Happy Tenth Birthday, Alexander

Dear Alex,

When you were born and in those days and weeks that followed, I cried everyday.  I didn't want you to be three days old, or a week, or a month.  I don't know how to explain it, but I was so unimaginably in love with you and so happy to be your mommy, I wanted to freeze time in that exact moment because I couldn't stand the thought of each perfect moment with you passing.

And now look at what has happened.  I blinked my eyes and ten whole years have passed.  Ten years of loving you so much that at times I felt my heart would burst. Ten years of watching you grow from that chubby little baby to this tall boy who is almost as big as me.  When I give you a hug, you can look me in the eye and put your head on my shoulder. I remember holding you and rocking you every night as an infant, your head on my shoulder, those same big, brown eyes looking up at me. Just you and me in your nursery on Snowberry Court.  It feels like forever ago, yet I have no idea where the time went.

You are a good boy, Alex.  Not a perfect boy, although I think you are pretty close to it.  You are kind and thoughtful.  A tad impatient. You get easily frustrated when things don't go your way.  But you are a diligent student and a nice friend.  This year at your conference your teacher called you "teacher's dream."  You continue to put forth effort and you excel.  When it comes to your learning are mature and invested in a way that cannot be taught.  This will take you far in life, as will the fact that you live your life being kind and empathetic to others. You are a team player in sports and in life.  You know when to lead and you know when to support those around you whether it be helping someone up on the lacrosse field or giving a word of encouragement to a friend.

You live each day to the fullest.  You are one busy kid, going to school each day, playing tennis, basketball, soccer and lacrosse at night and on weekends.  You love to spend time with your friends in your free time.  But for you, family always comes first.

You are the most wonderful son and big brother.  Being the oldest is a huge responsibility, one you do not take lightly.  You have the biggest heart, and Daddy and I are so blessed to have such a smart, loving son as a role model for Isabella and Zachary.

I knew I would have a hard time writing this letter, because you are too special of a kid for words. I could go on and on listing all the ways you are wonderful and how proud I am of you.  And maybe I'm a little biased. But I don't care.  You are my Number 1 and I will always be your biggest fan, your cheerleader, your advocate,  your momma. And as I sit here writing this letter, I keep looking over at you as you do your homework taking breaks to tease your sister, and I want to cry like I did when you were a baby, because I know this perfect moment, just like every moment of your life is fleeting.  As much as I want to freeze time, it is impossible. So like I did when you were a baby, I am going to memorize how you look, sound and act on this eve of your 10th birthday. And when I go to bed tonight, I will thank God for you like I do every night. May God bless you, because he has blessed me with the best gift in the world...you.

I love you so very much,
Momma

 

Happy Birthday Isabella

Dear Isabella,

Happy 7th birthday to my best girl.  My only girl.  My Sunshine.  My Bella Boo.  My First Grader.

You have had an amazing year.  And I thank God everyday that I am your mommy.  I am so blessed to be able to have a front row seat to your life.  During this past year,  I have watched you grow taller, your curls get longer, and your smile get even brighter. I have watched you ride a bike, swim like a fish, do a cartwheel, read books, play soccer, lacrosse and basketball.  You love to dance and do gymnastics, and you want to be a gymnast when you grow up!  You are so brave.  You are not afraid to try new things, exciting things, like paddle boarding, zip lining and riding roller coasters.

And although you have learned many new things this year and have gotten bigger, you still remain the same.  As I have stated in every letter I have ever written to you, you are you and the best things about you are the things that have been inherently you since the beginning. Pop always says, "Isabella is as good as gold." And it is true. You are such a kind, sweet girl.   Your smile lights up a room.  You love your brothers, cousins, friends and family.  Your hugs are the best. You are such a happy girl, and you spend each day living life to its fullest. People love to be around you. You are chatty and funny.  You love to laugh at your own jokes and that loud laugh of yours in contagious!

You are a girly girl, but you can hang with the boys.  You are a wonderful big sister, so patient and imaginative. Zachary loves to play with you.  He misses you when you are at school.  You are a typical little sister. You and Alex argue sometimes, especially when Alex wants to "teach you something," but the bond you have always had is undeniable. He wants to be your protector and (secretly) you love it!

You are a Daddy's Girl through and through, and I am okay with that! The way your daddy treats you and loves you is the sweetest thing in the world.  He loves all of us, but you are his princess, his one and only. And in my opinion, that is how it should be.

And then there is me, your mommy. No one in all the world loves you as much as I love you.  You are my heart.  My daughter. And I strive to be a better person and woman, because of you.  I know you are watching.  And I pray everyday that I am setting a good example for you. I want you to grow up to be strong and loyal and kind.   And sometimes that means admitting that I am wrong or impatient or unfair. It is important to know that no one is perfect but as long as you try to be your best self, that is all that matters.  One day someone will say to you, "like mother, like daughter." And when you hear those words, more than anything I want you to feel proud.

I love you, my Golden Girl.
Mommy

Zachary is 3!!

Dear Zachary,

We have had such a fun week celebrating your birthday.  All of our family and your little buddies came over for a football party on Sunday!  You were so excited that it was your party and had a blast playing with your friends.  Your face was priceless as we all gathered around to sing happy birthday.  I looked around and saw love for you on every smiling face in the room.  On Tuesday, you turned three.  I went into your room and said, "Wake up birthday boy!!" You jumped right up and couldn't wait to start the day!  We headed off to school where we celebrated with Ninja Turtle yogurt and cupcakes at snack time.  Your grandparents came over for dinner and there were more presents and more cupcakes! You love to tell everyone that you are THREE now!

My big, big boy!  You are so independent. You can dress yourself and love picking out your own clothes.  You have been potty trained for months.  Soon after, you told me that you were a big boy so you didn't take naps anymore.  And that was that! You haven't napped since.  You are one stubborn kid.  You want what you want.  There is never any compromise with you!

You challenge me in ways that utterly exhaust me.  You are quite a trouble maker.  You love to start trouble and you aren't afraid to finish it too! But in your defense, you do say you are sorry...You say it a lot :)  And when you apologize, I have to say, "It's okay."  You don't mind making me mad, but you don't like me to stay mad at you.  And to be honest, I can't stay mad anyway.  You are too darn cute.  You know all the right things to say. When you throw your arms around my neck and say, "I love you Momma,"  I melt.  Or when you climb in my lap with a pile of books and say, "Let's snuggle," I could sit and read to you all night.

Zachary at THREE:

• You are our baby whether you like to admit it or not. We absolutely adore you. 
• You love to have Mommy and Daddy all to yourself.
• You love your "sister" and your "brother." And you love to go in their rooms and take their stuff too!  As an oldest child, I feel their pain and try my best to keep you out!
• Your favorite toys are little figures and legos.  You carry your "guys" around.
• You love peanut butter on raisin bread, yogurt, bagels with cream cheese, and edamame
• You love to dress up. At any given moment you might be Spiderman, a construction worker or a Ninja Turtle
• You always have a hat on your head and gloves on your hands - even in the house
• You always want to be with your "friends." You ask for Grayson, Brayden, Miles and Tanner to come over everyday
• You still sleep with Bun Bun every night and always ask for it when you are sad or hurt
• You don't like to watch tv but you do like movies like Toy Story, Frozen, Monsters U, and Despicable Me
• You love all your big cousins and your "Sweet little Stella"
• You love to talk on the phone and take bubble baths and play in the basement
• You ride your Four Wheeler around like a boss (as Alex would say) 
• You are such a funny kid.  Your facial expressions are hilarious.  We always know how you are feeling by the look on your face (you get that from me)
• You talk from morning to night.  Your vocabulary is amazing.  You tell it like it is, and sometimes you use some not-so-nice words to do it. 
• You are inquisitive, smart, silly and all-boy!

So, my Zachary.  Three years old.  Definitely not a baby anymore.  But as your Uncle Dave will tell you, you can grow up all you want, but you will always hold that special place in our hearts as the baby.  You will always be the one that completed our family of five, the little brother who has so much of Alex and Isabella in your eyes and your smile, and the one who can get away with so much more because you have a whole family answering to your every whim. You are the one who makes me crazy with your shenanigans,  but I am crazy in love with you. You will always be Daddy's buddy.  You will always be the center of our world, the four of us surrounding you with all our love and attention.  There is no one like you, baby boy, I mean "big boy" (wink wink).

I love you Zachary.  to infinity and beyond.

Mommy