Nolan - November 2014

Nolan,

You are TWO!  How this happened so quickly I have no idea.  You were my chubby baby and now you are this skinny little toddler that never quits moving.  As much as I enjoy watching you grow, I miss my widdle biddy baby.  Lucky for me you are a huge cuddler and give me lots of loving.  You will sit right by me on the couch and put your little arm around my neck and hug me every 15 minutes or so and look at me and say “momm-mma”.  You have really started talking and can repeat almost anything we say.

At your 2 year old well baby you weighed in at 28.2 lbs (52%) and are 33.25 inches tall (26%).  You got one shot and gave the nurse a dirty look and pointed at her and said "you poked."  The whole drive home you said “doctor poked, doctor poked” in a sad little voice.  

You also have the most adorable curls.

You love to wrestle your big brother, jump, free fall off any high surface and your new thing is making sound effects for it all.  We went to the park earlier this week and you climbed up the huge slide (going the wrong way) and then slid down it.  No big deal.  You are fearless and I’m just waiting for the first ER trip….I know it’s happening soon.

Now that you are a little older, you are obsessed with farm animals, mostly cows.  Only you can’t just say cow…it’s “Papa cow”.  You love your Papa.  You got a barn and animal set for your birthday and will play with it for hours.  You love doing animal sounds too and it just might be the cutest thing I’ve ever seen when you do a mouse.

The TV has also caught your eye and you discovered Handy Manny.  This was also Huston’s favorite at two, so you were handed down Manny and his tools.  You go around the house repairing things and are glued to the show when it’s on.

It is fun watching your sweet little personality turn to a little bit of crazy.  You are starting to tease, stand up for yourself with “brubber” and try to make people laugh.  I just love you so much and always hope you know what you mean to me.  There isn’t a day that my heart doesn’t well up at something sweet you’ve done or something that makes me proud.  I love you baby boy.

Huston - November 2014

Huston,

You might be turning into a teenager already.  Everything is “boring”.  You prefer showers over baths.  You have homework.  You’d rather play on your “phone” (aka iTouch) than anything else.  You are only FIVE, stop it!  Be my little boy again.

 

After school you go to the Stillwater Martial Arts program.  You really enjoy it and have had two belt ceremonies and a tournament.  I love seeing the confidence you have in yourself and how well you follow direction.  You really look up to the guys that run it and they are really good about talking to the class about focus, discipline, etc.

 

With the time change it is dark when we get home, so you are really missing playing outside with your friends.  I have to say I kind of like you being indoors with us though, we kinda missed you when you were outside from the time we got home until bedtime.  Hopefully you can bundle up and play with them on weekends still.

 

You are working on being polite and phrase things the cutest way.  "Mommy is it ok if I please play outside?"  Although you still lose it from time to time, I’ve really noticed your patience improving.  I’ll hear you get short with Nolan and then you will calm down and rephrase in a softer voice.  You are really proud of yourself when you teach him to do something and he just falls more in love with you each time.  That little brother of yours ADORES you.

 

You are learning so much at school.  It still amazes me when you spell a word or write something really clearly.  There are times you will just blurt out some random bit of knowledge and it takes me by surprise because it seems like you are too young to grasp.  You are going to be a thinker.  You’ll hear something or watch how something works and sometimes hours later you will follow up with how you think it works or ask more questions.

 

You are a little quirky with your outfits and I’ve learned to just let it go.  It’s not uncommon for you to go to school with some random colors going on or high water sweat pants with crazy socks on.  You are definitely expressing yourself.

 

I love you so much Huston.  You are such a smart, handsome and caring boy and every day I am proud of you.  I hope that you always love your momma as much as you do right now.

Huston - August 2014

Huston, you are FIVE years old!  We had a great summer with lots of sun, water and friends.  You went to the karate summer camp during the day and played with the neighbor kids until the sun went down.  I have really seen a change in you over the last few months.  Your vocabulary and sentences shock me daily, you have more patience and you are making really good decisions.  You have become a lot more thoughtful and helpful around the house too.  It's amazing how much you've matured in such a short time.

I really think the instructors at the karate camp have helped.  Not only are they teaching you some very entry level karate, but they really help you work on discipline, confidence and and focus.  They phrase things in a way that really gets across to you and you think they are sooooo cool.

You are also sleeping in your own bed, eating better and getting yourself dressed and ready for school.  Which is amazing for me!  I've also noticed you aren't as timid about making new friends and trying new things.  I guess you are growing up....

So probably the biggest event this summer was your BIRTHDAY!  You wanted to have it at your karate place because they let you cut your cake with a real sword.  Since you also wanted Ninjago as your theme, it worked out perfect.  You had so many friends come and we had a great time.

This year you started Kindergarten at Westwood Elementary.  You love your new teacher and your new school.  I've been pretty impressed with how you talk about your day when I pick you up.  You go on and on about school and about your karate after school program. 

I'm really excited to see what this school year brings for you.  You seem to have grown up overnight and it makes me so proud to see the young man you are becoming.  Don't get me wrong, you will still snuggle me and can be silly but at the same time you are so grown up.  I love you so much and I hope that you feel that every day.

Nolan - August 2014

Nolan, I can't even tell you how much joy you bring to my life.  Everyone that meets you falls in love with you instantly.  You are so sweet, funny and crazy that I never know what you are going to do next.  One minute you will crawl up on the couch and sit by me and put your arm around me, the next you will head butt me and then free fall off the couch.

You love dogs. You love cows. You love your Papa. But man oh man, do you love your brother. In the morning when I go to get you out of your crib your first word is "brother?". When I pick you up from daycare and we walk to the car, you say "brother?"  You are your brother's little shadow and not only do you follow him everywhere, you also imitate him and play with whatever he plays with.  I don't even know why you have age appropriate toys because all you want to do is play with his legos and ninja turtles.

You have really started talking and you love to read books.....way more than I do!  You are very insistent and will keep putting one in my hand until I stop what I'm doing and sit down and read to you.  You enjoy your daycare and don't really fuss that much when I drop you off anymore.  You say "walk" and you run in as fast as you can, pet the little rabbit that lives up front and then run back to your classroom.  Every day when I pick you up you run straight to me with arms out wide, almost knock me over with your hug, say "paper" and get your daily sheet, study it really intently, then you bring it to me and kiss and hug me.

You love to dress up in anything that isn't yours, so it's never a suprise to see you walk in with my heels on, a stocking cap, sunglasses and a random glove.  You really like wearing hats and sunglasses.  You've also learned to roll your tongue and have found the joy of sticking your finger in your nose.  You are a great eater and I'm a bit scared of my future grocery bills based on your current intake.  Not only do you eat a lot, you love to eat.  There are lots of mmmmmm sound effects going on if you really like what you are eating.

We've had a great summer and you have loved playing outside and going to the lake.  I'm excited for FALL to be here because not only is it my favorite time of year, but it is our birthdays!  I can't believe you are almost 2!

I love you so much little buddy.  I love watching you learn and form your little personality.  You are going to be a handful and I'm seeing some glimpses of the "2's" coming out in you, but I'm sure you will be able to smile your crooked little grin at me and I'll get over anything you do pretty quickly.

Huston - June 2014

Huston Dean, you graduated from Pre-K and will start Kindergarten next year!  I went to your certificate party at school and got to see Mrs. Weaver and your friends one last time.  I thought you were going to have a hard time that you won't be at Highland Park next year, but when you found out your friend, Garrett, from across the street goes to Westwood too, you got over it really quick.

One day right before school was out, you got to go on your first play date at a friends house without momma.  Holden and his mom took you to school and picked you up and you played until I got off work.  You thought you were pretty big stuff!



You are loving summertime.  From the minute you wake up until you crash you are going full speed.  You started karate camp and can't wait to get there each morning.  They run you hard and you don't get a nap, so there are some nights you fall asleep on our way home.  Once we get home you go straight outside to play with the neighbor kids until the street lights come on.  You got a new bike from your Dad, so you think you are super cool.  Pretty soon we can take off the training wheels, but I'm going to let you get few more crashes under your belt first.





You also finally got to use the fishing pole that Poppop got you right before we left California.  I really wish he could have been the one to take you on your first fishing trip, but Papa Lowery had fun taking you too.  You impressed us both with how easily you learned how to cast it and work the spin cast.  You stayed interested longer than I thought you would, but once you realized the fish weren't biting, jumping in the mud seemed like a much better option.

Once you do finally slow down, you will come in and want some cuddles.  I know one day this will change, so I'm eating it up while I can get them.  If I get too busy, you'll even tell me "Momma, I haven't gotten cuddles in a long while."  You love to have your back scratched and will wiggle your way under my hand so that I can do it from anywhere.  Little brother is already in bed, so I enjoy getting some one on one time with you.

You have become so independent, I really don't have to help you do much.  You get dressed, get snacks, brush your teeth, take baths, etc. all by yourself.  You have also gotten modest and don't like to go to the bathroom or change where Nolan and I can see you.  But that doesn't stop your from streaking through the living room after bath at all....

You have started using more adult words and phrases and they sound so cute coming out of your little  mouth.  You ask a lot of questions about how things work and why things happen and you soak everything in.  When you explain something to me, you'll end it with, "Right, mom?".  Like watching a cartoon, you'll say "Dogs can't really talk, right mom?"

One thing I wish I could help you with is how frustrated you get.  I know a lot of it is how hard you play and how tired you get, but toward the end of the evening, you can lose your patience really easily.  I hope this isn't something that you struggle with your whole life.  I try to walk you through ways on how to not let things bother you, but most times you just want to throw something or yell to get over it.  Then, seconds later you are back to your normal funny, sweet self.

I love you so much buddy.  One of my favorite games we play is we take turns telling each other things we love the other one "bigger" than.  My favorite is when you say "I love you bigger than the Statute of Wibery".  Or you tease me and say "I love you bigger than a lego....that's not very big!  I tricked you mom."

Nolan - June 2014

Nolan Michael, since your last blog you have become a little blabber mouth.  Your most used words are bye, bite, water, brother, dog, cheese, nose, eyes, up, down and outside.  You love to give high fives, kisses, hugs and headbutt.

Cartoons have caught your eye and you've started watching "shows" with your big brother.  You have taken over his iTouch and are completely addicted to Backyardigans.  There is only one episode on there and you watch it over and over and over.  When they sing their little "Yip, yip, yip, yip" chorus you go nuts.

You love to wear hats and sunglasses.  The minute you get in the car your reach for your shades and immediately put them on and then laugh at yourself in the mirror.

You had your 18 month check up and even though I think you look like a butterball, you are measuring long and lean with a big head, just like your brother

You are completely fearless and love to free fall, jump, climb and try anything.  One of your favorite things to do is to throw blankets on the floor and stand on the couch and just fall straight on them.  The higher you bounce, the louder you laugh.  The other day we were watching Disney Cars and you practiced our crashes.

Now that you play harder, you sleep harder too.  Most nights you barely make it to 7:30pm.  The minute I say "night, night" you start walking to your room and stand by your crib so I'll put you in there.  You sleep all night long, which makes your momma very very happy.

You are still an awesome eater.  You will try most anything, but you love beef and spicy foods.  Your all time favorite is spaghetti and you make quite the production when eating it.  You do have a sweet tooth so I'm going to have to watch you.  You also had your first dental appointment, mostly just to get you used to it for when you go in for an actual cleaning.  I'm afraid you are going to have some crooked teeth, so I'm guessing braces are in your future.

You are an animal lover.  You go absolutely nuts for dogs.  You also make a big deal when you see birds, cats, cows, etc. too, but dogs are definitely your favorite.  It was even your first word.  Since I have a strict "no 4 legged pets til no diapers rule", I broke down and got you and Huston some fish.  You love Bert & Ernie 2.0.

You are such a sweet and happy little boy.  You will crawl up and sit next to me on the couch and put your little arm around me and squeeze tight and kiss my cheek.  I think the only time I see you get fussy is if brother won't share or you are hungry.

I can't believe how quickly you've gone from my baby to toddler and it makes me both happy and sad to see you growing up so fast.  Part of the reason I write these blogs is to keep up with how quickly everything changes and how much you learn.  Hopefully one day you will read them and know just how much I love you, how proud of you I am and how happy you make me.

Mother's Day

This Mothers Day I have gone grocery shopping, cleaned house, spanked butts and watched my kids eat cereal off of the floor.  I've also been covered in kisses, been hugged so tight it hurts and been surrounded by giggles and squeals of joy.

I love my boys more than any other kind of love that I've known.  They've also made me lose my cool more than I ever thought possible.  I struggle every day with my patience and I feel like a failure every day.  I never thought I'd be doing this alone.  I never thought parenting would be so hard.  But I love it.  No matter how frustrated I get and how many tears they shed, the love and laughter outweigh it.

I heard a father say once that he's prayed for his future daughter-in-laws since his sons were born.  It has really stuck with me and I do the same.  I hope to raise my sons with manners, love, respect and confidence.  This is why we have so many frustrating days.  What may seem like constant correction on my end is me trying teach them early on what is important.  Some days I'm lazy.  Some things I let slide.  But my ultimate goal is for them to know that they are loved more than anything else in the world and to raise them in a way that they will use those manners, love, respect and confidence to find someone to start a family with so that they can feel this same kind of love that I have for them.

Right now they are too young to "celebrate" Mothers Day with me.  I don't get breakfast in bed or flowers or jewelry.  But I do get to be their momma and that is the best gift I've ever had.