Nathan turns three

Nathan,

You are such a little man now. My little baby boy is insistent that he is a "Big Boy" now, and I am proud of all you have become.

This last year, we moved twice, and you varied in your responses to this. But overall, you were a real trouper. I think the move may have been the hardest on you, at least until school started. You couldn't understand why we were leaving the only home you'd ever known, and then leaving again. First, you kept asking to go back to Florida, then when we packed up again, you were NOT happy.

Thankfully, you've come to love our new home, and no longer ask about the others.

The last several months have been all about Batman. You also love transformers, and any other superhero your brothers are raving about, but overall, it's Batman. You can recognize the Batman theme song (any of them) from just two or three notes. You now have three Batman capes, and when you were potty training, the toy of choice you earned was a Batman figure from the dollar store. You even refused to answer to anything but "Batman" for several weeks. The nursery workers at church were better at remembering this than Mommy was, but that didn't stop your insistence.

You wanted, and got, a Batman cake for your birthday, and you were so excited you took everyone in the house over to the fridge to show it to them. Repeatedly. I can't complain. Daddy's favorite superhero is Batman too. =)

You want to be big like your brothers. We have almost daily conversations about when you will be big enough to go to school. You know it will be when you're five, but you keep hoping five will come sooner, rather than later. I think you keep asking me, just to make sure I don't forget and you miss the chance. =)

Your transition from diapers caught me by surprise, but it was a happy surprise. You were refusing to go potty, and then one day you refused to wear diapers, and that was it. Of course, to be fair, the thought of missing out on the father/son campout because you were in diapers might have been a motivator. Either way, you did a great job, and overnight, you became so independent.

You can dress yourself, you can put on your shoes, you can get your dishes for lunch, and help me set the table for dinner. You are my helper when your brothers are at school and you relish the responsibility.

I'm also glad that you love to read. Even though your brothers no longer need me to read to them, you will follow me around with a book while I clean until I can sit down and read to you. If Andrew will read to you, it brings you such joy. Your favorites are the David Shannon book, which you have memorized within a day or two of checking them out from the library. Lady got you one of them for your birthday, and you were so excited.

You love your siblings, playing well with Autumn and Andrew especially, since Timothy is gone to school most of the day. You and Autumn will be quite the partners in crime when she's a little older. I'm almost afraid to picture it. =) And I think you will really miss Andrew in the fall when he's in school all day. (And the questions about when you get to go to school will probably increase tenfold.)

Most of all, I love your spirit. You are kind, and loving. You give wonderful hugs and kisses, and you are so caring about those around you. You help the new kids in nursery, and when Autumn is crying (As long as you didn't cause it) you do your best to make her laugh again. More than once have I found you in her crib if I don't make it in there when she first wakes up from her nap.


You are a wonderful blessing, and a special boy. I am so humbled and blessed to be your Mom.

I love you,
    Mom

Baby Girls Turns One (belated)

Autumn,

I'm sorry this is almost three months late. Your birthday literally fell in the middle of our move (we were actually in between houses on your special day), and then with the unpacking and everything, Mommy is only just recovering enough to think about blogging. I trust this won't cost you too much in therapy down the road. =)



















Little girl, you have brought so much joy into our lives. You are Daddy's little princess, Mommy's little sweetheart, and so adored by your brothers that sometimes you protest their demonstrations of love. =) When Nathan met you, we weren't sure if he would understand what was happening, but he went right up to you, and declared "Baby. Sister." Then he gave you the first kiss he'd ever given. You two have been best friends ever since.

The last year has brought a lot of changes for us all, and you have handled them so well, always such a happy little girl. Everywhere you go, you know instantly how to charm people, and aren't afraid of strangers. Considering how many you've met in your short life, that's pretty impressive.

You have taken your own time about everything, labor, sitting up, crawling, and now you resist Daddy's best efforts to encourage your walking. Although, Lady says I was the same way. Except for the climbing. That one you get from watching your big brothers. =)

You are into EVERYTHING! If you can reach it, it must  be rearranged, removed, or thrown to the floor. Or eaten. You were very proud of yourself the first time you managed to finish off the snacks left on the table. This summer I couldn't install baby locks, so I just had to arrange the cupboards accordingly, and let you have fun. In our new house, I've been able to do the same. It's been a bit messy, it's okay. Almost nothing has been broken. =)

You also love to talk. You could say Mama, Dada, Ba-ba (Brother), Dog-dog, Ki-cat, 'nack, and bye-bye all by your birthday, and keep adding all the time. I love to watch you read to yourself and hear you jabber away.


I also have to confess that I'm enjoying finally having some pink in the house. Your brothers play with your stroller almost more than you do, and you are all about their cars, but it's still nice to bring a balance of sorts. =)

We love you baby girl, and are so grateful for your wonderful spirit your wonderful adorable smile. We'll try not to spoil you too much. Well, I'll try, you have the men in this family firmly under your spell. =)

Happy Belated Birthday.
Love, Mom

Seven Years...

Timothy,

When did you get so big? I turn around, and you're not a little boy anymore. You're this gangly seven year old who's too big for me to pick up. You wear size two shoes, which means you'll probably have bigger feet than me by the time you're ten. You got a skateboard for your birthday, and you are so smart! My baby is growing up, and as always, we're in uncharted territory.

This year, you welcomed a baby sister, discovered chapter books, finished first grade, and moved across the country on yet another adventure. If we don't count our summer in Utah, that's four states since you were born. In each one you have adjusted with amazing aplomb and cheerfulness that is so wonderful. We are so proud of you for this and so many other reasons.

I introduced you to chapter books this spring, and it was as if I'd opened a whole wonderful new world, which is true. =) You found the "Magic Treehouse" series and read all 50-some books in less than two months. If we didn't know where you were, it was a pretty good bet that you were upstairs nose-deep in the latest book. I made extra trips to the library to keep you supplied, and I couldn't have been prouder. I'm so glad that you read, and that you love history so much. You've found several other series that you like since, but you still talk about the things you learned in Magic Treehouse books. When you found out we'd be near Gettysburg now, you made me promise that we'd go see where Lincoln gave his famous address. We haven't made it yet, but we will. =)

You still love the color blue, and you still want to be a firefighter when you grow up, but you've also found many new loves. If you're not reading, you're probably playing Legos. You got a Star Wars X-Wing fighter for Christmas, and put it together almost all by yourself. It took you most of the day, but you did it. You were so proud of yourself, and rightly so.

All of your sibling look up to you, each in their own way. To Andrew, you are a best friend and confidante. To Nathan, you are exactly who he wants to be, and he imitates you all. the. time. Sometimes this frustrates you, and sometimes it makes you laugh, but it will continue to happen. Please remember that before you act.

I'm not sure exactly what you are to Autumn, but I know her face lights up on seeing you, in a way that not even Daddy gets. I can't blame them. You are a pretty cool big brother. I love to see you play with each of them in a way that makes them so happy.

You are great at helping in so many ways. You like to do chores, as long as it's not cleaning your room, and I need to take more advantage of that. Once we get into our new house,  we'll work on a regular chore chart, but for now, thank you for the help you give.

This year you will be going into Second Grade, and you are super excited. I'm excited too. You will learn new things, and make new friends… and since we're buying a house, hopefully you can keep these classmates for a long time. No more new schools in the foreseeable future.

Here's to another year ahead, full of wonderful adventures. Happy Birthday my son!

Turning 5

Andrew,

And now you are five. I can't believe how you've grown. Yes, I will probably say this every year, but it's true. See?

This year, you finally got to go to school (Pre-K), and you loved every minute of it. You of course charmed your teachers, and I think they were more sorry than you for the school year to end. You learned so much, and it was a joy to see. The ride home every day was usually all about what you did. Unless you were hungry, in which case you'd plan out your lunch. =)

By the end of the year, you were reading far above your grade level. You attribute this to Timothy's tutelage, but you had a lot to do with it too. While I have to admit, I miss not reading our way through the library bag, I love to see you and Timothy sitting on the couch each reading your stacks of books. It brings joy to this bookworm's heart. (Apparently so much that I forgot to take pictures.) And you still want to be read to, so I can keep you close a little longer…

You are such a great helper too. You have a little sister now, and you are her sworn protector. You only sing the first part of "Rock-a-bye-Baby" because you don't want her to be scared by the second part. You always have time to say hi to her, and snuggle her (even if she's too intent on going places lately to appreciate the latter).

You've had some crazy adventures this year. Some were fun, like a new sister, and moving to a new state. And some were a little scary for Mom and Dad, like that three day hospital stay for your asthma. Thankfully, moving halfway across the country seems to have cleared that up.



Through it all, you've kept a wonderful and cheerful spirit, charming the hearts of everyone you've met. From teachers, to nurses, to total strangers, everyone loves you. As they should. You have a wonderful spirit, so loving and giving. Never lose that.

We love you, and we are thankful every day to have you in our family.

Love,
Mom

Nathan is Two!

Nathan,

And now you are two. You don't really understand this. Until yesterday, "birthday" was synonymous with "Diego Cake." (I blame your brothers for this, and their tendency to plan holidays, in this case, their own birthdays, months in advance.) However, with a present to start the day, strawberry pancakes for breakfast, cake and more presents after lunch, and one of your favorite meals for dinner, I think you've realized there is more to birthdays than just cake. The cake turned out pretty sweet though. You were thrilled. =)

Nathan, you are a joy and a blessing in our life. Your smile and laugh, your bright mind, and those big blue eyes are just a few of the amazing things about you. You are a happy little man who loves to laugh, and make others laugh. You love to run, to read, to learn. When you're tired, you love your milk and your belly button.

You have developed your own opinion about clothes, food and well, pretty much everything a lot sooner than your brothers. It's thrown Mommy sometimes, but it's a good thing. This also means you're communicating sooner, or at least trying to. In the last couple of months, your language has really taken off, and it's been so fun to see. Not that you weren't talking before, you're just getting easier to understand.

In you, Daddy has found his little sports fan. You'll bring him the remote and ask "Watch Hockey?" or "Watch Golf?" Today, you cried when we wouldn't let you take your new golf set to church. You love your Daddy, and want to do whatever you see him doing.

This last year has brought so many adventures, and you have weathered them with amazing aplomb. We took you on a three day marathon road trip across the country, and until the last half of the third day, you did it really really well. Of course, by that point, we were all done with the car. It wasn't just you.


While we were in Utah, you learned to walk, and to climb. You proceeded to keep Mommy on her toes, and follow your brothers everywhere you could. Neither of those has slowed down in the slightest.


You found another outlet for your attention though, when your little sister joined us six months ago. We weren't sure you understood what was going on, but the minute you saw her, our worries were wiped away. You walked right up to her and said: "Baby! Sister!" and gave her a big kiss. You hadn't kissed anyone before that day (not for lack of trying on Mommy's part.) You adore her, and she you. I look forward to seeing your friendship blossom as you both continue to grow.



I am so grateful that you are in our lives little man. I look forward to the adventures this next year will bring.


Love,
Mom