Big Boy Bed

Dear Luke,

I had been wanting to update your room for most of this year, but finally got around to it this past October. We ordered you a new twin size bed with trundle, which you "helped" Daddy assemble. I framed a few new pictures for your bookshelf, took down most of your old frames on the wall and bought you a railroad crossing sign and a few other train elements. You love your new bed and updated room.

I expected your last night in your crib to be a little emotional, but it was overshadowed by a trip to urgent care. You had started limping and complaining that your leg hurt that afternoon, then woke up 3 times, even after pain medication, screaming that your leg hurt. The pain improved through the weekend, but we followed up with Dr. Batchelor on Monday and she sent us to a bone and joint specialist. After a second set of x-rays, we learned that you had transient synovitis, which is pain in the hip a few weeks after a cold virus. Who knew! Of course I was so thankful that's all it was. And you were so brave with your doctor visits and xrays. I think you really liked the attention and thought it was kind of fun walking around with your backless hospital gown, in your Cars undies and crocs. I'm sure the sucker helped, too. ;)

You have now graduated from nap time to rest time in your room, and you really enjoy it. You play with your little cars and parking garage and read your books. (Yes, read!) Yesterday I went to get you after an hour and a half and you said you weren't done yet, and asked me to please shut the door. You wanted to finish the book you were on and then put it back on your shelf before being finished. You are really growing up!

Love,
Mommy

In the Car

(October 18, 2017)

Dear Luke,

Today in the car, out of the blue I heard you tell Nora,

“You’re the best girl in the whole world. You’re my best sister and that’s why I love you” 👦🏼

Love,
Monmy

Big Brother

Dear Luke,

It hit me tonight that if this Sunday were a year from now, we would be prepping for another full week of kindergarten. I can't help but get a lump in my throat thinking about that and imagining how much Nora and I are going to miss you during our weekdays. For now, I am glad the only things on the schedule for tomorrow are laundry, menu planning, and having some friends over for a playdate. I will try not to linger on the idea of kindergarten too long, but savor the season we are in right now.

I wanted to tell you what a sweet big brother you have been to Nora lately. If you are up when Nora wakes up in the morning or from her nap, you eagerly come with me to get her and want to open her door first. When I get you applesauce, you pick out a bowl and spoon for Nora in colors you know she will like. If I get her a different color, you will ask if she can have green because it's her favorite. You share your blue bear with her and want to make sure she has some cards to hold when you and I play Uno. When Nora is in timeout, usually for taking your toy or hitting you, you fairly quickly start asking me when she can get out. If you hear her saying from her bed that she dropped something, you ask me if you can go give it to her, or at least make sure she has her favorite book, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, which you can also read to her now, by the way. You both loved the cornbread I made to go with our chili last night for dinner, so when I gave you a small piece after your lunch today, you asked if you could give some to Nora and proceeded to break your own piece in half to share. Nora is now in your class at church on Sundays and I think you are proud to have her in there with you. You told me this morning that you tell Nora when it's time to move on to the next thing and my friend told me last week that you two sat next to each other at the table.

You are the sweetest thing and I love you so much!

Love,
Mommy

Summer Fun

Dear Luke and Nora,

I looked at the calendar today and realized we only have 2 1/2 more weeks of summer. The summer season has never been my favorite as a stay-at-home mom because I miss the structure and activity of the school year. It's also so hot outside and the pool can be a challenge with only me to watch both of you. But I have to say, in spite of a few long days at home, we have had a really good summer! I think the awareness that a year from now you will be starting kindergarten, Luke, and we will be preparing for you to start preschool, Nora, has helped me seize these days and make the most of them! I've been keeping a "bucket list" of the fun things we've gotten to do together:

Beach vacation in Galveston
Our neighborhood pool (we've spent lots of time at the pool and you've both become much more comfortable in the water! I can probably only handle it with two of you because you are both fairly cautious and obedient. :)
Backyard water table
Bubbles in the backyard (a favorite of yours, Nora)
Riding your bike, Luke, at "the tunnel park"
Nora's birthday party, baby dedication and family visit
Chick-fil-A (always a reliable favorite)
MOD Pizza
Frozen yogurt
Fort Bend Childrens Museum (the first time we stayed 4 hours and last time we stayed 5 hours!)
Grace Fellowship VBS (this was a wonderful activity for us while Daddy was in India. I was sick and even lost my voice, but working the crafts gave me something to do every day without having to make a plan, and you both LOVED the childcare program. You still talk about it a couple months later!)
Jump Street
Play-doh
Stickers
Stamps
Uno (So. Much. Uno. :)
Dice
Hide and seek
Watching movies in our PJ's (the first full-length film for both of you, Cars. Nora, you lost interest pretty early on, and Luke, you asked several times if it was almost over.)
The library (Story Time and checking out books)
TX Borders
Exploration Park
McDonald's
Shipley Donuts (mmm)
The carousel at Katy Mills (this was for you, Luke; Nora, you cried the whole time. :(
Majest Kids
Downtown aquarium
Showcase gymnastics
Pengu swimming lessons
Long Meadow Farms pool
Pine Mill Ranch splash pad
Picnics (by the TV, at the pool, outside the childrens museum)
Ice cream
Memorizing verses (mostly you, Luke, but Nora, you picked up on a couple, too!)
Trip to Keller
Visit from Aunt Holly, Caroline and Wesley
Trip to Carrollton
Kid Zone
Riding the Dart Train
Carrollton spray park

Still hoping to visit the Sugar Creek Baptist Playscape next week and also the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Oh, and today, we "went bowling" downstairs and you both loved it for almost an hour! I sure love you, too, and am so thankful I get to stay home and be your mommy.

Love,
Mommy

Swimming Lessons

Dear Luke,

You have been enrolled in intensive swimming lessons for the past 2 weeks at Pengu Swim School. I was excited for you to start, but knew it would likely be a challenge, too, because you've expressly told me that you are afraid of falling in the water. Last summer you loved to play at the splash pad and in the shallow pool, but were terrified of deep water. Sure enough, you cried your way through your first lesson and told me you didn't want to go back to Pengu, but wanted to go to our easy pool. I thought I might have to carry you kicking and screaming on day 2, but you walked in on your own and didn't even cry! I figured that was a fast adjustment, but then the classes got more difficult each day as they pushed you to try new things and you cried for much of the rest of the week. But this week you haven't cried at all and are even having fun, excited to go to swimming lessons. You got your first ribbon this week that says "I can kick with barbells across the pool all by myself." Yay! You told me and Mrs. Devyn this week, "I wasn't afraid," and we both got teary eyed. :) I am so incredibly proud of you for sticking with it when it was difficult and for doing your best. I didn't like seeing you cry in the pool, but loved that you were still doing what you needed to do, even through tears. That's brave. I'm sure life will present many more opportunities to practice doing hard things when scared, but it has been special for me to see you overcome some fears these past couple weeks!

Love,
Mommy

Sweet Luke

Dear Luke,

Yesterday while having lunch in your stroller at Marshalls, you said, "Mommy, you're my best friend." Melt my heart! Then, today you said, "You're a good mommy." I asked what makes me a good mommy and you said, "because you love me and you're sweet to me." Then you said, "I know you're tired." Earlier this morning I had apologized to you for not being more patient with you and when you asked why I wasn't more patient, I said it was because I was tired. It is so encouraging to hear these words from you, unprompted, and helps me remember why it's all so worth it. I love you so much!

Love,
Mommy

Mothers Day Tea

Dear Luke,

A couple weeks ago I got to come join you at preschool for a Mother's Day tea. You were so excited and I was too! I teared up when I saw the questionnaire at our seats. I've been giving you lots of hugs now that I know they matter to you. :) I love you so much and am so proud of you.

Love,
Mommy

Who Loves Jesus?

Dear Luke,

Tonight Daddy, Nora and I went to see you at preschool for your spring program. After it was over we talked with your music teacher for a few minutes. She said you are one of her favorites. :) She also told us that for Valentine's Day, each child was asked to say who they love. You said "I love Jesus." Only one other friend answered like that (your bf Autumn said "I love God"). That makes my heart so happy and I know it makes His heart happy, too. I love you so much!

Love,
Mommy

Almost Four

Dear Luke,

You've been telling people frequently lately, "I'm still three. I'm almost four." It won't be long and you'll be telling people you are 4! I have seen so much growth in you these past several months. You no longer sit in your booster seat at the table, but just sit in a regular chair. You usually don't use a bib or even a washcloth at mealtimes anymore. You sleep under a blanket with your head on the pillow and we don't have a safety knob on the door (because you learned how to take them off). You get dressed in the morning and take your pajamas to the laundry basket, only needing help with your socks and button up shirts. You can do things now that are truly helpful, like take Nora's and your milk to the table for mealtime and clear the table when we're finished eating. You love to help carry in the groceries from the car and the last couple of times you have even put some groceries away, in correct places in the pantry and refrigerator. You must be neurotic about organization just like me. :)

You have really come out of your shell and I would not describe you as shy anymore. Even when we went to see Mahpie last week, you were initially unsure about seeing her, which I understood because you didn't know her. But as soon as we walked in, you stood by her, told her how old you are, showed her your crocs and proudly told her about your red sucker. When we go to church, ibloom and preschool, you walk wherever we're going with such confidence. You talk a lot about your friends at preschool and other places, but I also notice that you like to do your own thing. When we are at the park, you don't seem to choose your activities based on what other kids are doing, but will play with whatever you want. I like that about you.

You love to watch the traffic lights and will tell me, "when it's red, you stop." It distresses you a little that I will turn right on red, but you are getting the hang of it. Sometimes if I want to put on my lip gloss or look at my phone at a red light, I will ask you to tell me when it turns green, and you will! You really enjoy reading our Bible lesson every morning at breakfast and will say "we forgot to read our Bible lesson!" You find things funny, like John the Baptist wearing camel's hair and the lost son eating "piggy food." You love to pray before meals. Your most repeated prayer goes like this: "Dear Jesus, thank you for this food and all you give us. Please give us strength. In Jesus' name, Amen." Other nights you mix it up and tonight was especially sweet and sincere. "Dear Jesus, thank you for preschool. Thank you for our house. Thank you for our car. Thank you for our food. We love you. In Jesus' name, Amen."

You and Nora have a special relationship. You still take her toys and are too rough at times, but even if she's bothering you and trying to take your toys, you love to be around her. You want me to pick her up when she's crying, want to go in her room when she's having play time in her crib, and want her to watch for Daddy with you when he comes home. You can be really sweet to her and cheer her on when she tries new things. I love to watch that.

Last week at ibloom we talked about discipline, a repeated lesson from when I first did ibloom 3 years ago. You weren't even a year old yet last time I heard it and now is a completely different season. Discipline is a struggle and it is exhausting, but I felt pleased to realize I see fruit in your life even at this stage. I really am proud of the boy you are becoming. I love you!

Love,
Mommy

Sweet Boy

Dear Luke,

Yesterday afternoon you saw me crying because I was feeling really tired, overwhelmed, and stressed out. You immediately came up to give me a hug and said, "It's OK Mommy. I love you." Then you asked a few times over the next half hour, "Are you sad, Mommy? It's ok." Of course I thought that was just the sweetest thing. I love you so much, Luke, and I'm glad you love me, too. ❤

Love,
Mommy