Dear Sons

Dear Riley,

I love the way you are using so many new, grown up words correctly and I also love that you still say "lasterday" for yesterday. I'll be sad when that word vanishes from your vocabulary. I won't be sad when "stupid" vanishes from your vocabulary....and a few other choice words you've learned.

I love to snuggle with you in your pajamas. I don't love that you like to sleep in your underwear sometimes now. I think you might be getting big.

I love that you are such a good eater. You'll eat just about anything AFTER you tell me you don't like it first. "I don't like chicken." "I don't like broccoli." "I don't like pasta." You always eat it for me, thank you. You know butternut squash, asparagus, avocado, acorn squash, and various other fruits and veggies when you see them. I think that is pretty cool.

I love that you love to help me cook. And that you learn so much while you're in the kitchen with me. Like this morning, when I was working out, you taught Daddy how to make a smoothie. "Daddy, you just put a banana, some blueberries, some strawberries, and some milk in the blender. And push this button. See Daddy, I taught you how to make a smoothie!" When Daddy told me that story, I was so proud. We both were.

I love that you love your baby brother. I love that you can make him happy and make him smile. I don't love when you get too close to his face, touch his things with your dirty hands, or forget how to be "easy." He's just a baby and I know it's so hard for a 4 year old boy to know what gentle means.

I love going upstairs every night before bed and kissing your cheek goodnight. Daddy and I have done that since you were a tiny baby. You are so peaceful in your p.j.'s, cuddled up with your Dog.


Dear Kace,

I love your rolls. You ankle rolls, your wrist rolls, and that you can roll over from your back to your belly! And your belly to your back--once.

I'm so proud of you for being a good eater. We practiced cereal for a week and I wondered if it would get better. You spit every bit out and I think more was on your clothes than in your belly. That's okay, we tried again the next day...and the next...and the next. And guess what, you've got this eating thing down--I'm impressed. You loved the new flavor of apples and tomorrow you'll get to try pears! What an exciting time! By the way, your brother has to taste test all of the food I make for you first. He's tried your apples, pears, acorn squash, and butternut squash. He says it's delish!

I love the way you light up when you see me or hear my voice. My heart swells with pride and love. I am so proud of what God helped us do, buddy. I don't thank Him enough.

I love that you are grabbing things and holding things that look interesting to you. And you want to hold that bottle of yours so bad, but you're just not ready. And that spoon. If you could feed yourself I would let you. Sometimes I think you want to eat the spoon, not the yummy food on iy! I have to trick you and let you hold onto my pinky so you "think" you're feeding yourself. Mommy's quick and figured that trick out pretty quickly.

I love that you are so laid back. You are very easy going, you don't fuss at all. Unless you're hungry...

I love that you like to cook with me. I sit you up on the bar in your Bumbo and you watch me and I tell you about what I'm doing. Thanks for keeping me company.

I love your Fozzie bear voice, I could talk to you all day long! Daddy and I can do a great impersonation of a conversation with you. Mimi thinks you've already said "Mama." Riley says you said "no" today. I thought I heard you say "Yeah." Were you singing Usher or repeating that word that Riley says to you 1008 times EVERY day in his baby voice? Either way, I love it.

Boys, thanks for making me one proud, exhausted, happy Mommy! I love you.