Dear Ace and Mae,
It's been a while yet again since I last wrote a letter to you. So much has changed in just one year. The phrase the days are long but the years are short is the mantra that we live by around here. Your giggles fill the house, as the piles, forts, and imagination spread throughout it as you play and run and chase each other. You are so loud and yet (most of the time) so happy.
Spring has arrived and so has the sunshine. Trips to parks, walks, and playing in the backyard has returned as possibilities without frostbite and being soggy from the rain. I am so looking forward to more of the fun outdoor adventures that we'll have as the spring turns to summer.
Mae, since my last letter where you were telling everyone you were three (yet you were two) you have turned three, and yet now you tell people you are five (like your brother.) You are constantly are informing us, with your hands on your hips, that you're a big girl now (and you nod in affirmation in case anyone had doubt that should help cement that as fact.) Sometimes we will refer to you as Baby Girl - and you are quick to respond with your arms out to either side and sort of looking down your nose "Yah, but I am not a REAL baby. I'm a big girl." Yes, that is true. You love to snuggle, you are constantly requesting more hugs and kisses before bed or before I leave.
Ace, you're growing up - you're set out on some personal brave adventures recently - and I'm so glad you're seeking independence, I hope you learn the best way to express that independence though and exercise bravery that doesn't leave me hyperventilating. You're killing it at school and you're doing so well. You're reading so well, and I most especially love to hear you read to your sister. I hope you continue to love and protect your little sister every day.
Mommy loves you both so much and it's hard to believe that time flies go by so quickly. You might drive me crazy on the day to day life - but every gray hair and mess it well worth it. As you continue to grow and stretch your world views please hold onto your budding faith in Jesus and lean on him to know right from wrong.
All my love,
Your mom
Dearest Ace and Mae,
Mommy loves you so much. It seems impossible that you've grown so fast and that you find ways to surprise me every day. I love being your mommy!
Ace - you're constantly fixated on something and have an compulsive desire to satisfy it. Sometimes that means that you'll get into trouble for excessive pestering - you've heard the phrase 'asked and answered' a few times in recent months. But I love that you have drive and determination to set your mind on something and seek out multiple ways to accomplish it. Yes, often this is finding a way to go play video games - but sometimes it's to play outside, to watch a movie, to stay up past your bedtime to read. You are afraid to fail and I encourage you to not let that stop you. Always try even if it means temporary defeat - see it as an opportunity to strive toward betterment on the road to greatness. I adore listening to you learn to read. Nothing makes my heart melt more, Ace than when you stop in the middle of life to say "Mom, I love you." I love you too, Bear!
Mae - you're my sweet baby girl. You have tenacity and attitude rolled up into a ball of cuteness that makes it hard to get mad at you. Although I do wish you'd sit down in your car seat for me. I love that you, like your brother, have a desire for books. I love your sense of fashion and your driven purpose to dress yourself. Mommy tries to allow you the freedom to pick your style. It's important, even if the adults find your outfit choices to be puzzling. You're such a tiny articulate little girl. Full sentences, big words, bundled into your time frame is a sense of wonder for many and amusement and pride for mommy. Your soothing comfort is to touch mommy's tummy and while I know our time for that is nearing an end, I love it and I love you, Mae.
I love that the two of you play so well together - that you laugh hysterically at each other's antics, you tickle and wrestle, and that you Ace allow your little sister to copy you without frustration. Sure you have your moments - often surrounding Mae wishing to 'share' something of yours Ace - but for the most part you love each other and want to spend time together.
Why do I pen this letter to you? Because I love you and I want you (and I) to remember in years to come the little things that made you special in the now. You two are growing so fast. Mae, you constantly are already telling us you're three - even though you just turned 2 a few months ago. Ace, you'll be 5 soon and starting kindergarten. Time is so fast and yet so cherished. You two have my heart and as I said - I love being your mommy.
Love,
Your mommy
Dear Son,
When you were four months old in the throws of teething one time shoved your finger so far up my nose I swore it was bleeding profusely. In reality, it just hurt a lot. You were in a lot of pain and weren't doing anything malicious other than trying to run away from the pain, flailing limbs and all. Then when you were nine months old you drew your first blood when you somehow smacked your mouth on your crib. Ouchie! A painful but inevitable first in your rambunctious life.
However, this first in your growing life at the age of twenty-nine months, I could have passed on... (ok I could have passed on the other two as well...) and certainly hope not to repeat. Deal? You see in recent days you've been expressing frustration in not being heard getting your way... perhaps it's a little bit of both. Often resulting in meltdowns of epic sad proportions that really are quite silly for the injustice you are protesting. But such is the life of a toddler at times.
So what happened you ask? Well, after brushing your teeth (the start of your bedtime routine) you had it in your head that you had been allotted "5 more minutes" of playing downstairs. Alas the assumption was wrong and you collapsed onto the floor in weeping heartbrokenness. You weren't mad, mostly just over-tired and stalling. In my attempt to show you some grace and leeway I tried to lean down and comfort you and distract you... at the same time that you decided to jump up full force to go from crying to frustrated and angry... right into my canine tooth. You hit my tooth with your head so hard I swore you had a hole in your head from my tooth. Your crying went from tears of protest to legitimate tears of pain. I moved you from the hallway to our bed to assess the damage. Your dad came up to assist. We established no holes in your head, but that I was bleeding. Ultimately the damage was my tooth went through my lip in two places on the inside. We basically pierced the inside of my lip. Super, but not what I was looking for.
You were very concerned for mommy. In fact you asked to pray for mommy's lip with both mom and dad during bedtime prayers and you have asked every morning since the incident if mommy's lip feels better. After three days, I'm happy to reassure you that it is almost nearly healed. :) Your concern and remorse are heartfelt and make me proud of you. I am so happy that you care, remember, and ask about the well being of those you injure. ;-) However, let's work on keeping injuries (personal or inflicted on others) to a minimum, deal?
All my love,
Your forgiving mommy
Dear Ace,
It is such a joy to be your mommy. I love what a kind and gentle spirit you have - and yet you are still all boy. You have a loving heart and care about those around you. I pray every day that you will grow up and keep those qualities. My prayer is that you grow into a loving man of God that can crush the competition in what ever you seek in sport and career. Although my selfish prayer is that you won't grow up *too* fast and that you continue to love your mommy and dad with as much thrill and excitement that you've always have. I love that you run into our room every morning to give all of us hugs and kisses.
I love that you love your sister, and I hope that you still do after she is here. Things will be changing. We no longer will have every day just to ourselves and I know that you will miss that, because I too will miss that. I hope you understand (or will come to see) though that we're in for a new and exciting adventure with your sister. That while it will be different, it won't be bad. She is going to add a whole new chapter to our family's fun, challenges, and excitement and I know that you will do your best to show her how to do things. You're going to be a great big brother.
You amaze me every day with where you are at in learning, language, and love; and while you could do none of it and I would still love you just as much, I beam with pride and amazement every time you conjure up a thought from three weeks ago that we talked about for two seconds to remind me of what I had promised in that moment to move on from said subject. Mom and Dad joke that we can't talk about people anymore around you because you will surely repeat anything that was ever uttered in front of you - hours, days, weeks or even MONTHS later. You are a sponge for knowledge and we try our best to provide you with a strong foundation of 'education' early and still let you run around, be silly, and play.
Ace, you are a blessing. Thank you for making it such a joy (even in the 'terrible' twos) to be your mommy. Your father and I love you very much and know that no matter who else joins this family, where we go in life, or what we experience together - that will never change.
All my love,
Mommy
Dear Son,
Yesterday you cracked your mouth on your crib and caused your mouth to bleed. You took such a deep inhale before your ulimate wail I thought you were never going to take a breath again. I think that scared me more than the blood. How you managed to make the gums behind your tooth bleed, I do not understand the physics of. All I do know is that mommy and dad were very sad for you. You immediately sucked on a cold wet wash cloth provided by dad, as I rocked you in my arms.
There wasn't that much blood - I'm sure as you get older there were be much more. You are a very active, squirmy, on the go boy and I don't see one ounce of fear in those eyes. There certainly will be more cuts and scrapes along the way, I've resigned myself to this already. But yesterday you were so sad after the bonk, cut, bang? I was standing right there and I still don't understand how exactly you hit, cut, or banged against against the crib and caused that part of your mouth to bleed.
Ultimately the most tramautic part for mommy and dad was the time when the other one of us wasn't holding you for comfort. Yes we went back and forth comforting you (and ourselves) holding you. You're a tough guy. It didn't take long before you were back crawling around and being busy. To be safe though we exchanged your hard toys (blocks, cars, etc) and put out some softer toys for you to chew on if you were so inclinded while your little pallet healed.
Today it's like it didn't even happen. Your tooth looks fine, we were a little worried about it, and is snug in its socket and your lip shows no sign on a bruise - so while you shed just a tiny amount of blood you seem to have faired quite well. However, please in the future please refrain from chewing on your crib, headbanging with your mouth, or whatever it was that caused the loud bang followed by a short cry and the inhale that lasted faaaaar too long before the wail. Thank you, son.
All my Love,
Mommy
