First Day of Pre School

You are such a big boy! You are already on your way to do big and important things. Today was your very first day at Pre School. You were so excited to be able to go and make new friends and play with all the toys. You loved the fact that the school had a bird and snake as well as a slide. You were so tried when you got home, you could tell that you had been busy learning and playing hard all day.

Happy 2nd Birthday

September 7, 2012

Dear Aj,

Today on the day of you birth I am remind how fast you are growing up right in front of my eyes. The days seem like they are flying by and you are getting bigger and learning new things even faster. As I sit here and write your letter, I'm struck by how cliche my thoughts sound. I want tell you that you are the light of our life, that you laughter is like a ray of sun shine on a cloudy day, that without  you I don't feel whole. All are lyrics to songs that I never understood until I had you. The love that your Father and I feel for you is so deep and true, I hope that as you grow you always feel that.

 I want to describe who 2 year old Aj is, 2 yr old Aj is very observant in new situation, cautious at first but a dare devil in his own right. Very polite, but prefers to say hello and goodbye in french which is always a crowd pleaser. You still love to cuddle with your Mommy and Daddy and your favorite shows are Little Einsteins and Mickey Mouse Playhouse. I call you my little gourmet, because you love salmon, artichokes and Gruyere but turn your nose up at chicken nuggets and string cheese. When you see a bus your refer to it as a butt, which is quite funny when all I hear from the back seat is "here comes a butt!" or "look at that butt." You love to read and play music in fact you are quite the bad ass when it comes to the drums (you can not us the word ass until you are in college, but yes you are a bad ass). You love to play with your trains and in fact we never leave the house without a handful of them. You call you milk cup a bottle even though it is in a sippy cup and your pacifier is called apassy. Doug the dog is your side kick and you have to have him to sleep. In fact when we come home after school the first thing you ask for is Doug and he does not leave your hand until the next morning when Daddy tells you to put Doug to bed for the day.

You are just the best little boy, I miss you every moment that I am away from you and soak in every moment that I am with you.

I all I can wish for, is that whatever you life holds that you always feel loved. Life is better when you go through it together as a family with people that you can trust and depend on. No matter what, we will always be here for you, to love you, to support you and to believe in you.

Love Mommy and Daddy 

#93

Tuesday July 17

My Silly Monkey,

What can I say you make me laugh. Take the photo below, you have found that you can keep you hands free and still drink your milk.

You come to become a little clown, repeating the words and saying that make your Daddy and Me laugh. Today we had a very long drive so you were aloud to watch your movie on our road trip. The movie finished at you looked up at us and said "oh no" while shrugging your shoulders and raising your hands. Daddy and I laughed so hard at your cute little voice that you kept doing it, even after your video was started again.

As I said just cute. Please done ever lose your true sense of humor.
Love Mommy

Tuesday June 26, 2012

Dear Aj,

I have no idea where the time has gone. You are growing up before my very eyes, if feel as I leave in the morning for work and by the time I pick you up from school you have completly changed. Your jumps get higher, your vocabulary grows and you somehow even look older too. If I watch you very carefully, I can see the changes happening. I can see you playing with  new words, rolling them around on your tounge and saying them out loud. I watch you figuring out how toys work and seeing what they are meant to do. But late at night when I go in and give you a kiss I see my little baby. I brush the curls off your forehead, or place your tiny hand in mine and I am reminded you are still new to this world. I enjoy watching you grow, but I know one day faster than I will want you will be off to college. Until then, I will enjoy my moment with you.

Love you,
Mommy

P.S.
You have been upgraded from a crib to a toddlar bed. Last week you decided that going to bed without a bottle was not an option and fell out of bed. That is right, you fell and landed smack on your head. You were fine, but the railing to your crib was removed right away. It took a couple of night for you to get used to your new bed, but now I think you prefer it. I actually get to crawl in and read you your bed time story.

#92

June 12, 2012

Have I told you that I loved you recently? Have I told you that I would love you no mater what? Well it is true! I love you more than I ever thought possible, I don't feel whole without you by my side. Even when you're fussy and act as if the world is ending with every mention of the word "No" I still always love you. At this stage, everything is the end of the word. It only makes sense, since you're learning more about what is around you and we have raised you to have some independence. I have to tell you though that as much as I like you to be independent and to explore the world, sometimes dinner needs to be started. You're not being a bad boy by breaking down, you just have not learned the rule of the world. I hope that I teach you the right skills, I am trying very hard to look at it from you perspective and to show you some tools to deal with your emotions when you don't get your way. I know that I will make mistakes and not be a perfect mom, but it is not from a lack of trying.

 I do love you very much,
Mommy

#91

June 5, 2012

Dear Aj,

You have turned into Mommies little hugging monkey! I love the hugs that I get when I come and pick you up from school, you rush into my arms and throw your self into me. Or at night when you get your milk, you wait at the couch for me to come and cuddle for you. This morning when I was leaving for work you ran into my arms and put your little arms around my neck and would not let go. Your Daddy and I tried to pull you off a couple times but you would not let go and a part of me did not want you to either.

So I have to tell you the story of this photo. I dont know if I have mentioned how you love to smile for photos. For this photo, I saw how cute your were walking to the park holding your toys. I decided to run in front of you to take a photo with my cell phone. You realized that your photo was being taken, so you stopped in your tracks, stood up taller and put on an even big grin. You looked so proud and happy. I can not help but look at this photo and smile.

We are so lucky to be your parents and I am looking forward to the memories that we get to make with you.

Love
Mommy

#88 #89 & #90

Tuesday May 29, 2012

Dear Aj,

I just want to start off with letting you know how much I hate when I miss writing your letters. You are changing and growing on a daily basis and I feel like I can't keep up. These letter's are just as much for you as they are for me. I never want to forget your infamous stink eye or the way you say dad ddee. Every minute that I am with you I am in awe with who  you are becoming. These letters are a way for me to document who you are through out your life. My goal is to keep up with my letters to you for as long as I can, I am sure they will not always be as frequent, but they will always be heartfelt.

I don't know where to begin. So much has happened in the last three weeks. What can I tell you that I think you would one day want to hear. Well, you went on your first big trip! We just got back from Maui Hawaii. You were such a good boy, in so many ways. The flight was a long 5 hours for you, but you did really well flying there. On the way back it was a little bit harder for you. The trip was long. you were thrown off you schedule. You did your best, but all you wanted to do was run around and play

There is so much that I want to tell you, all of it seems so cute and so important. I feel like I will have to choose my top 3 favorite memories over the last 3 weeks, otherwise this letter will never get done.

It is very important to me that you get comfortable in the water. This year you are old enough to learn how to swim. Of course you will not be learning strokes or how to swim the distance, just how to jump into the pool properly, and get out. You are a little fish! You love to swim to Daddy and myself, jump into the pool and blow bubbles. Everyone always stops and comments on what a good little swimmer you are. I am excited to spend the summer swimming with you.

What is a nose? For you it is something to point out and pull on. You are very into finding your nose, Mommy's nose and even the cat's nose. I love how you walk up to a cat and point at it and say nose. Oh the things that you come up with.


I saved my favorite for last. while we were in Hawaii you took to cuddling with Mommy. Sure you cuddle when you have your milk at night or when you are sick but other than that you are very independent and are happy with a good hug. Because we were in a new place, with a new crib you wanted the comfort of something familiar. For the first time since you were very little (and even then you did not nap with me often) you curled into bed with me for nap and bedtime. I was in heaven! Your little body next to mine, laying in my arms, my heart melt as we feel asleep together.  Of course it only lasted a couple days and now that we are home there is no more cuddling.

You keep growing and I keep loving every minute of this. I wish I could slow down time to enjoy every minute 10x over.

Love your
Mommy,

Lazy Day

What happens when you put Pj's, Choo Choo's and Music together?

The Perfect Lazy Sunday

Mothers Day

May 13, 2012

Happy to Be  a  Mother

Before I was a Mother I thought I knew what love was but I was so wrong. 

The love that I feel for my child is so deep and true. When Aj is in pain, I feel the pain with him. When  he is happy I feel the joy with him.  Being a mother has been  an experience and a journey. I wake up every morning not knowing where the day will take me. The one thing that I know is that Aj will show me something new and wonderful. All is the days work of being a Mother.

#87

Tuesday May 8, 2012

Dear Aj,

A year ago this month we found your tumor. Those were some of the scariest months that I have had to go through. It all has worked out, but I am still scared when I see a bruise, if you nap longer than normal or anything that could be a sign of cancer. I know that these are all very silly things for me to worry about now. Your tumor was benign, it was completely removed and not the kind to spread. Still I have spent this year on high alert with you, I have gone from Red alert and am currently trying to bring myself back into normal range. You are and will always be my baby and it is my job to protect you from bad things happening to you. I have to trust in myself that my Mommy instincts will kick in again if needed and I will always listen to that voice that a year ago let me knew something was wrong. For now it has been a year, your tumor is gone your AFP is in normal range and you are developing like any normal toddler should. We're so lucky and I thank whomever everyday that the path that we were given was just that and not one down another scary road of chemo treatments and extended hospital stays. That path is out there and I am very much aware that it could have been our world today, but it was not. I feel that on this week, the one year mark of finding your tumor it is time for me to put my fears behind me and know that we will not have to travel down that very scary path. My heart and support will forever be with those mothers, children and families. We will always go the extra mile to support them, because it could have very easily have been us. When you growup and are healthy, remember that please. Remember just how lucky you are. I know I will.

I love you more than you will ever know,
Mommy

#86

Tuesday May 1, 2012

Dear Aj,

You are a crack up! I don't know if your clown like behaviors are what's to be expected from a toddler or if you're just a funny kid. I personal think it's the later. It could be something as small a stare or something as big a gesture that can have me laughing within a matter of minutes. I love your "stink eye" expression. Sometimes people forget how smart you can be, and if they make a comment about you or laugh at, you will slowly turn your heard to look at them with this look that say "who do you think you are" which then of course makes everyone laugh harder because they just got told of by a toddle.

You have your serious side too. When you are coloring or baking you have a very blank stare on your face. I know you are having fun, because heaven forbid you try and disturb you. You really would never be able to tell. You take coloring and baking very serious.

Keep being your self Baby Boy and never let anyone take that away from you

Love Mommy

#85

Tuesday April 24, 2012

Dear Aj,

I don't even know where to begin with all my exciting stories that I want to tell you.  First off Mommy turned 30this weekend, so when Daddy and Mommy went out to celebrate you had your first sleep over with Grandma-Ma. Of course you did great, as we were leaving you waved and "bye bye" not a hint of unhappiness in your voice. According to Grandma-Ma you had great time playing out side and coloring with Grandpa-Pa.

What I am most proud of is today when I grabbed you from the gyms day care the teacher told me that a little girl tried to take a tricycle away from you. You very calmly pointed to the other car and said babbled that this was your car and to use the other one. The little girl listened and went over to use the other car. I was so proud of you for standing up for your self but at the same thinking of the other little girl.

Grandma-Ma and Grandpa-Pa were very proud at how well behaved you were and think you are a great little boy.

See I am not the only one.

Love you,

#85

Tuesday April 17, 2012

Dear Aj

I love you very much but there are days were I feel like I'm not being the kind of mother you deserve. Yesterday as I was leaving for work I noticed that you felt warm. When I checked your tempater my concern was true, your fever was a scary 104. I was busy at work and could not take the day off so Daddy stayed home with you. As I walked out the door, a tear rolled down my check. It's a Mommy's job to sooth their sick child. I knew that you were in good hands with Daddy but it took ever power of my being not to run back inside and cuddle with you. I love my job and I love what my job brings to our family. I often wonder though would you be better off if I stayed home with you? I know the answer is no. You are in a wonderful school that gives you lots of love and experience. When we do spend time together my attention is 100% on you because I crave the moments that I get to spend with you. I will continue to have my "working mother guilt" but deep down I know that I am a good mother. I hope you think so too

Love mommy

#84

Tuesday April 10, 2012

Dear Aj,

Caught red handed standing on the couch

Every week we starts off the same: you get up, have breakfast and go to school. The days off the week seem to end the same too: I pick you up, you have dinner we play and then you got to bed. This how your week goes, every week since you were about 3 months all. Are weeks might be the same, week in and week out. But our weekends are ours to do what ever we like to!

This weekend we went and saw the Easter Bunny. I was not quite sure how you would react, so I was really surprised when you smiled and waived. I thought to myself that this might be good, that you actually sit on the Easter Bunny's lap and smile for the camera. Nope you had a plan of your own. You were happy to smile and waive, but there was no way you were going near that Bunny. You and Daddy went up together to meet the Bunny and take pictures. That worked for you.

Love
Mommy

Meet the Easter Bunny

From this distance this Bunny is great!

Dad I am not to sure about this

Art and Craft Time

The Joy that we have seeing the world through your eyes. This was the first year that you got to meet the Easter Bunny, from afar you were all smiles and waves. However you did not want to get close without having Daddy close by.

Don't worry the Easter Bunny understood

#82

Tuesday March 27, 2012

Dear Aj,

To me in many ways you're still my little baby (and you always will be) but you are turning into a very big boy.
 

It dawned on me that you may find it fun to help Mommy with some things around the house. I thought of a few things that I thought you may like and gave it a try. You had fun helping them with all and even came up with a few of your own ways to help me.

I started having you help me with watering our little vegetable garden. When we get home you run over to the hose waiting patiently to water the citrus trees and then as we walk up to the front door you run over to the hose waiting to water the flower in the entrance. Once we go up stairs you will sit at the sliding glass door to the porch waiting to go out side to water your plants. I was thinking about getting you this cute little watering can, but soon realized that it would be pointless. We have 2 cans out side; a tiny one and a big one. You like to us the big one! So here you come struggling with the this big can over to me. I have to say I am quite impressed with how strong you are.

On Saturday Morning I decided I would make apple oven pancakes. You were hanging around my feet, so I thought to myself "lets see if Aj likes to bake". I had you climbed up on the step stool next to me and you scooped flour into the blinder. You made a mess, but you were so proud of your self you did not want Mommy to help.

When I came home from Costco I was going to use your little wagon to help bring food into the kitchen. You came over and started to push the wagon into the kitchen for me. Once that was done you came back into the entree way, so I handed you a bad of fruit. You carried the very heavy bag into the kitchen and came till I was done helping me carry the groceries in.

I am keeping my eyes open now so that we can find these life lessons to share together.

As much as you are growing up, I still and will always call you my baby. I am in no means trying to make you grow up faster that you should. I just want you to be able to have the experience and responsiblties that you are ready for. You can help me pick up toys, put away the groceries, water plant and bake. All of these are very big boy activities, but we can do them together and have fun in the process.

Love your very proud Mommy

#79, #80 and #81

Tuesday March 20, 2012

Dear Aj,
I wish I had a good reason why it has been a whole three weeks since I have written you a letter, but I don't. The times seems to fly by and I always kick myself for not staying more on top of your letters, I am so afraid that I'm going to forgot to write down something that you learned and  then forget it all together as the years go on. The other day I was holding a little tiny baby and could remember you being that small. I know that at one time you were and you fit just right in my arms. But that day is gone and I am already forgetting how you felt. I love you and everything that you do, I never want to forget the small things that sends a smile to my face to my face today.

Tuesday March 6, 2012

                         Shoecolic

You and your shoes! I guess it is only to be expected, both your Dad and I love shoes. Your first words out of your mouth when you wake up in the morning are shoes!?! shoes!?! You want nothing more to put them on, and it does not matter what you are wearing. The day this photo was taken it was warm so you are in just a diaper, but it has been really cold so your shoes go over your feetie PJ's.

Your love for shoes will come out in other ways. When I shower I will bring you into the bedroom so I can keep an eye on you. I have had to learn to close the closet door, other wise you will go in and take all of your Daddy's shoes out into the bedroom. Your Daddy says that in the morning when he is getting dress you will bring him, not just one but 2 shoes. A matching pair!

I still love how when you are in the car you take your shoes off. When I open up the door you now point at your feet and say shoes...shoes with just the biggest smile.

March 13, 2012

                               
                            My Little Artist

You are a very well behaved little boy, just full of energy and you don't like to sit still for long. You never have, I think part of the reason you were so fussy when you were a baby was because you were board. However when I sit you down with play dough or crayons you will color for 30 - 40  minutes. That is a very long time for you! The best part is you are loving every minute of it! You are not particular about your medium, you love crayons, have started to get really good with the dot markers and stickers are not a problem for you. I love how serious you look when you color. In fact I think it is the only time when you are not smiling or laughing. The thing is, you are having a blast! You will walk over to your buster seat and motion to go in. You know that this is your place to color. Grandpa-pa was so impressed with your art skills that he went out to buy you your own crayons for his house. I guess not only did you inherit your Grandpa-pa's name but also his art skill as well. I am so excited for all the art projects that we get to do through out the year

March 20, 2012

                                                                 My Little Buddy
I am not going to lie, Mommy does not look very pretty. But I guess we looked like we were having fun cause Daddy ran into the house to grab the camera. In this photo I had just finished planting our little veggie garden (Lettuce, Strawberry and mixed herbs) Daddy had just finished baking Spotted Dog Bread for Saint Patty's day and we were trying some while enjoying the sun.

Over the last 3 weeks your vocabulary and word comprehension has totally exploded! You have started singing Old MacDonald's E I E O not the whole song just the chores. I have to tell you it is the cutest thing in the world. You will just walk around and say it, when ever your Daddy and I hear you sing it melts are hearts.

It is not just your singing, but your mimicing. You have been watching films in french since you were just a couple months old, I also will read to you in french when I can. The other night we were reading a book about counting in french. All of asouded you repeated after me: un, deux, trois. It was magic to my ears!




With all of this growth you have also started to have a little personality. The other night I was just playing on the computer, when you walked up to me and said Whoa...whats that I mean how cute is that. You say it quite often which is normal but it is the Whoa that gets me every time.

One more thing (I told you, you have been a busy little bee the last couple of weeks)
Your new favorite song is When you are happy and you Know it. You love clapping your hands, stomping your feet and shouting hooray! This song can take you from a crying melt down to a happy kids in 2 seconds flat!

I guess that is it. I wish I could say that you have been healthily this whole time, but that would be a lie. In the last 3 weeks you got sand in your eye which lead to 2 doctors appointments and drops in your eyes morning and night. As well as pink eye in your other eye. As always we get through it, this time it was harder for you because you are NOT a fan of eye drops. That's OK, you are getting better

Love you with all my heart. I can not wait and see all the other fun things you learn.
Mommy

#78

Tuesday February 28, 2012

Dear Aj,

I have often thought about what I would love to see you become when you grow up. President. Yes that would be great. Doctor. What every mother dreams of. Teacher. I would be so proud.  No matter who or what you become the most important thing to me is that you grow up. I would love for you to, scrape your knees, drive me crazy during your teenage years, go off to collage,  fall in love, get married have tons of babies and watch those babies grow old. Your life is so important to me, the only thing that I can ask from you is that you live it to the longest and fullest potential. You have so many mile stones in front of you and happy memories to be made, you have a full life to live.

If you ever wonder what you could do to make me happy or proud, Live your life and be happy in the process!
 Do what makes you happy but  be safe and use your head. I want nothing more than for you to feel the joys of falling in love, meeting your first child and growing old. Make sure that the choice you make lead you down the right path.

 Your smile and your laughter are the fuel to my life and with out you I dont know what I would do. Be smart, use your head with the choices that you make. Live your life and have fun but make the right choices.

Love Mommy

#77

Tuesday February 21, 2012

To My Little Buddy,

If I had to chose someone to hangout with, you would be it, you're one cool dude! You make me laugh until my sides hurt, you will find new and interesting ways to see the world and you make me take moments that I thought I didn't have ( and guess what, for you I have plenty) to explore the world with you. The new game that we have been playing this week is the echo game I will hum "meme" and you will say "meme"  then I will say "lala" and you will say "lala" you get the point.

We sing a lot! We sing in the car, while you are eating or when you're upset. We have been singing "Old McDonlad had a farm E...I...E...I...0" you are getting really good at the chores line. We are also working on what sounds animals make. You are getting really good at quacking like a duck and woof woofing like a dog.

You are really into your bo (book) and we keep a collection in every room, you pull your bo out and will either read to your self or if someone is near by you will bring them the bo to read to you. My favorite is when I am sitting on the ground and you come over and back into my lap for story time.

As I said you are my little buddy and I enjoy you every moment of the day.
I love you very Much
Mommy

Our Adventure to the Zoo

This month we started a new family tradition 

Family Sunday

  Family Sunday's are a day were we the family set time aside to be together. It is a day that we put the todo list away, mute the phones and just enjoy the joys of being a family. This Sunday we decided to go to the zoo and then out to dinner. It is the simple things in life that make it worth living for and these are the moments that I want to live for. Aaron and I were so excited! Aaron kept showing Aj all of the animals and I was enjoying taking photos of them and Aaron and Aj. Aj sat back and took all the animals in, but as exciting as the zoo was the slide at the zoo's park was what made his day. At dinner we played the fun game of who has the bucket on their head. Aj is the best at the game, he will stand still like a statue until  he wants to see it tumble down. Then he will laugh and laugh. Thank you boys for giving me a perfect day, I loved hearing you giggles and joy. You are both my world and I love being with you.

Aj's first trip to the Zoo

"WEE" look at me Mommy, I am going down the slide

Daddy's Turn

"See Aj, I told you the zoo is fun!"

Off to the Park

Exploring the Zoo

True Love

The joy on Aj's face after a day at the zoo