Saturday, August 27, 2016
Thursday, August 11, 2016
Letter :: Ellis :: Month Three
Dear Ellis,
Oh your sweet smiles!
Thanks for being such an easy baby. I could honestly have
three more babies if I knew they’d be as easy as you’ve been the past three
months. I know that there may come a stage, or two, in the near future that
will give me a run for my money…but in the meantime I’m just going to soak you
up.
Speaking of soaking…you’re constantly drooling. You love to
chomp down on my finger (or anyone’s for that matter)…and you must go through
at least four bibs a day. I cannot believe how much drool you’re able to create
and leak out, but if my memory serves me correctly, Harry was the same way and
he got his teeth super early. Not sure when yours will pop through, but I
wouldn’t be surprised if it happened sometime in the next month.
You love facing out and being able to see what’s going on,
especially when it comes to your big brother. You’re about the size of a
six-month-old so you’re able to sit facing out in the carrier I have and you
are absolutely loving it. It’s the only way I can get my grocery shopping done
these days – plus your car seat is getting so heavy with you inside that it’s
hard for me to lift it.
This month you’ve started smiling more, and laugh (though
it’s nearly impossible to catch on camera because as soon as my phone and/or
camera come out you freeze up). You love to sit in your high chair and watch
Harry play in the family room, or watch me cook in the kitchen.
You’ve also been sleeping for longer stretches at night. Not
always, but many times now you’ve slept for 7-7.5 hours at a time. It’s so
glorious to get more sleep, but it almost makes me feel more groggy because my
body is so shocked by it ;)…looking forward to sleeping through the night
consistently (whenever you’re ready, you can count me in)!
You really love it when your daddy talks/sings to you. He
says “Hello” to you in this deep voice that never fails to bring a smile to
your face. I love seeing you interact with him (and I know he loves it too).
Work for Daddy has been pretty overwhelming lately (many long hours and tough
cases he’s been working on) and you (and Harry of course) are definitely the
bright spot in his life each day.
We love you more and more each passing day sweet boy. You’ve
somehow acquired the nickname “brother bear” and we often call you “Ellis Bo
Bellis”, just “Bo Bellis” or even “Mr. Bellis” at times. I know…we’re a little
weird, but you’ll get used to us.
If you think the sunshine and fun we’ve had in the past
month are great, just wait because our big trip to Hawaii is coming up just
before your four-month birthday and it is going to be epic!
I love you, sweet Ellis! Thanks for going with the flow and
coming along for all of our summer adventures…whether it’s to the library to
get new books for bedtime stories, or hanging out in the shade at the park
while your brother plays…you’ve been the best little sidekick (and the
chubbiest one too…which is always so cute and all the better to snuggle with).
Love you to Jupiter (and back)…or maybe to one of those
Dwarf Planets your brother has been learning about lately. Either way, I love
you A WHOLE LOT!
Love always,
Mama
Letter :: Harry :: 4.5 Years
Dear Harry,
I honestly cannot believe you are 4.5 years
old. I'm writing this letter shortly after your ½ birthday and you've been
telling everyone that asks your age that you are "four-and-a-HALF"! I
love how much that ½ a year means to kids...but I wouldn't mind if time slowed
down a little bit. It seriously feels like your Fourth Birthday Lego
Extravaganza was just yesterday, not six months ago.
So let's see...in the last six months
you've finished preschool in the 4's class, become a big brother to Ellis,
become a cousin to baby Roman, played on your second t-ball team (with tons of
friends from church), made an imaginary friend named John, had your first few
sleepovers...the list could go on and on. Basically, it's been a pretty busy
half-year.
The two main things I want to remember
about this stage with you are:
1) your CRAZY amazing imagination/memory
and
and
2) your tender heart toward the babies in
your life (and the stuffed animal collection you have been accumulating).
From the time you wake up each morning
until you fall asleep at night (and most likely in your dreams) you are
imagining things. Sometimes you welcome us into your world and invite us to
play too, and other times you're so engrossed in the imaginary game you're
playing that you hardly even register that we're in the room. Your little
brother is absolutely LOVING this about you because he can just sit in his high
chair or bouncer and take it all in. There's no one he'd rather keep his eyes
on than you. Which reminds me - you're a wonderful big brother. You rarely
complain when asked to help with something (unless it's a dirty diaper, you are
pretty adamant about the fact that you "don't touch those").
There have been many moments in the past few months when I've heard Ellis crying
but by the time I get to him, you've beat me to it...and he's no longer sad,
but busy smiling at you as you talk to him and calm him down.
Thank you, Harry. You have been with me
more than anyone else as I've been learning how to be a mom of two boys...and I
honestly don't think I could have made it without you. There have been some
hard moments that involved some time outs and even some spankings (because
you're not perfect, and don't worry...neither am I). But there's been a whole
lot of forgiveness and hugs, and talk about how much we all need Jesus and how
we are so thankful for His grace in the day-to-day struggles we encounter. And
aside from these momentary challenges, the majority of our time has been spent
laughing together, reading books, playing, baking/cooking, getting to know
Ellis, splashing at the spray park, going down slides, spending time with
friends, watching some cartoons, dancing to our favorite tunes, eating ice
cream...soaking up the sweet spring and summer as a new family of four.
I am certain that someday I will look back
on this season in our lives as one of the very sweetest. I'm getting teary-eyed
just thinking about it. Of course our lives aren't perfect...they never will
be. But being your mama now for the past 4.5 years has taught me to loosen up
and let the chaos and mess of mothering a little boy bring me more joy than
stress. You delight in life Harry, and live it to the absolute fullest. I pray
you never lose that spirit.
And even though it may sound weird, and
won't really happen...there are days when I ask you if we can snuggle forever,
even when you're grown...and for now you say (enthusiastically) "YES!”
Thanks for indulging me sweet boy. Thanks
for climbing into my lap (even though your don't fit as well as you used to),
for wrapping your arms around me and giving me sweet kisses. I know time will
bring more independence as you grow into boyhood and eventually into the man
that God created you to be. But for now you like to hold my hand, gaze lovingly
into my eyes and tell me that you love me the most-est (most of the time).
Hopefully all of this tender loving you give me now will make you one
sweetheart of a husband to your wife someday ;)
I love you Harry. I love the way you play
and talk constantly. The way you make up silly rhymes (even though they
sometimes sound like curse words). I love your little baby teeth and your under
bite (don't worry, we're saving up for braces now...just in case). The freckles
you get in strange places (like your earlobe and on the side of your finger). I
love the high-pitched voice you use to talk to your brother (that is basically
an imitation of the high-pitched voice I use to talk to him too...but it's
cuter coming from your). I love the way you fall asleep at night with a half-dozen
stuffed animals, books, and toy cars strewn around your bed. I love everything
about you...even that crazy-intense cry you've been doing lately that is way
more dramatic than any situation you're crying about. I could honestly go on
forever, but by the time you're old enough to read this I'm sure you're shaking
your head and saying "Oh mom...just quit it!"
Just get onto YouTube (or whatever we're
using these days to watch videos) and look up a show called "The
Goldberg's". I'm basically a carbon copy of the mom in that show, minus
the 80's hairdo and shoulder pads. You're welcome. I'm sure you're getting a
good laugh at my expense...but it's true so I have to laugh at myself along
with you.
Love you
(shmoopie*) always and forever,
Mama
*Look up "The Goldberg's" to understand this reference. I
promise you won't regret it ;)
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