Dearest Aspen Michael,
My sweet, sweet boy I cannot believe that you are 6 years old today! I can remember the days & nights leading up to your birth. How you came quickly and rather quietly...contently looking around this great big new world. You were a big boy then; a chunky thing with the biggest smile. Just as happy as can be to be loved by your mommy.
Over the last 6 months, you have grown so much. You are taller...as tall as your big sister and on some days I think you have surpassed her. Your hands are large. They have always stood out to me, even from the minute you were born. Your Papa has big manly hands and yours mirror his. Your foot is more than halfway to mine, and I have a feeling that you won't make it to double digits before being able to wear my tennis shoes.
While you have leaned out and are built like daddy & I, your muscles are very defined. You are strong, often found lifting and moving things that a newly 6 year old most likely couldn't be. You love to work hard and to sweat. You will dig in any dirt pile, inspect any bug, and make any part of nature a toy or game.
You will also come hug me for no reason. You will tell me that "I am the best mommy" in between games of tag. You will ask for back scratches and books. You will snuggle up next to me while watching TV in your "special" spot on the couch. I am still your comfort and I continue to embrace that as who knows when you will "outgrow" your mom.
You have excelled in school the last year my son. To say that we are proud of you is an understatement. You flourished in JKW academically and socially, and my heart is so overjoyed for you. I am so thankful for Ms. Wheatley & Ms. Bright who empowered you to be yourself while being an integral part of the class. You received the ENTHUSIASM award for the end of year honors, and I cannot think of another award that suits you!
You continue to improve in your sports: tennis, golf, & swimming. I am beyond proud of your work ethic and motivation. I love seeing the confidence you gain from seeing your hard work come to fruition.
Aspen, you are too funny most days. Saying the funniest little phrases in conversation out of no where. Adding something heart felt and inquisitive into our daily life. You are still that content baby boy most days and your smile still melts my heart.
I love you!
Love,
Mommy
Dearest Salem Lucille,
My sweet little girl you are 2 1/2 years old today and I can hardly believe it. If feels like a lifetime ago that I found out I was pregnant with you. Then came the joy of discovering that you were a girl. Two days that will be etched in my memory forever. The joyful tears that came with the news have been some of the greatest moments in my life.
You came into this world in your own way, on your own terms, but the way it all happened was eerily calm & true to your personality. You are a quiet observer still and you take in all of your surroundings no matter the day or place.
You have a contagious smile and a vibrant personality. You are shy yet strong. You are cautious yet friendly. You are unique in so many ways yet similar to all 3 of your big siblings.
Your best friends are your 3 cousins: Vivie, Beckam & Kolton. When the 4 of you are together, it is sheer madness in the cutest of ways. You love to play with each of them no matter what it might be they are doing. You truly love being around them and it brightens your world to do so.
You are talking up a storm...sometimes so fast that it sounds like a foreign language! To see you just gab away is a lot of fun and a reminder that you are always trying to keep up with your siblings. You are riding a big girl bike with training wheels and you are not to be stopped. You love to zip around turns and fly in & out of the driveway. You have recently enjoyed hopping on your cousins' scooters and hitting the streets. You enjoy bike rides in your seat on the back of my bike with a snack in hand.
You love playing outside and swinging on the swing set. You can be found at your new water tables or searching for bugs with your brothers. You can also be caught playing school or nail salon with your big sister. You love your time spent playing with them in any capacity and that makes my heart melt.
You officially have your own big girl room & bed & bathroom. You have embraced it with open arms and love snuggling up for naps & bedtime. You love reading books in your bed with your "reading light." You think brushing your teeth in your own bathroom and using "big girl" toothpaste is like gold.
Life is so fun and free for you. I hope it always remains that way. That you smile at the little things and you cherish the time with those you love!
I love you!
Love,
Mommy
Dearest Brighton Kevin,
Today you are 4 1/2 years old. As you continue to grow and bring so much joy to our lives, I can't help but reminisce back to the beginning of our journey. From 5 weeks of pregnancy to {early} labor & birth, I feared the unknown & the what if's & the frightening things ALL the doctors told me were 100% certain to happen to you.
That fear tainted so much of the joy I wanted to feel about welcoming you to our family. And for almost 3 years after you were born, I still lived in internal fear that they were right and it would show its hand at some point.
In the face of adversity and the unknowns of the world right now, for you and for your honor, I will not fear. The Lord whispered to me so many times to have faith along the way and I fought Him. But I learned a valuable lesson on September 23, 2015 {4 1/2 years ago}. For you & for your siblings, I will put FAITH over fear as I know the Lord is walking with us.
My hope and prayer for you is that you always shine bright & may you know how loved you are by all.
I love you!
Love,
Mommy
Dearest Adelaide Jane,
This half year has flown by and I can see you growing & changing daily. You have seen some growing pains lately as you struggle to find your place in your new class. You are not 100% girly girl yet you are not 100% tomboy either. My heart hurts for you as I remember those feelings from many, many years ago. I want you to know that this will pass and you will find your niche, your people, where you fit in for you. Sometimes it just takes time.
You continue to excel in gymnastics and love spending your time in the gym. You competed in your first winter showcase and you received all blue and red ribbons. The determination and dedication in your eyes was remarkable, and I was so proud to see your efforts rewarded.
You are swimming and playing tennis for SMM this year; your official first sports for school. I think it has been good for you to see friends outside of the classroom and get to have fun with them in a different space. You enjoy the concept of being on a "team" and representing your school.
You are back to your motherly/big sisterly ways with your baby sister. You love to get her dressed in the morning or give her bubble baths at night. She calls you Ya-Ya; a nickname that she made up all on her own. It is so fitting and one day you both will read a book about just that: Ya-Ya Sisterhood. I am so happy that God blessed you with a sister. You bring each other so much joy already.
You have been so welcoming to Aspen as he joined you at SMM. His little heart lights up when he sees you and he adores having his big sister there to help him. You are quite the tutor, quizzing him on his sight words and encouraging him when he is in doubt.
We have been spending more one on one time together and enjoying those moments. Manicure & pedicures; Target runs; spa nights with bubble baths & face masks; movies & sleepovers with dessert in bed. I hope you always love spending time with me.
A few weeks ago you began to cry at bedtime. You said, "being the oldest is really hard sometimes mom." My child, you are very wise. It is really hard at times. This I know. It can often feel like the weight of the family/world is on you. I know this as an oldest child, but sometimes I too forget this as a mother. I promise to remember that more. I promise to remember that even though you are the oldest, you are still a child.
And I hope that you always know how proud I am of you; how serious you take your role in our family; and how growing pains gives us strength always.
I love you!
Love,
Mommy
