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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

To Three Year Old Thatcher

Dear Bubba-

Today you turned 3 years old! Can you believe it? I can't! Some of my very favorite things about you are:

1. When you say "sit by me", I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. 
2. When we walk and you reach up and say "hold my hand".
3. When, just out of the blue, you tell me you love me. 
4. You copy EVERYTHING Tucker does and says, and I'm pretty sure most of the time you have no idea what you are doing or saying. 
5. When you first realize you're drinking chocolate milk and  you give me the sliest little smile and glance at me before saying "chockit mick".
6. At any mention of nuts or seeds, you immediately point out that you can't have either. 
7. You crawl around on the floor with your cars, trucks, trains - anything you can push around while making an engine sound. 
8. When you climb on top of Tucker and we tell you to get off of your brother, you say " but I love him!".
9. You are all boy - all rowdy, ornery, stinky, silly, sticky, sweet boy. 
10. You're our boy. 

Bubba I can't remember life before you and I don't want to. You will always be our sweet baby boy, and though you may be rough and rowdy, I hope you will always want me to sit by you and to hold your hand. 

Love,
Momma



Monday, May 13, 2013

Mother's Day

Sunday was Mother’s Day and though there was no big extravagant celebration, it was filled with perfect little moments that make me so happy to be a momma. 

My Mother’s Day actually began a couple of months ago when I fell in love with Darius Rucker’s version of “Wagon Wheel.” I told Alec above anything else, I would love for my boys to sing “Wagon Wheel” to me on Mother’s Day. After that night anytime we’d hear “Wagon Wheel” my boys would ask “Is that ‘Wagon Wheel’?” Hmmm…someone has been teaching these boys this song…

On Sunday, we were woken around 6:30 by the sound of little feet shuffling down the hallway. In comes our boys completely bright-eyed and bushytailed. They jumped on the bed and were super snuggly and sweet. Next I heard Mango the lab come into our room. I looked at Alec and asked “Is someone in our house?” I thought he had come up with some elaborate plan to have someone get the boys up and out of their rooms and let the dogs out so all my kiddos would wake me up for Mother’s Day. But that wasn’t the case. Tucker said he woke up because there was just a little bit of sun coming into his room. (Note to self: Install a spotlight with a timer outside TJs window to wake him up on time on school days) And apparently he knows how to open the gate in front of Thatcher’s door and broke him out. The gate in the kitchen must not have been latched all the way so lab Mango made a run for it once she saw the boys walk by. My only good kid, wienerdog Berman, stayed in his bed where he was supposed to be. He’s such a good boy! Regardless of how it all happened, it was a perfect start to my day.

The boys gave me the cards they made at school and some pretty little things they picked up at the jewelry store then it was off to church. I love the peace and serenity of sitting next to Alec in church and the pastoral prayer that morning was all about mommas. I was reminded for the millionth time how very blessed I am.  

After church, Alec’s parents and brothers came over for lunch. I’m not sure what made me think of it, but I thought this was the perfect occasion to use my Grandma’s dishes that I still had stashed away in the garage since I got them in November. I carefully washed each plate and let myself be transported back to a different time and place. My heart was full thinking of my grandma and how I’m a momma now.

After my in-laws had left, Alec had gone to the grocery store and the boys had laid down for naps, I gave myself a Mother’s Day gift of lying down on the couch for a minute. Tucker, finally used to not taking naps, came downstairs a few times to ask random silly questions – just trying to get me to let him stay downstairs. Each time I would answer him and tell him to go back upstairs and be quiet for a little bit. Finally, just when I was about to doze off, I heard Tucker come down the stairs but instead of coming all the way to the bottom, he stopped. Then, in the sweetest little voice in the world, I heard “Rock me momma like a wagon wheel; rock me momma anyway you feel; heeeeyyyy, momma rock me.” Hook. Line. Sinker. I got up, got my boy and we snuggled under my new quilt and watched cartoons until Alec came home.

When it was finally time to go to bed, I read Thatcher his new books that I had picked up at the library. After I read the last book, he ran to give Alec and Tucker goodnight kisses then ran back and jumped in bed. I pulled the covers up and tucked him in and gave him a kiss. He took his little finger and started tracing around my face saying “Momma” over and over. Now anyone who knows Thatcher knows he is a total and complete Daddy’s boy. I have succumbed to this and I’m (somewhat) at peace with this. So in this moment, when it was just my baby boy and me, I was captivated. I may have even been hypnotized for a minute. I just remember having this goofy smile on my face and my heart bursting with so much love for this little moment.

At the end of just about every day, I’m exhausted. My schedule is beyond overwhelming. I have moments when I don’t know how I’m going to get through everything, and I miss Alec and my boys more than they can imagine.  But I’m hopeful that the sacrifices I make now will pay off in the long run. I cherish each and every little moment I have with my family because they inspire me and I hope I inspire them.
 
So very blessed.

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Happy Birthday, Tucker!

To my four-year-old,

Today is your birthday. I cannot fathom how fast time has flown! I remember every detail of the day you were born - even the commercial that played on the TV over and over and over - during my 19 hours of labor.

What a difference you've made in my life. You made me someone's momma...ok "mom" as you now call me! The world is a different place when you're someone's mom. I have to make it a better place for you. I need to do this. I want to do this.

You deserve nothing but the best in life because that's what you've given me. You challenge me, inspire me, and overwhelm me. You make me proud, crazy, and silly. You've made me the happiest girl in the world, and I'm so lucky to be your mom.

Today you showed me a few things 4-year-olds do: hop on 1 foot, not take naps, and make perfect Ks when writing your name (something that you struggled with right up until today). And this is just the beginning! Think of what amazing things you'll do this next year!

Tucker, you are so amazing and I'm filled with such love and admiration for you. I love how many friends you have and how they all think you are their best friend! I have to say, Buddy, you're one of my best friends too! You are a fantastic big brother and Bubba loves you to pieces! He wants to do everything you do and I can see why. You are an incredible kid!

Thank you for the most fun-filled, exhausting, and crazy four years of my life.

P.S. At bedtime you let me in on one more "what 4-year-olds do" tidbit. You told me 4-year-olds don't go to bed. Hmmm...we'll see about that.

I love you,
Momma