Four Months Old

Dear Zachary,

You are four months old today. You are getting to be such a big boy.  You have started sleeping in the bassinet. You are still in arms reach of me, but you love having your own little space to cuddle up with your bunny.  I turn on the sound of the waves and tell you that you are at the beach.  You roll onto your left side and go to sleep.  Most nights you go to bed between 6:30 and 7:30 and sleep for several hours before you wake up for a midnight snack.  You are an early riser - usually waking up around 6:00 ready to start the day.  (One morning you woke up at 4:30 wanting to talk and play).  Even though I am not a fan of waking up early, it is nice to have that time just me and you.  I make a cup of coffee, and we go into your room.  I nurse you and then we play and I read to you. We are working on your nap schedule.  Most days you are asleep for two hours and awake for two hours.  But some days you only take 30 minute catnaps.  It is as if you are afraid of missing something. 

You love to stand up and you try to sit up too.  You love getting your diaper changed. I think you just like to be naked.  You think it is hysterical when I smell your "stinky feet." You have even started to reach for them.  You have also found your thumb.  You look so cute when you fall asleep with it in your mouth, but I am still trying to dissuade you and give you the pacifier in its place. 

 I love watching your little personality develop.  Or should I say big personality? I call you my little Zack-a-Doodle. And you think it is so funny. You laugh that belly laugh. I call it the Beynon Laugh.  You love to be in the center of everything. I call you the Community Baby because you are happiest around people. You will gladly go from arm to arm, person to person, just as long as they talk to you you and bounce you up and down!

You are getting so big, so quickly.  I could swear you just want to be doing what Alex and Isabella are doing.  And I am not sure I like it.  I want you to stay my tiny little baby.  My little cuddle bug. So slow down little man and snuggle up to your Momma.  There is plenty of time for growing up.  Please stay little just a little bit longer. 

I love you - Mommy

Mother's Day 2012

Alex, Isabella and Zachary,

Tomorrow is Mother's Day.  I always look forward to this day.  It is the one day I have an excuse to sit back and let Daddy do all the work.  But more importantly, tomorrow I will celebrate having the three most wonderful children a Mommy could ever want.  It is not always easy being the Momma. But there is nothing more rewarding.  I love how you love one another. And I am so proud of the loyalty and love you have for our family.  I know that if nothing else, you have learned this from me.  Family means the world to me.  

If I seem a little sad, tomorrow, do not worry.  I am just missing my grandmas...two of the loveliest ladies that I have ever known.  Grandma Mela and Grandma John are the ones who instilled the value of family in all who have come before you. To them, family was everything!!!

You are so blessed to have so many amazing women in your family - grandmothers, godmothers,  aunts, and cousins.  They are strong and have hearts of gold . Tomorrow we will celebrate them and the love they have for you.  Know that each and every one of them would do anything for you.  And for this reason,  my sweets, you are the luckiest kids in the universe. 

And I am the luckiest Mommy. Tomorrow and everyday, I thank you.  You make my heart happy.  You bring me joy like nothing else in this world.  You are the reason I strive to be the best person I can be. You make me feel like a beautiful princess despite my flaws. You make me proud everyday. You are my heaven on earth. 
I love you, my babies.

Love, Mommy

“Our family is a circle of love and strength. With every birth and every union, the circle grows. Every joy shared adds more love. Every obstacle faced together makes the circle stronger.”