Dear Wyatt, on your 6th birthday

Dear Wyatt,

Today you reached the awesome age of six years old. It seems like you have been part of our family forever and that there is not a time I can't remember you being with us. From a wee babe of just over 6 lbs to a young man of 6 - you have grown so much!
This past year has been full of changes for you and for our family. No longer the baby, you are now the middle child. I struggled with this title for a while - you just don't seem like middle child material. But Maris placed you in the middle and it seems to suit you well.

You are still petite at 6 - just now fitting into size 5 clothes and too short for the 20" bike your dad was convinced you'd be able to ride. We went with a 16" bike instead (just like mommy told daddy you needed). You are so close to doing a headstand and are eager to take gymnastics classes starting in January.

Kindergarten is ok. Most days you walk out and are rather grumpy. I think it's mostly because you are hungry and tired, but we're trying to get past that part. It's still winter break right now and you are eager to return to school. You are starting to read and that makes your mom and dad really proud of you!

I look at the young man you are becoming and other than the whining (which I am praying you'll grow out of this year...) you are an amazing little man! You love your baby sister so much and are such a great help with her. While you and your older sister, Maddie, don't always get along - you are incredibly close and play so well together. You have a lot of empathy for people and animals and I am very proud of this quality. It makes me feel like just maybe I've gotten something right with you.

When I found out that you were a boy years ago - I was so scared to parent a little boy. Most of the boys I knew weren't incredibly sweet and loving and I just knew that if you were mean and naughty I'd consider myself a failure as a mom.

However, all those days and hours and years of instilling empathy and love on you have paid off and you are a pretty cool little guy. This past year hasn't been easy - you've learned how to whine like a master... but you're working through it and your dad and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I can't wait to see the young man you're growing into - you make your daddy and I so very proud of you!

We love you so much!

Love, Mom and Dad

The rest of the story

Every day I start with the intention of writing something - anything! - but it hasn't happened. The more days that go by the more upset I get with myself for not writing - about the kids, our life right now, the garden, birth stuff, etc.

So I'm going back to making lists - because that has always worked in the past to get me back into writing. If you see something of particular interest - leave me a comment and let me know you'd like the rest of the story and I'll make an effort to write it out.

Maddie's 4th Birthday party - the birthday garden

Wyatt's naked romp at my parents house - "I spit it out mommy," as he pointed to the puddle of pee on the floor.

Gardening adventures - what's growing, seeds, etc.

Doula certification on hold...

Wyatt's upcoming trip to see a pediatric ENT at UAB (University of Alabama-Birmingham)

La Leche League Leader accreditation

The drama in the birth community and other petty onslaughts (might only be available through LJ).

Grandma Grace is back - and oh so happy to visit with Wyatt on Mardi Gras.

"No- I not take a nap!" and other dramatics by the two-year old in the house.

"Excuse me, you don't talk to your mother that way!" and other interesting things Maddie says to her brother and others - but doesn't practice herself.

Dear Madeleine - on your 4th Birthday (this will be written in the next week).

Busy season for Mike coming up - lots of away time from us - starting in mid-march (gone for 2+weeks then)

Dear Wyatt - on your 2nd Birthday

Dear Wyatt,

I stand amazed at how much you have grown in the last year. Barely toddling a year ago you are now running, jumping and climbing everywhere and everything.

I thank God every day for the sweet little boy he gave to me - I still remember the shock and sense of fear I had when the ultrasound technician announced you were a boy. I had no idea what to do with a girl - all I knew were frills and fairies and tea parties. I knew nothing about trucks and bugs and sports. I cried when I heard you were a boy - I was scared I guess.

Now I cry because I wouldn't have any other child but you - my sweet, sweet little man. I cry tears of joy because you are mine now and always. My heart is so full of love for you and your sister that it hurts some times. My friends and family told me that little boys love their mommas and they were so right as you never go very long without running up and holding onto my legs or neck and saying "Mommy, I love you!" It melts my heart every time. I am proud and honored to be your mother.

At two years old you have quite the personality and a vocabulary that is beyond your two short years. Already you are speaking in sentences - something that seems early for your age and gender - but I suppose it's to be expected understanding your sister's penchant for prattle.

You love to dance, to make people smile - to act silly to get attention. Your father and I both have noticed that you seem to be unusually gifted when it comes to sports that involve balls. You live to play basketball and have been actually dribbling a basketball since about 18 months old. This Christmas we gave you a basketball goal that is the perfect size for you and you spend hours making baskets with the many balls we have amassed for your entertainment. You love to watch sports with Daddy and amaze both of us with your ability to kick a ball - it's almost like you already know how to run and dribble it with your little feet! Although I'm still cautious about letting you play sports - I am looking forward to the day you can play Upward Basketball and Upward Soccer at church.

My funniest memory of you at this age is you wearing a pair of Maddie's dress-up heels and shooting basketballs into your hoop. It tickles me so much!

Thomas the Train is your other love and you were blessed by Becca, Todd and Ryan (Rynen) with two of the Thomas engines that go by themselves (Trackmasters) and you get the biggest kick out of turning them on and off by yourself (I did it!). You have your special Thomas blanket (Tommy Bankie) and sleep with it every night.

We spend a lot of time at church and you love the ladies who care for you on Wednesdays and Sundays. You often ask to go to church and that warms my heart - knowing that you consider it to be a safe place where you feel loved. I love knowing that you are surrounded by people who love you and love Jesus. I thank God for providing us with such a wonderful place to worship and grow in Christ.

My heart swells with pride when we say prayers together at night and you bow your head and fold your tiny little hands and quietly say "Amen" at the end. There are times when you remind me to pray and I am constantly humbled by the innocence I see in you and Maddie. God's love and grace is abundant and visible to me in both of you.

My only complaint as you pass your second year - is that you still don't sleep well at night. But it's also not something that I've really tried to fight with you. Often we are so busy during the day that the nighttime is the sweetest cuddling and nursing time we have. You'll often nurse much better at night when you are sleepy than you will during the day when there is something more interesting - like a basketball - to distract you. I'm happy you are still nursing - you are the pickiest eater I've ever come across and I am happy that I am able to provide you with something that is completely healthy and necessary for you! I have met my personal goal of nursing you for two years and we'll continue until you are ready to be done. I love that your Mimi and Papa - and daddy, too - are very supportive of our nursing relationship. Your Mimi has come a long way since Maddie was born and sometimes she comes over and peeks at you when you are nursing and says it's such a sweet thing to see.

You and your sister are so close - which is something I never felt I really had with my own sister (Nat Nat) until we were adults. You guys do annoy each other and fight at times, but are very sweet to each other - hugging and kissing. You go up on Maddie's bed every night and give her a big hug -telling her night night and then going to close the door (which always annoys her). You two have so much fun outside in the back yard and I'm looking forward to spending more time in our garden this summer. You both already know more about plants and flowers and growing food than many kids in this country will ever know in their lifetime!

The days have passed so quickly since you have been born - I keep hoping that time will slow down, but it never will I suppose. I'm glad that I have a blog to keep a diary of you and your sister - because I've given up on scrapbooking and baby books! You are still very much my baby -and always be - even if you end up a middle child one day.

I love you as much as a mother could possibly love her son - and will love you no matter how many tantrums you throw or naughty things you do - because you are forever my sweet little man. You captured my heart the moment I knew you were a boy and continue to hold it captive every day when you smile and tell me "Hi Mommy, I wake up!"

I love you Wyatt.

30 years old

I thought I might have some deep, reflective thoughts about this "milestone" birthday -but I really don't. It's just another year, another number advancing like the rest of the world.

I did have a fabulous birthday party surrounded by family and friends on Saturday night. That was all I asked for - with no kids to worry about.

I will say that I am content with where I am in my life - I'd much rather be living in the Northwest - as would my husband - but we're happy together and as a family so that is really all that matters. 

Great Grandma Grace's Birthday Party

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Family Love

This past Sunday we all got together to celebrate my mom's 30th birthday. I won't tell you how old or rather young - she really is - because she might shoot me.

It took a while for everyone to show up at the Destin Olive Garden - my father mistakenly drove to the one in Fort Walton Beach, claiming he wasn't aware there even was an Olive Garden in Destin... Where has he been??

I'm not sure who was looking out for us that night, but we ended up with a semi-private room and it was perfect for Mr. Wyatt who will not sit still for very long - but all in all he did wonderfully that night and we were there for a LONG time...

So here are some shots from the night along with some necessary commentary...

I'm not sure what Wyatt was doing, but I thought this picture was cute!


My dad arrived and checked out the bottle of wine that my sister Natalie had ordered.


I asked Mike to take some pictures of me and Wyatt because let's be honest - I'm always behind the camera! He was using a funky angle and this was the only one that even halfway turned out...


I like this one, because it encourages me that my hair is finally getting some length to it and actually looks nice!


Maddie and her Mimi - they are inseparable and have this bond that amazes me - it's profound


My father - does not "believe" in blogs and refuses to look at mine - which offends me greatly. Therefore I feel justified in posting these dorky pictures of him - because since he doesn't believe in blogs, they must not exist and therefore these pictures are just a figment of his imagination :) He's so silly - you should have heard Wyatt cracking up when Papa was doing this!





Just as Maddie and my mom share a special bond, Wyatt is all about his Papa. He asked to get up on his lap and stayed just like this for about 5 minutes - holding tightly onto my daddy and patting him on the back at times. It was so sweet. I love those kind of hugs!



After the sweet moment, they had quite the conversation and Wyatt is very expressive with his hands - you can almost hear what he's saying:



kisses for papa



Caught him mid-sentence


Papa, you're too funny!


Maddie lounging with Mimi


Mike getting some love from his little buddy