11 months

Well Brother, another month has flown by! It is still hard to believe that you are going to be one in just a short month!

Your favorite game is to see just how fast you can take a shoe and sock off after it is put on. You play this game at home, in the car and at school. You also like to see how fast you can alligator roll on the changing pad {which you're pretty fast!}. Another favorite is swatting at the spoon while eating. When you are successful, it knocks food right out of the spoon.

You love food! You start and end your days with a big ol' bottle of Mommy Milk. At school, you have another bottle in the middle of the day but on the weekends, you tend to just have food. On Sundays after church, we have been frequenting McAlister's. We have started getting you the kids macaroni and applesauce. Some days you have been known to eat more than your sister does! When eating baby food, if a drop falls onto the tray, you love to slap your hand into it and smear it around.

You are still wearing size 3 diapers, much to my disliking, we are venturing in to 12 month clothing (where is my baby going?!?) and you are finally wearing your cute little size 2 Converse shoes since your foot is a little bigger making it harder to take it right off.

You are always busy and on the move! Whether you grab the walker, are trying to 'help' your sister play or trying to get a handful of dog food or Tobie's hair, you are always going. And you are fast!

You are a good little nighttime sleeper. Some days your nap cycle is questionable but 95% of the time you are good napper too. You are still having a morning and afternoon nap. Guess all that playing just wears you out.

Wyatt Bear, you are so precious! Your eyes light up when you see Kinley, Mommy, or Daddy walk into the room. Tobie even gets a little sparkle from you! Shortly after that sparkle comes the adorable smile that just melts my heart. I can't believe you are almost one!

You are all because two people fell in love,
Love,
Mommy

Friendship Company

When I was little, I was a member of the Sandi Patti Friendship Company. I'm sure we paid a small fee to join but the main part of it was receiving a pen pal. My pen pal was from Newfoundland, Canada. I don't remember how many years we wrote back and forth or how many letters were involved. Tabitha and I sent packages. There was the occasional phone call (since back then it was a big deal to call long distance let alone to another country). She was there when my mom was sick and even passed away. As we got older, we lost touch but she would always cross my mind.

Fast forward to 2007, when a gal from church sent me a facebook message asking if I knew a Tabitha. She said she had randomly been messaged asking if Liz knew me. I told her yes and then we were back in touch... only in a whole new light. Our messages were sent (and could be received) right away. We spent a few days catching up on life and now can use facebook to stay in touch. Sharing details of your life probably couldn't get any easier. Technology is so amazing!

All of that background story to get to a picture Tabitha shared with me the other day...

A couple things that I thought about when I saw this picture...

**we used to use a typewriter to type letters. if you were one of the lucky, your typewriter had whiteout, otherwise you crossed it out or started over.

**"vcr tape"? we used to have to share things via recorded messages. no skype. no facetime. no facebook. also, i didn't know too many families with a video recorder. i think that goes in to the "lucky" category.

Most importantly what set with me was a reminder of how much faith my Mom had. This letter was written six months before she passed away so she knew her time on Earth was not forever but she still felt inclined to tell my pen pal, who none of us had ever actually met, how thankful she was for the thoughts and prayers. 

I love the sweet reminder, I just wish I could have a little bit of that unquestionable faith.

{enter metal note to work on...}

Friday Night Tradition

What started out as convenience before doing Christmas shopping or running errands has turned into our Friday night thing to do.

On Friday nights, you can find us going to Chick-fil-A for dinner and then running errands if necessary. A sweet lady that works there had taken a strong liking to Wyatt and Kinley. Gelyn is from Nicaragua and loves to talk in Spanish to the kids.  She has taught Kinley adios and says she wants to teach them a new word each time. She also always makes sure the kids get a balloon, even if there aren't any blown up she will go get some especially for them. On one occasion, she got them balloons and then had other kids wanted one too so there she found herself blowing up more.

Anyways, on with the tradition. We have started sending our balloons to heaven to our Pa (instead of letting them float around the house tormenting Tobie). I decided to do it one evening and since doing it, Kinley has asked about sending our balloons to Pa.

it's not the greatest picture but it captures a sweet moment

Tonight’s conversation was about sending them to him and asking other questions, like “Can I play with Pa?”

“Is Pa on the roof?” to which Hubby answered, “He’s higher than the roof and in a better place than the roof.”

Or “Is Pa napping?” and the answer to that was, “No, he’s watching over you. He’ll probably wait until you go to sleep before he naps. He won’t want to miss any of the fun stuff you do.”

And then that sweet little thing says, “Is Pa in heaven? Can we see him?” {insert dagger to the heart.} Hubby was so sweet in answering her as I sat with tears in my eyes on the ride home, “Someday we’ll all see him.” As I've said before, I wish heaven had visiting hours.

10 months

Crazy what a little natural light will do for a picture!

Oh my goodness, Buddy! It's hard to believe you are 10 months old! Where is the time going?!

You are on the move everywhere you go. If you can grab it, you pull up on it. You've started taking the walker for little cruises on your own. Your sister will get her stroller and try to coax you to follow her but gets impatient waiting for your little legs to try and catch up. You are such a mover that it is hard to snap a picture of you on anything other than the camera. You are too fast for the phone camera! You like to crawl as fast as you can to Tobie's dog dish and act so sad and pitiful when we tell you that you cannot play in the water or eat the dog food. You love to open drawers but tend to squish your fingers in it.

You love to play with blocks... mainly knocking them over. We can hardly get a tower built before you knock it down. You like jumping in the exer-saucer and will do it for a good while before slowing down.

You are still in size 3 diapers, 9 month clothing (with the occasional 12 month slipped in there), and size 2 shoes. One of your favorite games is to take your socks off before we can even get your shoes on. Out of curiosity and in hopes of staying away from the flu bug going around, I have given the essential oil, Thieves, a try. You give me a big grin when I put it on your feet in the morning and at night. I don't know if that means you like it or you just like the little foot massage. Either way, I'll take that adorable little smile! Speaking of that smile, you have started twisting your tongue sometimes when you smile at us. You also have a tendency to grind your four little teeth together.

You are still a great sleeper, usually going to bed around 8:30 after having a good 9 oz. bottle of Mommy milk. Occasionally, you will wake up at night but usually put yourself back to sleep after finding one of your animals. You seem a more attached to having an animal with you at all times than your sister was.

We have had several nice weather days in January. When outside, you love to swing and ride in your blue truck. You like to be on the ground too but you like to put grass, rocks, leaves, wood chips, anything really, into your mouth so I try to give you something else to do.

Your sister loves you to pieces. You don't stand a chance when it comes to doing things on your own. She is always up in your business trying to tell you how to do it or don't do it (No sir, Wyatt! Nooo sir!). She makes you laugh and smile more than anyone. I pray that you two always have a loving relationship and can always count on each other for anything. I pray that you guys will always have each others back in whatever you face in life. Always be her best friend, buddy. Always.

Your sweet smile, dimples and blue eyes get me every time, Brother Bear.
I love you to pieces!

You are all because two people fell in love, 
Love, 
Mommy

7, 8 and 9 months

This started as a 7 month post but as the days just fell off of the calendar... it is ending up a post about 3 different months. Mom fail.

On Monday, October 6th, my sweet little guy turned 7 months old. As Brother gets older, the time time seems to go by faster.

On the first, you bumped up to wearing a size three diaper. This also means we are getting to the last of the diaper shower diapers. Thanks to my school friends, we didn't have to buy too many diapers since you were born. 7 months is a long time! In other clothes, you are wearing six month shirts and pants that range from 3-6 months. Pants have always seemed so big for the size the tag says, like when you are comfortably wearing newborn pants at three months old.

In the food department, you have tried all of your vegetables. You prefer the green ones but after lots of coaxing, you will eat the orange ones. You love to gobble up your cereal! You will even grab the spoon and help put it in your mouth. 

Sleep wise you do pretty good. You sleep best after a bowl of cereal and bottle of milk. If we skip on the cereal, you tend to wake up around 3 am.

During Fall Break, you had your first dose of your flu shot. You and Kinley did pretty well. {we returned over Thanksgiving break for the second half.. you took it like a champ! Nurse Kelly started to say "really?!" like "really? he isn't going to cry?" but then you let out a little peep and that was all. Kinley stood to the side telling you "It's okay Wyatt Boy."} At this appointment, I stuck you on the scale on the way out. 7.6 kg= 16.75 pounds!

On November 1st, just shy of 8 months old, I spent my first night away from you. I ventured off to Austin with Tiffany, Courtney and Flat Erin to attend Missy's wedding. The girls and I had a lovely time and you and Kinley seemed to survive the night with Dad. :) After I returned, I learned that you had fallen out of the glider and Kinley toppled over with a bar stool. See if I leave you guys again!

Look at those two teeth!

Dad has started putting you in 9 month clothes, mainly jammies, and I am none too happy about it. It just means that my little guy is growing up and I just would like to keep you small forever! You are still in size three diapers.

You eat any baby food that we give you. Rice cereal seems to be your favorite though. You also ventured in to a few soft big people foods. Like the time I found out Dad was sneaking you macaroni while I was out for bunco or girl's night. :) You also tried some Thanksgiving food with me.

When you left your teachers before Thanksgiving break you were a sitter. When you returned after a week at home, you were a mover! Your crawl isn't typical. You move all hands and feet but instead of crawling on both of your knees, you crawl on one and then use your other foot to push off with.

December was a busy month! We had places to go and people to meet... mainly Santa. To say you were not a fan is an understatement.

December 6th you were 9 months old... where is the time going?!?!

Your 9 month check up was on the 22nd of December. You weighed in at 17 pounds and were 27 inches tall (according to the doctor's office but Dad thinks you are taller than that). Dr. M. said that based on the typical kid your age, you are small but she still thinks you look good and are growing nicely. Your sister was small too so she isn't worried about you. You lucked out and didn't have to get any shots either!

You are still wearing size three diapers and your clothes range from 6 months to 12 months (which I really don't like the sound of). Over the Christmas break, you have been eating food more often (and by food I mean baby food) and having a bottle in the morning and a big 9 oz bottle at night. You are a super sleeper, only waking occasionally when you miss me at night. You nap twice a day and some days need a quick early evening power nap.

Your ongoing trick is your alligator roll. You tend to just toss your whole self into a roll and that is why we call it the alligator roll. We can be holding you, you can be laying on the floor or on your changing pad (which is the second most dangerous to being held).

For your first Christmas, Santa brought you a car hauler but you loved the puffs in your stocking the best. You spent the day at home with us, Nandy, Grandpa O and Grandma and Grandpa Snow. Opening presents did not prove to be very exciting to you until we opened up the puffs to eat. We had lunch with our family and then young and old took naps all over the house.

You worked hard and your two front teeth poked through for Christmas.... only 3 and 4 days late. They seem to make you a little fussy but nothing we can't handle with a little Tylenol and an animal. You experienced your first snow on the 27th. It was also late for Christmas.

When you return back to your teachers after Christmas break, you will be a puller-upper! I was getting ready on the 29th, I literally turned around for a second and then back to see you had pulled yourself up on the tub and turned the water on!

these were a gift from our friend Heidi
(thanks, Robin!)

My sweet Brother Bear time is going too fast! You light up a room with your blue eyes and then charm the pants off of it with your smile. I can't wait to see what you do in the world. 

Always remember that you are all because two people fell in love,
Love,
Mommy


{whew. just in time to start the 10 month update!}

Another Day, Another Memory

In preparation for a new phone, I spent some time trying to make sure a few of the videos on my phone were saved elsewhere. I'm not one to commemorate 'deathaversaries' but after 373 days, there still isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of my Pa. It is heart breaking when Kinley says, "I want to see Pa." but I want to make sure there is always a place that she can hear his sweet voice singing silly songs to her.

I've said it before but I could say it a million times (and I just might, it's my blog) but Pa thought Kinley was so smart. At 17 months old, he could see it. If he could see her in person now, she would blow his mind! And little Wyatt, he would absolutely love your sweet smile and blue eyes.

Today would also be my Grandma's 94th birthday. She was a sassy gal that would have enjoyed Kinley's spunk and Wyatt's smile and blue eyes. She was known to comment on how handsome men were, mainly her crush Bill Clinton (back in his Presidential days) and Elvis. 

There is such irony to getting old. Obviously, you want to see your kids grow up and do stuff but then there is the ineveitable. What makes little old people with their great grandkids seem so precious? Why can't we be like the Bible times people and live until we are 150? When you think about it, is any amount ever enough time with your family? 

To end on a high note.....
May this sweet thing, in all her high pitch singing glory, bring a smile to your heart, especially when Jesus loves Mommy, Daddy, Wyatt and Tobie too!

And this cutie reminds us to laugh at the silly things, especially our sister!

Pity Party--Table for 1

I know that life isn't fair but sometimes I just want to be a little kid, mad and crying, jumping up and down shouting how "It's not fair!" 

As my babies get bigger and keep growing, there is slight ache within my heart. Not necessarily the fact that they won't listen and they won't stop growing up. No, it's the ache of my Pa missing out on this. 

The ache knowing that Kinley may only have a few memories of him and those memories will probably be ones that we have pictures or video of. Knowing that he didn't get a chance to see how much Kinley loves to ride Molly. The ache knowing that Wyatt never met him. Knowing that Wyatt never had a chance to hang with him or have his silly songs sung to him. Knowing that he didn't get to enjoy Wyatt's sweet smile.

The days that Kinley tells me, "I'na see Pa." are just heart wrenching. I love that she thinks of him. I love that she can point him out in a picture. I just wish heaven had visiting hours.

Pa always loved chatting with you!

Kinley and Wyatt,
If there is anything to tell you about your Pa, it was how much he really loved you. Even though he never met you, Wyatt, he already loved you so much. Once he knew you were cooking in my belly, he asked about you every time we talked. Kinley, he loved to brag on how smart you are. His eyes would light up when he saw you. He was so silly. He loved his family time. He was honest to a fault. He was proud. He was curious about everything and loved to learn. I hope I am able to help instill some of his traits into you both as you grow up.



I also have the ache that my Mom isn't here to be Grandma. I almost feel guilty that this ache isn't as strong but I never knew my Mom in the Grandma role. Don't get me wrong, I have the, "dang, I wish my mom had been here for ..." moments. But I have been having those for what seems like all of my life, so it almost seems normal. All those times girls want their mom, I wanted her, too. I like to think I wouldn't be able to keep her away from seeing her grandbabies. Skype would be busy every night and probably start charging us.

Okay. Enough.
End scene. {exits pity party.}

PS- now, if you need a smile, go back and read some of Pa's comments. He was such a funny guy!