Letter to Baby

Baby Owen,

You're 16 months old and just coming in with a new trick - the temper tantrum.  And molars.  And they don't mix.  Let's start with the temper tantrum…

I found out you had been working on the art of the well known temper tantrum when I picked you up from school last week.  Luke had been picked up previously by M so it was just us.  When we got upstairs to leave and were walking out of the building into the parking lot I went to hold your hold and you promptly snatched it away.  I explained, best I could to a sixteen month old, that we hold hands in parking lots and went to grab your hand again.  And you snatched away.  I gave you one more opportunity to give me your hand and when you didn't comply I picked you up to carry you to the car.  And that's when the temper tantrum began.  As I picked you up, you threw yourself backwards, stuck your hips and stiffened up.  Screaming is what normally occurs, the sound out of your mouth sounded like you alerting authorities ten miles away.  While I tried to put you in your carseat you tried to throw yourself out.  I had to push down on your belly and fight the straps while you're fighting me.  Can you say stubborn?

And those molars.  If you can shove an object back into your mouth to relieve some of the pain, you're going to do it.  Luke's toothbrush?  Check.  Mommy's eye drops?  Check.  Add that with a sore throat and a round of antibiotics and call me wiped.  I'm pretty sure I've said this before, but you are a terrible teether.

You still love your usual foods, and we tried to give you crawfish last night but you wouldn't try it.  You typically will try new foods.  You do love the noodles from sausage and peppers and black eyed peas.  And you still love to feed Baxter.  It's a wonder he even eats his dog food anymore.

We've been iced in the last couple of days and cabin fever hasn't been too terrible.  You helped me glue on some cotton balls to make Santa's beard, you've helped me measure fabric and watch videos on how to sew on bias tape.  Ok, maybe cabin fever has set in.  I suggested to your father we take you and Luke outside, but he said it was so slick outside that he didn't think it would be enjoyable.  We didn't really get any snow, just a ton of sleet, so I agreed.  No sense in an unnecessary ER trip.

You can imitate animal sounds and call Baxter 'umph umph' which is really 'woof woof' but you won't take your passy out.  You are starting to say 'dada' a lot more and you said 'my ball' the other day several times.  We're working on saying 'luke' 'passy' and 'cup', but again, that passy is stuck in that mouth of yours which makes talking a little less important.

As you know, you love balls and have started tossing them in the air over and over and over again.  It keeps you entertained for a bit.  And you've started playing with cars and making little car sounds when you play.  And you and Luke will race them around the ottoman and have a blast.  I'm glad you two are really starting to play together.  But just like any siblings, it doesn't last long.  You pull Luke's hair or he  crashes his car into yours.  Someone always ends up in tears.

We're so in love with you, don't ever forget that.
Mom and Dad

Letter to Baby

Dear Owen,

You are a fifteen month old and still attached to that pacifier of yours.  Somehow, though, I just can't work up the courage to snatch it from you.  It still means you're my little baby in some ways.  In others, it just means I'm pitiful.

You bit me again.  On my stomach.  It wasn't pleasant and you would be wise not to do it again.  And you also tried to pinch me.  It would behoove you to keep your teeth and your little pinchers to yourself.

You love playing outside but hate being in the grass.  Your dad raked up a bunch of leaves for you and Luke to play in, and you weren't so thrilled with the idea.  Even watching Luke run through them didn't make it more enticing.  You were much happier when your dad set you back on the driveway...back on solid ground.

You and Luke are doing a great job 'playing' together for the most part.  Sometimes he likes to torture you by stealing your toy, and sometimes you like to torture him by stealing his.  But you really do love playing with him and enjoy when he'll play with you.  You two even figured out how you could sit down on one of the push toys and Luke could push you around outside.  It was great fun till Luke took a turn a little too sharp and you toppled out.  You ended up with a scratch on your nose and some pavement burn on your forehead, but it didn't take too long to get over it and move on to the next activity.

You love to tackle me and your father and you'll run at us full speed when we're all in the floor playing and throw your little body at us.  We've nicknamed you 'Mack'.  It's because it's equivalent to being hit by a mack truck.  Funny thing is, your middle name was almost Mac, because that's your Great Grandma's maiden name....well, part of it at least.

You are still a good eater, not too picky like your brother.  You won't touch a hot dog with a ten foot pole though.  You will throw it all in the floor, which is just fine with Baxter.  As a matter of fact, you throw a lot of food in the floor for Baxter's enjoyment, but that usually signals you've had enough and you're ready to go do something else.  Every once in a while you'll wonder back to the table and beg for a bite of whatever your dad and I are eating.  And you still love ice cream.  That has to be your favorite treat of all, and your Pa loves feeding it to you.

We met your new cousin, Brooke, last week and I kneeled down with her to let you see and you kissed her side.  It was so sweet!  I must admit, I was a little worried you were going to scream and hit with the sight of me holding another baby, but you had Rylie (the dog), Luke and Uncle Jon to play with, so it didn't phase you too much.

We haven't really added any words to your vocabulary, which is sad, but you love reading books and your receptive language is great.  You do know how to get your point across and show us what you want.  You are an expert at shaking your head 'yes' and 'no' until we get it right :).

You're hair is getting longer and starting to flip up in the back, but you are not in need of a haircut quite yet!  It has a little red tint to it so I know where you get the temper :)

You're perfect in every way and we love you!
Mom and Dad

Letter to Baby

Dear Owen,

You are fourteen months and some change.  The time keeps speeding by faster and faster and I'm not sure how well I'm adjusting.

I've been going through all the clothes you've outgrown lately, and since we aren't planning on having any more little ones, I'm donating to other babies.  I've kept a few things, the special things that I just can't bear to let go, but most of it's going.  Seriously, you and your wife won't want any of this when you have kids in 40 years.  This stuff will be so old fashion by then.  So just expect to bring your baby home in what I keep of yours.  Unless it's a girl, in which case, dye it pink :)

You're practically running now.  You love to play chase and you race to the couch and lay your head down on the cushion like it's 'safe'.  You are becoming so independent, unless of course you are tired or just generally upset.  In which case you can totally throw a fit until we pick you up and you stop the water works.  You are pretty crafty at making us feel like awful parents until you get your way.

And you bit me.  Twice.  Today.  And all I have to say is - Ow!  We'll nip that in the bud real quick.

You are really good at finger pointing and getting what you want.  Your favorite thing to throw a fit over right now is a remote.  We just take batteries out and hand it over.  You point it at the TV and have a great time.

And you love playing with Luke.  And vice versa.  Except when you tear his train tracks apart, and then you two have to play separately for a while.  Or when he snatches toys out of your hand.  And then you have to play separately for a while.  It goes both ways.  But generally you adore each other and I'm so grateful for that.

I think you've said 'mine' a few times, but mostly you just say 'ball' and 'mama'.  Sometimes you'll get out 'dada' or 'high five'.  We're working on 'up', 'cup', 'bath' and 'book'.  So far it's not taking for your expressive language, but your receptive language is amazing.  You're a bright boy and don't you forget it.  You are loving books and, especially the tough and feel.  You are starting to imitate the sounds of animals like 'moo' and 'oink'.

You love to play outside and go on stroller rides and push toys around.  You always get covered in sidewalk chalk as well.  I've never seen anything like it!  I've been putting you in the little cozy coupe car but you haven't figured out how to pick your feet up so we can only go backwards.  It doesn't matter to you, you enjoy just being pushed around.  You really want to ride Luke's big wheel, but sorry, you're too small and your legs are too short.  Someday though!

We love how you are growing and enjoy you every single day.
You definitely keep us on our toes.
Loves,
Mom and Dad

Letter to Baby

Dear Owen,

Thirteen months have passed since you entered this world at a whopping 7 pounds and 11 ounces and now you're a hefty 21 pounds and 10 ounces.  Carrying you around is getting to be hard!

You are walking.  Not just a step or two here or there.  Full blown walking.  And now you're trying to run.  You've been barefoot for so long...okay, 13 months...that we decided now that you're walking we'd put you in shoes.  And wouldn't you know, none of Luke's old shoes fit you, so we bought you some.  We put them on you and you immediately tried to kick them off.  Watching you walk in them was hilarious!  Now you're getting used to them, but you still aren't quite sure what they are.  You are definitely a barefoot kind of kid.

You've been teething, and you are the crankiest, meanest, whiniest teether on.the.planet.  It all starts with fever so you can't be at school, just in case.  Then you get mad when we don't carry your 21 pound self all over creation while we try to get things done one handed so when we set you down to play you smack us (or Luke says, high five us) in the face.  And once you're in the floor with your toys at your reach, you start whining.  And you whine until we pick you up again.  And then we repeat the process.  Stupid teeth.

You still love playing with balls.  We can break your attention from the tantrum you're throwing by saying, 'Owen, where's your ball?'  And off you go, hunting one down.  We've had to put the small hard ones away that go with some of your other toys because having them thrown at our head wasn't much fun.  You're loving your new class at daycare, you get to get out and play in the gym and they have a ton of balls, so you're in your own little paradise.  I just hope you aren't throwing them at your friends.

You love to eat...if the 21 pounds didn't clue you in.  Right now your favorite foods include peaches, yogurt, banana and cereal.  You do like to throw your food in the floor and 'feed' Baxter.  We're working on curbing that bad habit.  And you love to get into the refrigerator.  If we open that door for any reason, you're climbing in.  And you also like to help close the door.

You are just a joy (unless you're having a serious tantrum) and we love you to pieces.
Mom and Dad

Letter to the Birthday Boy

Dear Birthday Boy,

You are a whopping ONE YEAR OLD now.  You still lay your head down on my arm and let me rock you to sleep.  You giggle when I rub your back - you're most ticklish there, just like me.  You're exploring more and more, getting more teeth and beginning to walk.  My baby is one.

Back to rocking you to sleep.  We, ahem, I, have spoiled you rotten since day one.  Then night before you turned one, you slept through the night for the very first time.  It was magical.  But you've gotten in this pattern of being rocked sound asleep, and then waking up and crying the moment you feel your little body leaving mine and waking right back up and crying.  I've just had to let you cry it out, and I know it hurts your feelings, but you.have.to.sleep.  That's it, end of story.  And eventually you do fall asleep, but you put up one heck of a fight.  And you're waking up in the middle of the night now crying for your pacifier, but we've let you find it on your own and it only takes a few minutes before you're back to sleep again.

M met a lady who said you were a lap baby.  You cry and someone picks you up and puts you on their lap.  Yep, I did it to us.  You were spoiled rotten for six whole months coming to work with me and while we are at M and Pa's, you get picked up and carried around.  When we're at home you have always been toted back and forth from one spot to the next.  But then you started crawling and things became more accessible to you.  And that meant you didn't get carried and toted from one spot to the other.  Nope, you crawl after us crying, wondering why we aren't taking you with us?  Well, it's because now you're mobile.  And getting heavy.  And you're not as still so it's harder to multitask while holding you.  So I just have to let you cry.  It's not a cry because you're hurt, it's a cry because you just don't know why in the world I walked past without picking you up.  It's getting better, especially because now, you are taking steps.

Steps I say.  The precursor to walking.  The world is your oyster.  And we should probably babyproof a little more.  But right now you'll only walk for us if we stand you up, step back and hold our arms out for you.  You walk right to us and then the last step you kinda start falling forward and we catch you.  You think it's great fun, but I know you'll be walking like crazy in no time flat.

You love to sing 'Itsy Bitsy Spider' and wave your arms to all the motions.  You sing along with Luke when he sings the 'ABC' song.  You throw your arms up way over your head when we say 'How big is Owen?' and you play peek a boo.  I love all the little things you do.  And you've just started really putting your head down on our shoulder, which may be the sweetest thing ever.


You still love going to daycare, and you get excited when we walk through the doors.  You love all the interaction with the other kids and they have a big gym with a ton of balls for you to play with!  And my favorite part is when I pick you up in the afternoon, you hear my voice and start squealing with delight.  It makes my heart do some serious smiling.

You have a total of 4 teeth - 2 lower (they came in first around 10 months), and 2 upper (they came in several weeks ago).  You're curious, don't really like reading books with me (that doesn't stop me from reading at least 3 to you), love peek a boo and playing with Luke.

You are one.  An amazing one year old.  And your father and I thank Heavenly Father every day for entrusting us with you while we are on this earth.

We love you.
Mom and Dad

Letter to baby

Dear Owen,

I am so late in writing this letter this month.  I think I've been denial that my 11 month old is weeks away (now just 1 week away) from turning 1.  My baby is growing up.  Ugh, that's a tough pill to swallow.

But since you are still 11 months old, let's have a chat about all the awesome things you're doing.  Such as, you have mastered crawling!  There's nothing holding you back now, and you are so much happier now that you are completely mobile.  You pull up on absolutely everything and let those hands get you into a ton of trouble.  Case and point, I let Luke have his pancakes in the living room one morning while I went to fold the clothes.  Luke's plate was safe on the ottoman (or so I thought), but when I was done folding clothes I came back to find that you had pulled his plate off the ottoman and you and Baxter were having a good old time eating pancakes.  Meanwhile, Luke was engrossed in watching Netflix and could have cared less to come warn me that syrup was soaking into the carpet.  You both eat at the kitchen table for all meals now.  No exceptions.

You are learning more words!  In addition to 'mama, dada, baw (for ball)' you now say 'i by' for high five and 'ba' for bath and 'bye bye'.  You're one smart cookie.  You also blow kisses, but only when it's convenient, and you like to pretend sneeze and do it until someone joins in, in which case you get a pretty good case of the giggles.

You STILL aren't sleeping through the night and I've had about all I can take.  We're down to just nursing at night and I think you're so accustomed to waking up for a midnight snack (or three) that it's just part of the routine.  A few nights ago you were up and after being fed you refused to go back to bed.  I'd rock you until you were fast asleep and lay you down in your crib and you would wake right back up.  We did this a few times and finally I just left you in your crib and let you cry it out.  I was tired and we had to work the next day.  Eventually you fell asleep and as long as your fed, dry and safe, I say, cry it out.  Harsh?  Maybe.  Necessary?  Probably.

You love balls and it's the first thing you go for.  There can be a zillion other toys around and you will find the one ball to play with.  It's really entertaining watching you crawl around chasing that ball from one end of the house to the other.  Other than that, you really enjoy destroying Luke's train tracks and climbing all over daddy when he's in the floor with you.  You also love watching Luke to see what he'll do and if he'll engage you in play.  You two are so sweet!

You're eating table food now and won't hardly eat a container of baby food anymore.  It's great that you'l pretty much eat whatever we're having, it makes it easy when we're out to eat.  I'm hoping we can continue you on this path of eating what we eat so you won't be so limited as to what you like like your brother.  So far you're happy as long as you're fed.

We're getting ready for your first birthday and can't wait to celebrate!  You're a pretty awesome baby, so I know you'll be an amazing one year old.

We love you so much,
Mom and Dad

Letter to Baby

Owen,

Hi baby!  You are 10 months old now!  And you're still only growing hair down the middle of your head :)  I love feeling that fuzzy hair of yours!

You are becoming quite the stubborn little stinkpot if you catch my drift.  If it's not going you're way, you will let us know about it.  Luke is definitely the calm, easy going kid and you are the stubborn my way or the highway kid.  Phew!  You take it out of us some days, kiddo!  Relax, baby :)  One of your new favorite things is to throw yourself backwards and cry at the top of your lungs.  Not a fun trait. 

One of the things we do love is how absolutely stinking adorable you are when you're in a good mood and playing.  We love to hear you laugh and Luke cracks you up.  You love to watch him climb the stairs at school as fast as he can, and you crack up when he reaches the top and declares he's the winner.  He loves to kiss you and blow raspberries on your belly.  And if you're crying, that sometimes makes you laugh. 

We went on vacation a couple weeks ago and you hated the beach.  Screamed when we put sunscreen on you.  Screamed when your feet touched the sand.  Screamed at the sound of the waves.  Screamed louder when we tried to put your toes in the ocean.  Screamed in the car if I wasn't sitting in the backseat entertaining you.  There were good times, don't get me wrong, but you just weren't a fan of the sun, sand and surf.  Or the car. 

You are eating table food now and you love it.  If you can gum/chew it, you're eating it.  There's not a whole lot right now you don't like.  I'm still feeding you some baby food every now and then, but I still want you to nurse for a little while longer, too.  We are starting to wean you and you don't seem to mind.  You're still waking up once or twice at night to nurse still so that's okay.  Otherwise we are giving you whole milk mixed with mommy's milk in a bottle during the day.  You seem to be adjusting well and we just introduced a sippy cup and juice.  You are just growing up!

You still aren't crawling, and frankly have no interest in doing so.  You love to walk and want us to hold your hands and walk you everywhere.  It's funny that you love to walk so much with us, but you won't walk behind a toy or along the couch.  You're stationary when it comes to that.  We'll get there one of these days, though. 

We love you little one, temper and all.
Mom and Dad