Sugar & Spice...

"Ring around the Rosie, a pocket full of posies" Has it really been almost five years? How well I remember the day you came into our life! Always one to make an entrance, your birth was no exception! How blessed am I to be your mother, your best buddy and how grateful I am when you tell me that "even when I'm a mama, you can still call me your baby"....

Always inventing and imagining, whether you're a princess or a kitty, rowing a boat around the living room, or racing like a cheetah with Jack & Zander-your ideas and creativity never cease to amaze me!

The smartest kid I've ever met-and I'm not just saying that cause I'm your mom! You've been writing for well over a year...in fact, I have a picture of you at 17 months, sprawled on your tummy with a scrap of paper and pen in your hand, scribbling your "yist" (list)--you've always had the most amazing artistic skills and every day I'm impressed and amazed at your growing ability to express yourself, whether telling me I'm wierd, thanking me for 'such a nice dinner', writing grandma a letter and sounding out the words as you write them or drawing amazing pictures of pegasus and spiderman.

You have a tender heart, wrapped in a tough little kid. Always everyone's best friend and the first out on the playground, you have such a desire to have fun. The protective big sister, you watch out for your little brothers and you're never shy. Eager to discuss important issues, like why foxes have such bushy tails, why dinosaurs turned into fossils, you are good at telling me how you feel inside. I hope and pray you never ever lose that desire-I LOVE to hear what's in your heart!

As I look back at how my life has changed because of you, I am so thankful to Heavenly Father for a little girl like you-wise and genuine, smart and spiritual at a young age. You have taught me so much about patience, love, prayer and my heart. You really will always be my baby, even though the passing years show me how un-like a baby you are anymore. A bittersweet trade-off, I will never forget the chubby little strawberry blonde cherub in a pile of cheerios you dumped in the living room, your fist in your mouth and your other arm stuffed inside the box! I will always miss you needing me for little things, but I love watching your independence blossom. You will be an amazing woman, I can see it in your spirit and strength, your determined face and loving heart. You're my best girl and Mama loves you RoRo...Happy Birthday Tater! :)

Birfday Reminiscing

Jack will be 3 on Thursday, complete with football unnerwears, wirey legs and arms and a not-so-chubby-anymore boy tummy :( He's obssessed with superhero's-the black AND red and blue "Piderman", Superman, Batman, Gateboards, his "fast socks" (socks with racing stripes on them), racecars, mogercycles, buitars, drumming and singing.

He's very cuddly and loves his mama (I think) the best ;) He is very sensitive and sweet, he loves to laugh and tickle and wrestle. He's not really gotten into the terrible twos or even threes yet, the only issue we've really had has been his secret desire to be a baby again...which makes sense, under the circumstances-he wants to be held a lot. He loves his "old blanket", but at night wants to cuddle under his "tripey blanket", a fluffy comforter with stripes. He speaks very clearly, aside from cutting off any "s's" that start a word-hence the 'piderman, tripey blanket, gateboards, etc.

I see my little son as such an individual. So different from his sister, from his mom and dad...I think he has immense potential to be a leader, a gentle little soul and intelligent and thoughtful friend. I pray that he retains that sweet nature, tempered of course by rambuncious boy traits, such as athleticism and a silly sense of humor (which he already has--you should see him with a soccer ball!!). I love his fluffy eyelashes and pretended bashful nature, the way he secretly looks up to his big sister and tries to outdo her in everything, and at the end of the day, comes to me with his little arms outstretched for a cuddle with his 'old blanket'. I hope he never changes and while I miss the little toddler he was, I love and adore the little boy he's growing into.

Mama loves you Jackie Boy!! Happy Birfday Sonny! :)