY fully potty trained!  What a relief!!

You are kind hearted, gentle, you love your brother and are so good playing with him (most of the time).  You know what you want, you don't pitch too many fits.  You love to read books.  You still have Monkey.  You love your family and we love you.

We love you and can't wait to see what the next year brings.  Happy 4th!
Mom and Dad