Dear Harper,
You're 2 years old! But you know that, because you keep talking about your birthday party yesterday, and of course, the Yo Gabba Gabba! cake. You love to talk, and I love to listen. You have the sweetest little voice. In all fairness, it does get *pretty* high pitched, and you do love to screech when you're not getting your way. But we're working on it. You're learning to use your words more.
You have a VERY clear opinion on what you want to wear every day. I think you have better taste and style than I do, actually. You're not afraid of mixing prints, I'll tell you that much. I like your boldness, Daughter.
You are so self-sufficient and secure. I LOVE that about you. You want to do everything for yourself. Sometimes I have to step in for the sake of timeliness, or so you won't choke yourself with your shirt, but for the most part, I try to let you do what you want to do. You love your sissy. "Good morning, Sissy!" And my favorite: "Sissy okay too?" You love your brother: "HI! BRADY!" You love slides, and danger, and taking off your clothes and diaper. You throw things when you're angry. You want Daddy and only Daddy to push you on the swing (see: danger, because he pushes you higher). You like jewelry, and riding bikes, and (THANK GOD!) books.
You are sweet as pie when you want to be, and the devil in disguise when you're feeling frisky. And you know, I wouldn't have you any other way. You're you, and I love you so much. I hope that you're just as secure at 12 and 22. I hope that you have a good job so you can afford jewelry and good clothes. I hope that you get exactly what you want out of life, and I have a feeling that your tenacity will help make that happen. I hope you remain true to yourself always, that you look in the mirror and see your eyes and my eyes and my mother's eyes, and you think, "I come from some strong women. I'm strong too." Above all, I hope you'll always know how much Daddy and I love you, and how grateful we are that you came into this world and are ours. You are simply amazing.
Love,
Mommy
Monday, April 16, 2012
Dear Bayla, on your second birthday
Dear Bayla,
You're 2 years old! What an unbelievable 2 years this has been. Last year, I talked about how feisty you are. That trait has stuck around. You are truly a force of nature. You see what you want, and you take it. It's very Don Draper. I can respect that, except when you grab the desired object out of Harper's hands when she's quietly playing with it. Or when you knock down Brady's Legos so you can have the one you want. Or when you run away from me in pursuit of said object, are looking back at me to see where I am, and bang smack into the door frame. But mostly, I like your "World Be Damned" attitude.
You are still my snuggly bunny. You are always up for a good hug and kiss. You come to me when you need me, and you handle it when you don't. You wake up bright eyed and bushy tailed. You have a clear sense of fashion, and the cutest little tushie. You loooooooooooove your brother. You hear him from across the house, then scream his name and go looking for him. You absolutely adore Yo Gabba Gabba! You love to listen to Shabbat songs, and you help when I light the candles every Friday night. God help anyone who comes between you and your fruit snacks. And last night we discovered you can roll your tongue, so that's a fun new skill you've been trying out all day.
You have the best laugh -- it comes straight from your belly, and I just can't help but smile when you give a good giggle. You love to talk and make animal sounds. Your "waddle waddle" when you see a penguin will undoubtedly be one of my favorite memories of you when you're older. You love babies. I love to watch you go down to baby level, smile at them, and pat their heads.
Sometimes, in a quiet moment, I'll look at you, and I just can't believe my good fortune. I look at you and see my mom, for whom you are named. I don't think it's an accident that you, your sister, and your brother all have her eyes. It's so bittersweet to watch you grow and be your funny, feisty self and know that she's not around to experience it too. But I hope you'll take after her with kindness, caring, and compassion. I hope you'll find happiness but deal well with life's disappointments. I hope you will always be quintessentially Bayla, no matter where life takes you. Above all, I hope you'll always know how much Daddy and I love you, and how grateful we are that you came into this world and are ours. You are simply amazing.
Love,
Mommy
You're 2 years old! What an unbelievable 2 years this has been. Last year, I talked about how feisty you are. That trait has stuck around. You are truly a force of nature. You see what you want, and you take it. It's very Don Draper. I can respect that, except when you grab the desired object out of Harper's hands when she's quietly playing with it. Or when you knock down Brady's Legos so you can have the one you want. Or when you run away from me in pursuit of said object, are looking back at me to see where I am, and bang smack into the door frame. But mostly, I like your "World Be Damned" attitude.
You are still my snuggly bunny. You are always up for a good hug and kiss. You come to me when you need me, and you handle it when you don't. You wake up bright eyed and bushy tailed. You have a clear sense of fashion, and the cutest little tushie. You loooooooooooove your brother. You hear him from across the house, then scream his name and go looking for him. You absolutely adore Yo Gabba Gabba! You love to listen to Shabbat songs, and you help when I light the candles every Friday night. God help anyone who comes between you and your fruit snacks. And last night we discovered you can roll your tongue, so that's a fun new skill you've been trying out all day.
You have the best laugh -- it comes straight from your belly, and I just can't help but smile when you give a good giggle. You love to talk and make animal sounds. Your "waddle waddle" when you see a penguin will undoubtedly be one of my favorite memories of you when you're older. You love babies. I love to watch you go down to baby level, smile at them, and pat their heads.
Sometimes, in a quiet moment, I'll look at you, and I just can't believe my good fortune. I look at you and see my mom, for whom you are named. I don't think it's an accident that you, your sister, and your brother all have her eyes. It's so bittersweet to watch you grow and be your funny, feisty self and know that she's not around to experience it too. But I hope you'll take after her with kindness, caring, and compassion. I hope you'll find happiness but deal well with life's disappointments. I hope you will always be quintessentially Bayla, no matter where life takes you. Above all, I hope you'll always know how much Daddy and I love you, and how grateful we are that you came into this world and are ours. You are simply amazing.
Love,
Mommy
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Dear Brady, on Your 5th Birthday
Dear Brady,
Today is your 5th birthday. I can't believe it either! I went back and checked your birth certificate to make sure it said "2007," and it did. Then, because math is not my strong subject, I counted on my fingers to 2012. The result: you are in fact 5 years old today. It went by so fast. And apparently, it means that I'm just "Mom" now -- no "Mommy" for you anymore.
Man, I have just loved the past year with you. I think we've finally reconnected. I had NO idea how hard it would be to try to keep our lives together. I missed you. Not to say we didn't have our moments, but for the most part, you've been sweet, kind to your sisters, helpful, and oh-so-lovable. One day when you read this, you may not remember that you had an articulation disorder and were in speech therapy for months and months. But because of that, you were a late, unconfident talker. Well, no more! You are a chatterbox. From the moment you wake up until the moment you (finally) fall asleep, you are observing, asking, telling, cajoling, storytelling, and fact checking. (You also whine sometimes. But I love you anyway.)
And you are FUNNY. (I would like to think it comes from the Jewish side, but really, your dad is the funny one in the family.) You tell jokes, you recognize silliness, you dance all crazy and make funny faces. You seek out humor. You do pratfalls to make your sisters laugh. (Well, maybe that IS your Jewish vaudeville side.)
You want me to lay down with you at night until you fall asleep. The books tell parents not to do this, but I say screw the books. In a few years, you won't want me to do this, and I will miss it immensely.
You love superheroes, dinosaurs, Hot Wheels cars (but not Matchbox, for some reason), Legos, and playing with your older friends in the neighborhood. Your perfect day would be spent at a park with climbing walls. Your favorite foods are quesadillas with sour cream and salsa, hot dogs, cheese puffs, olives, and chocolate. THIS is your favorite song right now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDG0c3saE4I&noredirect=1
You are the best big brother I could ever ask to have birthed. You want to come with me to wake up your sisters, and my God, they are thrilled to see you. You teach them about the world. You protect them. You help me with them in a million different ways.
I think back to your birth 5 years ago, and I realize what a long road we've traveled together. I'm not always as kind, patient, or involved as I'd like to be, but I always love you more than life itself. I hope one day, maybe when you have kids of your own, you'll look back and realize that I WANTED to play pirate ship with you all morning, but I had to get everybody ready for school, and we were already late. I WANTED to hang out and watch dinosaur movies all day, but I had to get dinner ready, or clean up the mess from lunch, or do laundry. It wasn't because I wouldn't rather have snuggled with you all day on the couch.
So all of this to say, I am so lucky, so fortunate, so blessed to have you for a son. I am so proud of you every day. I watch you grow and mature, and learn to be the person you've yet to become, and I can't wait to see who that is.
Love,
Mom(my)
Today is your 5th birthday. I can't believe it either! I went back and checked your birth certificate to make sure it said "2007," and it did. Then, because math is not my strong subject, I counted on my fingers to 2012. The result: you are in fact 5 years old today. It went by so fast. And apparently, it means that I'm just "Mom" now -- no "Mommy" for you anymore.
Man, I have just loved the past year with you. I think we've finally reconnected. I had NO idea how hard it would be to try to keep our lives together. I missed you. Not to say we didn't have our moments, but for the most part, you've been sweet, kind to your sisters, helpful, and oh-so-lovable. One day when you read this, you may not remember that you had an articulation disorder and were in speech therapy for months and months. But because of that, you were a late, unconfident talker. Well, no more! You are a chatterbox. From the moment you wake up until the moment you (finally) fall asleep, you are observing, asking, telling, cajoling, storytelling, and fact checking. (You also whine sometimes. But I love you anyway.)
And you are FUNNY. (I would like to think it comes from the Jewish side, but really, your dad is the funny one in the family.) You tell jokes, you recognize silliness, you dance all crazy and make funny faces. You seek out humor. You do pratfalls to make your sisters laugh. (Well, maybe that IS your Jewish vaudeville side.)
You want me to lay down with you at night until you fall asleep. The books tell parents not to do this, but I say screw the books. In a few years, you won't want me to do this, and I will miss it immensely.
You love superheroes, dinosaurs, Hot Wheels cars (but not Matchbox, for some reason), Legos, and playing with your older friends in the neighborhood. Your perfect day would be spent at a park with climbing walls. Your favorite foods are quesadillas with sour cream and salsa, hot dogs, cheese puffs, olives, and chocolate. THIS is your favorite song right now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDG0c3saE4I&noredirect=1
You are the best big brother I could ever ask to have birthed. You want to come with me to wake up your sisters, and my God, they are thrilled to see you. You teach them about the world. You protect them. You help me with them in a million different ways.
I think back to your birth 5 years ago, and I realize what a long road we've traveled together. I'm not always as kind, patient, or involved as I'd like to be, but I always love you more than life itself. I hope one day, maybe when you have kids of your own, you'll look back and realize that I WANTED to play pirate ship with you all morning, but I had to get everybody ready for school, and we were already late. I WANTED to hang out and watch dinosaur movies all day, but I had to get dinner ready, or clean up the mess from lunch, or do laundry. It wasn't because I wouldn't rather have snuggled with you all day on the couch.
So all of this to say, I am so lucky, so fortunate, so blessed to have you for a son. I am so proud of you every day. I watch you grow and mature, and learn to be the person you've yet to become, and I can't wait to see who that is.
Love,
Mom(my)
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