To My Boys and the Baby Sister. It's almost the middle of April. Please forgive me for letting the first 3 months of the year slip through my fingers.
You, my firstborn, are beyond words. When you're sweet, nothing is sweeter. When you're stubborn, nothing is more stubborn. I get caught up and frustrated in your stubborn moments but I've learned to stand back and remind myself what a sweet boy you are. Your stubbornness usually wears on me and I end up raising my voice and it breaks your heart. You have the softest heart. Yesterday at the park, it was time to leave and Ryder refused to follow us to the car so I left him behind and walked away. He threw a fit and cried and screamed and your heart kept tugging at you. You drug your feet as you called to me, "Mommy. Ryder's sad." I told you I would go back to get him once I got Adria in the car but that didn't change how you felt. I told you to go get him so you ran back to him as fast as you could and beckoned to him, "C'mon Ryder! Let's go!" He initially refused you too, but came running behind you before long. He looks up to you. Adria loves you too. Her eyes light up when you come around- -no one can make her laugh like you can. You love making people happy. I went to your Parent Teacher Conference a few weeks ago and the first thing your teacher told me was, "I can't imagine Teryn doing anything naughty." She also said that if she could take any student home with her it would be you. I realize she may have said the same thing to other parents, but I believe it about you. And you're so smart! Like spelling and the alphabet. You know both upper and lower case letters (you've known them for a few years now) and you are so into spelling these days. You ask me how to spell new words every day and then you practice and practice until you memorize them. Teryn, Ryder, Adria, Onyx, Mommy, Daddy, Grandma, Grandpa, Bree, Ben, Brandon, Lexi, Ozzie, Ziggy, Drayson, Paige, Corbin, Kaden, and Alec are several of the family and friends' names you know. Your obsession with super heroes motivated you to learn their names as well. Spiderman, Ironman, Batman, Hulk, Captain America, Thor, Avengers, Assemble, Buzz, and Zurg are a few worth mentioning. You spell out loud as we drive- -words from memory as we drive back roads and words on buildings and signs as we drive through town. Your favorite toys are Scrabble tiles and letter blocks. As for counting, you're up to 30 now. Your teacher is incredibly impressed with your knowledge. She told me they don't even test kids your age in the areas of letters and numbers because it's not age appropriate knowledge. So, there are age appropriate areas in which you struggle that worried us for some time, but you excel farther than other 4 year olds in other areas and that's taught us that you're just different and it's not a bad thing. You are the authoritarian around our house. Making sure everyone does what mommy says. You live off carbohydrates and water. Seriously. Carbs and water. You eat anything and everything carbohydrate and you rarely drink anything but water. And you're the healthiest kid we have? It beats me? You are very active. We signed you up for T Ball this year and I think you are going to love it. You have a very strong arm too- -you always catch people off guard. We're still trying to figure out if you're left or right handed?? You go back and forth and you're pretty equally able with both. So we'll see? One last story I want to remember. You were asked to give the prayer in Primary last Sunday so your dad and I went in to listen. You stood at the pulpit, folded your arms, and closed your eyes. A leader stood next to you and whispered in your ear to help……and everything she whispered, you whispered. No one could hear you because you whispered so quietly. Tyson and I giggled, and it was all the leader could do to not giggle, ha ha! You were just so sweetly whispering like the leader was doing. You're very good at following directions ;) You bring so much joy, action, thought, and love into our home.
My dear boy! Boy, boy, boy. That word describes you very well :) Actually, your dad frequently says of you, "He is a man's man." Stout, strong, sturdy, rugged. If ever you and Teryn are found wrestling, I know who started it. You have mastered the wrap-him-up and take-him-down move. And you laugh with a deep, gnarly laugh as you do it, ha ha! We don't own a football, but if we ever visit a home that does, you find it. Footballs are your favorite balls. And if you always eat like you do now football will be fitting for you :) You're are the eater of our house! We have to put the stools on the counter to prevent you from climbing in the kitchen for food. You find the pantry of every home we visit too! You will try anything and everything once, and there are rarely foods you refuse to eat. You even enjoy Kimchi and Curry with me and dad! It makes our hearts happy :) As much as you love your food, you are always willing to share with Adria. If ever she is found with a cookie in hand, I know where it came from! And you're always so proud when you share with her. She is your best friend. Last night when you and Teryn were bathing, I sat Adria in the water with you for the first time and you were so excited to have her with you. You are such a happy guy. Your face just shines with happiness. And you are so funny! You LOVE to laugh. You even love to be tickled and picked on if it will make you laugh. Your laugh is hilarious and contagious. Both you and your brother are hilarious to listen to, but his laugh might be described as more of a light, giggly laugh and yours is a deep, hearty laugh. So funny. You had surgery last week on your ears and Adenoid and the doctor was concerned about how cranky you would be but you never skipped a beat. In fact, it's more like your funny potential has finally been reached. You have been even happier and funnier than you were before. Really, you kill us on a daily basis. You love to swing and you've recently discovered the fun of the slide. You lost your balance going down once and ended up sliding down backwards on your tummy and you thought that was the coolest thing ever so now that's how you like sliding. You love playing in the water. Your vocabulary is growing but you consistently take off the first sound of every word. Instead of Mommy, I'm Ommy. Instead of Daddy, Tyson is Addy. Maybe you'll figure out Pig Latin before you figured out English :) It is such a joy to watch you grow and learn every day. I know life will always be happy with you around.
Adria,
Our Baby Princess. That title has come to just roll off our tongues. Even Teryn's! He's always so happy to see you in the morning and nuzzles up to your cheek with a big smile and a, "Hi, Baby Princess!" Ryder simply exclaims, "Agia!" ha ha :) You are the sweetest thing. Really, you are. Everyone who interacts with you agrees. You have such a calming, gentle energy about you. And you are so smiley! You thrive on interaction with people, especially females for some reason. I have a feeling you are much more of a girly-girl than I ever was. Bring on the pink and the ruffles and the glitter! (Your dad hates glitter, but I think he will tolerate it for you ;) ) You are such a giggly little thing too! You're the first child we've had who's giggled so willingly as a baby. Both of your brothers resisted and resisted giggling until they were red in the face but you could go on and on for hours. You especially love to be tickled when you're down to your diaper, being dressed in the mornings and nights. Just last night your dad was getting you in your pajamas and you were giggling so uncontrollably that he called for me to bring the camera. I ran in to capture the moment and of course you stopped when you saw the camera in my hand. He tried and tried and tried, and you still giggled, but not nearly as jubilantly. I don't know that we'll ever get the real moment on video, but I know that your dad and I will never forget the purity of your sweet, light spirit. You're an intense observer of everything that goes on around you. You can't tell me yet, but I know you notice every little detail you see. When someone new holds you, you take time to study every part of their face, as if you're memorizing them. Sometimes you reach out to touch them oh so gently with your delicate fingers. You sit up strong but have not yet learned to crawl. Only recently have you even acted like you're interested in getting around- -until now, you've been happy to sit back and just watch everything that's going on. In fact, sometimes you are forgotten in the background because you're so quiet and require so little. You are getting pretty good at scooting around on your bum. Sometimes you stretch your legs straight out and slide through the Chinese splits onto your tummy (you are RIDICULOUSLY flexible!) but you still haven't figured out how to lift your tummy off the floor with your hands and knees. You see other babies do it and you study them, but when you get on your tummy you just kick your legs and wave your hands as if to say, "I'm moving! Why am I not moving!?!?" So funny :) You are an adrenaline junky just like your brothers! You squeal and laugh and grin from ear to ear when we throw you in the air or spin you in circles. Anyone who knew me as a child knows that you (and your brothers) get it from me. I wore my brothers out long before I was ready to quit. It's fun to see the same energy in my own daughter :) You love the water too! You splash and splash and gasp when the water sprays in your face. But above all other traits and tendencies, your dad and I will never forget your twirly toes. When something excites you or makes you happy your feet twirl and twirl at the ankle. Sometimes your hands follow suit, twirling at the wrists. You've done it pretty much since you've had motor control and it cracks us up. We always know when you're happy because your feet twirl with delight :)
I love you, kids. I am not a perfect mommy, but you make it worth trying for. I learn from you every day and my heart swells with greater joy and warmth with every smile you give. Thank you for choosing me and for loving me unconditionally. I am blessed far greater than I think I will ever know.
Love, Mom
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