#71

Dear Aj

Have I told you recently what a joy you are and how much your Father and I adore you. I never want you to forget how much you are loved. One day many years from now, when you are a crazy teenager and are thinking crazy teenage thoughts, you can turn to these letters and hear just how special and wonderful you are. No matter what are relationship will be at the time (I am hoping GREAT) you can always look back on these letter and know that not matter what you have done, my love for you is endless


As always you are full of great surprises. My favorite of the week is your new catch phrase "Wow. Wow. Wow." you will walk around the house playing and all of a sudden there it is. I can't help but smile when I hear your little voice.

We are starting to enter into a new level of play time! Your are bringing life into your stuffed animals, whether it is a gorilla walking on the ottoman or you giving big hugs and kisses to your special animal. Last night we pulled out the play dough, the texture was so new and interesting to you. You loved putting the piece back into its jar. You watched in amazement as I rolled the pieces into balls so that we could smash them flat. Another on of your favorite pass time right now our your books! There is one book that you are quite fond of, you carry it around the house with you and when someone comes over you like to have them read it to you. The book has animal piece that pop out, you have a new favorite animal that you want to carry every week. First it was the cat and the dog, then the pig and sheep now it is the duck and lamb.

As you get older l can only imagine all the fun that we are going to have and all the trouble that you are going to get into. You are a very good boy, but the last couple of weeks you have started testing us. It started with you hitting my face out of excitement (we are working on being gentle) and then for some reason destroying the orchid that is in Mommy and Daddy's bedroom. You walk over to it and throw the faux grass out of the pot.  I have told you no sternly but you just laugh at me, I tell you no and turn you away but you just turn right back around and laugh at me. I have tried a handful of other discipline tactics and you just turn around and laugh. I finally had to slap your hand, don't worry I did not hurt you, you laughed at me when I did it. However you did leave the pot alone. I am not a big fan of that method and I can not wait until I can put you on time out. This is just the start of you becoming your own person and learning how to explore the word around you. I will always be here when you fall, when you need carrying and when you need guiding.

I am always here for you
Love
Mom

#70

Tuesday January 3, 2012

You tried to make it to Midnight, but bed was calling your name

Happy New Years Baby Boy!

You rang in the New Year with 7 of your best friends. Your very best friend Kairi was here and youplayed the night away, finally going to bed at 10:00pm. We put both of you to bed at the same time, you in your crib and Kiari in the portacrib. The next morning you woke and Kiari had gone home to her own crib. You kept pointing to the crib and walking over to it and looking inside for Kairi.

I have mention before that you have a love for music. For your birthday you got a drum filled musical toys, your favorite part of the gift was the 2 drum sticks and the drum itself. Somehow, somewhere your Daddy was able to get you a full mini drum set (a kick drum, a tom, a snare and a crash) You can really wail on that thing. I love seeing how happy you are when you play on it, but I think I may have to invest in a good set of ear plugs

 A couple days ago I thought you walked up to me and said "Hi" I said no that is not what I heard, but no sure enough as the days went on there it was again "Hi" and it was just the cutest "Hi" I have ever heard.  Then as I was leaving this morning I was packing up my bag, you look over your shoulder to me and said "bye-bye" and then went back to watching you show. When Daddy picked you up today from, he called and told me that you were the door man at school today and said "bye-bye" to everyone as you left

I love our life together and am very proud of myself for learning how to find the balance between working and being a Mom. I know that we do not spend all day together, but I have realized that it is okay as long as the time we do spend together is focused on what is important...you! Today though was one of those days when my heart string are pulled at a little bit. I saw you for  a very brief couple minutes as I was walking out the door for work. I was all set to pick you up tonight after work and then take you to a networking party, but your Daddy was able to get off work early, I took that time to work late and then head over to the party. By the time I made it home you were already asleep. These are the nights that I dislike, these are the days were it is hard for me to work. Every cloud has a silver lining and our silver lining is that I make myself be 100% present when we are together. There are plenty of days when you and I will be off for 4 or 5 days straight and I do find myself on facebook or watching tv. I have learned that I am not bad for working, that I am not neglegting you, but maybe just the opposite. I am a better Mommy because of it. Days like these are still hard, but I am looking forward to this Friday when we have off and we get to do something specail.

I love you with all my heart and will always be here for you
Love,
Mommy
 

Ringing in the New Year

Out with the Old in With the New

Welcome 2012

May you bring us all Health, Love and Happiness

#69

December 27, 2011

Dear Aj

Merry Christmas! I love the holidays and am so excited to be able to share it with you. This whole week we have been going out Christmas light hunting. I love hearing you in the back seat letting out a low "wow" when we pass by a house that is light up to the extreme. I think it is even more exciting for us to come home and for you to see our Christmas tree, we will sit in front of the tree looking at the lights and you will point to the ornaments. When you get older I can tell you all the stories about were we got them. I know that will love to hear all the adventure that we have have been through through out the years

Christmas Morning playing with your new toys

The best part about the holidays is the time we get to spend with family! Mommy's family always celebrates on Christmas Eve. This year the whole family got together, that means all the Aunties, Uncles and 7 cousins where together, we even had some extras friends join us this year. You played well with Baby Lauren, you kept giving her kisses. All of the girl cousines wanted to hold your hands and kept trying to pick you up. Your boy cousins were a little more gentle with you but still very protective over you. They would hold you hand as you walked down the hall. At one point during the night Dylan was so excited because he was able to give you a bottle.

The next morning we woke up and Santa had been to our house. He stuffed your stocking and put presents under the tree. You loved the push toy that Santa left for you and in your stocking Santa left you a ball "bubble" some big boy water bottles, forks and flash cards.

Friends and Family came over later that morning for breakfast. Your Grandma-ma and Grandpa-pa gave you your rocking horse the night before, but Grandma and Grandpa brought you their present on Christmas morning. They brought you a bran new red rider push wagon! The look on your face when they put it down in front of you was priceless. Your eyes light up and a smile spread across your lips, I swore I could also see some mischievous brewing in there too. You spent the morning hoping from the horse, to the waggon to your push toy from Santa.

Merry Christmas Baby,
Mommy

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning came so quick. Santa came the night before and filled our stocking and left special treats for us all

Look at those presents

You can do it Aj, open your presents

Whats that Aj? Did you get a new "Bubble"

Annie Got new toys too!

Ride them Cow Boy

T'waus The Night Before Christmas

From near and far all our family came together to celebrate this special night. It is not about the gifts or presents, we come together to make memories. That is what we want to take away, the memories and the stories that fuel our lives.

"Lets get ready for some Football"

 

There is no Bond Like a cousins Bond

 I love this photo of Aj and Dylan.

Dylan is the first Grandson / Grandchild and was so excited when he found out that another little boy would be joining the cousin clan ( Dylan was out numbered by 4 other little girl cousins) He has always had a soft spot for Aj and with every visit I can see that bond grow stronger. Aj is loved by all of his cousin's and he loves all of his cousin's but these 2 boys will always look out for each other.

More Cousin Love.

 

Cute little Cuddle Bug

 

20 Years ago Tristan got what I loving called the "Flinstone Car" he would ride in that car for hours. Tristan got older and the car was put into storage. 

Until now... the "Flinstone Car" is out an back at its full glory 

Go Brookie...Go

Aj's turn to push Brookie Around

Look at the Big smile

That is what I call a Kids Table

#68

December 20, 2011

To my Strong and Brave Baby Boy

I promise Santa really is a good guy

Life keeps giving you lemons and we will keep making lemonades together. Who has ever heard of a fifteen month old little boy having arthritis symptoms? I for sure haven't but there you were walking and acting like a little old man with arthritic knees. You could barley bend your knees to walk over the door jam, and crawling was out of the question because it brought way to much pain. You were in so much pain that you would not even want to move you legs. Your poor ears were bothering you earlier in the night so I had given you some pain medicine which must have made you feel better after a little while because you wanted to play. We were in the kitchen, I was sitting on the floor and you would bring me you farm animal magnets off of the fridge. One by one, stiff legged you would waddle over to me  and drop off another animal. You were smiling and laughing the whole time, until you would drop one. You were in so much pain you could not figure out how to bend down and pick your animal magnets up. Oh my poor baby, it is not fair that you have to go through all of this. I know deep in my heart though that you are strong and will be a better person because of everything that you have had to go through in your short little life. I know that I will be here to love you and support you through these times. I wish I could take your pain away but I can not, so no matter what I will be here to love and cuddle you. This Septic arthritis will go away and you will feel better. We have all been very lucky that everything that you have gone through, no matter how sad and tragic will go away and  you will recover. We have a lot to be thankful for this year, and I will not take your health for granite. Ever.

With all that is going on around us, we have not lost site of the upcoming holidays. Santa will be coming soon and you still needed to let him know what you wanted for Christmas. We were in Luck, Santa was going to come early and visit the children of our neighborhood. You got all dressed up and off we went. We walked into the house and Santa Let out a ho ho ho and you let out a cry. We stayed and watched for awhile as other kids came in to say hi and tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas. You never warmed up, Santa got a ear full of screams from you. Don't worry I am sure he still got the jest of what you wanted.

Maybe next year you can tell him what you wanted.

Love
Mommy