My Dear Sweet Baby Boy,

Ok, well maybe it’s time I stop calling you baby. You’re 3 now.

Wow, has it already been a year since I last wrote? Let me fill you in on how much you’ve surprised me this past year.

Two was such a big year for you. You started preschool and made new friends. To be honest, you went in already knowing all of your letters and numbers. I wish I could say I had something to do with that, but the truth is, you fell in love with this train named Bob, and he teaches you all of that stuff on YouTube kids. You even schooled me the other day when your pointed out a hexagon. I thought I was correcting you when I called it an octagon but I was wrong. You are so incredibly clever. Sometimes a little too clever.

You don’t really like listening to directions all of the time. You like doing what you want, when you feel like it. It’s proven to be a challenge when we’re out and about and you just don’t want to sit still. Not that I can blame you. Because of this I try to bring you places I know you can run and play and have fun. That’s what you should be doing at this age! There will be plenty of time to sit and be boring when you’re older.

You and your sister are beginning to play together more and more. You’ve always been mostly kind to each other, but now you both play more and fight more. You love to mess up her creations, but together you like playing tag. Lately you’ve also started to enjoy coloring with your big sister. She’ll draw you your request–usually an airplane or a dinosaur– and you’ll color it.

Around Daddy you love to exercise in the garage, do pull-ups and dance. You guys also have fun going shopping together. Specifically to sports equipment stores and athletic wear stores. You’re on your third pair of Jordan’s and about your 5th Nike jumpsuit thanks to him.

You’re still very much a mama’s boy. At this very moment you’re curled up on me falling asleep. I don’t always allow this, but I make exceptions when you aren’t feeling too well or are really in need of some extra cuddles. Or if I’m in need of some extra cuddles. You are really so snuggly and sweet. I’m sure some day you won’t like to be known as cuddly and sweet, so I’m enjoying it while I can.

Over this last year you’ve really shown us what you’re interested in. You love trains of course, but you’re also really starting to enjoy other vehicles and dinosaurs. Especially dinosaurs. I’m sure in no time you’ll know the names of different dinosaurs like you know the different kinds of trains.

You also love vacations. Every day you tell us you want to go on a Disney Cruise, or go to Disney World. I love that you’re starting this fascination at a young age. Your favorite movie right now is The Good Dinosaur. It’s definitely the only movie you can watch from beginning to end, and you even love quoting some parts. It’s hilarious when you yell at people “Nash, get you of your sister’s bubble!” And they have no idea what you’re talking about.

I love watching you grow and discover the world, and seeing your personality develop. You seem very laid back. You don’t always get frustrated, but when you do, you get mad at yourself for getting upset. It makes me feel so bad. You also get angry at yourself for crying. It’s really cute and sad at the same time when you start yelling “Don’t cry! Stop crying!” I’ve started telling you it’s ok to cry, and I try to cheer you up.

My hope for you this next year, is that you continue to explore the things you love, and try new things. I hope you keep making more friends, and show the world how bright your light shines. I’m excited to see how much you learn, and hear more of what you’re thinking about.

Everyone we know mentions how sweet you are, and I hope you never lose that. I hope you grow up to be a polite, brilliant, handsome young man who is kind to others.

I’m so proud to be your mommy. I feel so lucky that you’re my son. Even though you give me a run for my money sometimes, and you have so much joy just bursting out of you all the time (which can be tiring), you are the perfect little boy for me, and for that I’m so thankful.

Know that I’m always here for you, and I love you more than you know! And you know what? No matter how big you get, you’ll always be my baby.

With love from the bottom of my heart,

Mommy

My son turns one in a week. I don’t really want to dwell on that sad fact right now. I’m hanging on to his last bit of babyhood before he starts walking and turns into a toddler.

People frequently ask me if he’s walking yet and I’m happy to say he’s not. Been there, done that, no thank-you, I can wait.

Here’s my second video love letter (first to my son) talking about his life since he’s learned how to cruise around, and my reluctance towards his first steps. I promise you won’t be disappointed. I think I may like this one even more than my daughter’s.
Warning: Don’t watch if you don’t want kids

Four videos in two weeks. I’m on a vlogging role here with no plans to stop. Though I am thinking I may not share every single video on my blog, so be sure to subscribe to my YouTube page to keep up to date. I’ve never had so much fun with home videos. Something as simple as the joy of watching my son play (and make a huge mess) in the morning is now something I can re-watch and remember years from now.

Take a moment this next week to record play time in your home.

***

Pampers is celebrating how baby’s love, sleep and play. I’ve been buying his diapers using Amazon Prime since before he was born, and Big T plays hard and comfortably while wearing his Pampers Cruisers now in sizes 3-7. Pampers would like to give away a one month’s supply of diapers and wipes to three of my readers. Just leave a comment to enter and one will be randomly chosen next Thursday April 3rd. After the contest has ended the winner should allow 6-8 weeks for delivery.

Buy now from: Pampers.com

Connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, Online.

This giveaway is a part of a sponsorship with BabyCenter. I received a free sample product for the purpose of this review.

This 365 project is beginning to get more difficult than I imagined. It’s not easy coming up with a creative placement of numbers every day, so quite a few of these this month ended up being simple blocks. I am particularly fond of day 61. It was late and he had peed in his PJs so I was changing him, and realized I still needed a photo for the day. The lotion was in front of me and I thought “oh that’s easy!” I also love day 35, we were at his one month checkup waiting for the pediatrician. That’s another fun thing about when I do happen to get a little creative, the objects I use in the photos remind me of what was happening that day. For his baby book I may go back and write captions about each day. I may need to get started on that now so I don’t forget, and so it doesn’t get too overwhelming later.

I’m also going to continue to write open letters for him til’ he’s one, and design a book for him (probably at the same time I finally finish my daughter’s).

So many books! Blurb or Snapfish, or whoever is gonna make a fortune off me. Baby Photo Documentation Month 2

Dear Daughter,

You’re well past the two year mark and I feel it’s time I let you know how I feel about that. At first I delayed this moment because I couldn’t believe another year had passed. As if by delaying this note, it would slow your growth. But of course, it hasn’t in the least.

Over the last several months your personality has flourished, your vocabulary has boomed, and you have blossomed into a little girl I’m so proud to call my own.

One afternoon while we played in your room I told you you make me happy. I didn’t realize it then, but my sharing that with you has really left an impression on your compassionate heart. I’ve noticed now when I hug you a little too long, or tell you how much I love you, you’ll stop and ask “I make mommy happy?” and I say “Yes you do baby!” Happier than you know.

I wasn’t expecting you to understand so much, have so many opinions about so many things and be able to share them with me at such a young age. Like your mommy, you’re into Disney movies, especially the princess flicks. Not only can you request which one you want to watch, you can “name that movie” when we’re listening to Disney music on Pandora. Your memory is astonishing.

Getting you into these clothes is no problem, getting you out is where the hard part comes in. I’ve found a solution is to let you decide what you want to wear to school. It used to be I’d put you in a dress every day because it’s what I wanted. Now, you’re the one picking out your clothes, always choosing to wear the poofiest or longest dress you can find. And when I wear a dress you call it my princess dress. In fact, the other night, instead of calling me mommy, you decided to call me “Princess Mommy” on your own, and you referred to me by that name all night.

Like many toddlers I assume, you’ve become a little negotiator. You’ll throw phrases as us like “No thanks,” “Next time” and “One more please!” at us all the time. Your bedtime routine stretched into a never-ending cycle that always ended in tears, so we have started a new system that not only included a book and prayer as usual, but a vitamin,  song, rocking, a second of back rubbing and three kisses blown to you as I shut the door. When your daddy is home I have him finish up bed time so it doesn’t take as long. He laughs at our routine and says I’m making you OCD.

When it comes to becoming a big sister, I think you’re ready. You love peeking at my belly, giving the baby kisses, and feeling him/her move. When I’m wearing a t-shirt you’ll lift it up and say “open it” or “take it out!” Then I have to tell you that the baby will come out later, and you ask “next time?” yes, um, something like that.  I’m just glad we have at least four more months to enjoy this time with you as our only child.

The holidays have been more enjoyable for me than ever. I’ve been able to describe Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas to you and you get the picture. Halloween definitely made an impression on you, since you still come home ringing the doorbell while yelling “trick or treat!” Thanksgiving was fun for you too but I didn’t make it as big of a deal this year, aside from talking about turkeys, to which you reply “gobble gobble.” And Christmas I just know you’re going to love. From seeing the lights in our house, around town, meeting Santa again and again, and playing with our new nativity set and learning about Jesus. You’re just soaking it all in, and it’s amazing.

As we drove to a store on Black Friday I played some Christmas tunes on the way. Jingle Bells rang through our car, and I turned it up and sang it to you. I wasn’t sure if you had heard it before, or knew it was a Christmas song, but you yelled up to me “Dance mommy!” so I danced and told you to dance as well. In my rearview mirror I saw your head of curls bobbing along to the music when all of a sudden you told me: “Mommy happy!” I smiled and confirmed your guess, then you said: “Mommy happy, and I happy!” I teared up at your little statement because while I hope you’re a happy little girl, that I’m doing things right, nothing beats hearing it straight from your mouth.

You do make me happy sweet child, happier than you know. I’m so happy you’re my daughter.

Love,

Mommy