Happy Birthday!

Hey little buddy!! You turn 3 this week...so exciting!! We are going to celebrate tomorrow as if it were your birthday--but really it's Tuesday.  I am excited for you to have a birthday. You watched Katelyn have a birthday last month and really got it, so tomorrow should be really fun for you.

We went camping this weekend. I noticed how brave you are getting. You are also getting really good at playing with others.  Sometimes Auklin makes you sad, but you are even getting better about not whining. I really appreciate that--the whiny voice just about puts me over the edge! But you are getting so good at using a big voice. Yeah!

We also went to go visit an Indian and get Indian names.  You were named 'Little Bear.' I think this fits really well, although whenever I call you that you say, 'I'm not little!'  I'm so glad you are getting bigger and bigger each day!

I am so glad you came to our family three years ago. You were my biggest baby--thus far--and I felt every pound.  I really couldn't breath well there at the end, but once you came you made it all worth it.  Love you buddy!

A little update

It's been a while since I've written on your page, Josh.  Sure do love you, Man!!  We are planning your 3rd birthday this week--you want a Lightening McQueen cake!  And you also want a live pet Eagle for your birthday...the cake I can do, but no such luck on the live pet Eagle. You're going to have to settle for something else instead! ;)  We found a Leapster Explorer for you for your birthday--your very own, and you are going to LOVE IT!! I am excited to give it to you.

Can't believe you are already 3--and at the same time, can't believe you are only 3. You are really tall for your age, and you talk well.  You play well with others and you have started to stop whining all the time (YEAH!).  All these things make you seem like you are older than 3.  You love nursery and you have started to play with your friends--you love Carson, our cousin, and have fun with Jessica down the street.

This past year you have learned a lot of things. You love balls and trains and cars, and I love how well you play with Katelyn.  You are a wuss, though, which isn't really I big deal I guess. It makes you a sweet, tender-hearted little man...although Luke beats up on you and it's pretty funny!! One day you are going to have to learn to fight back! :)  You have gotten more brave this year though...you go down slides, you jump off tall things, you try things again even after you fail.  You are cautious and observant and have an attention to detail. Just this week at the fair you spent hours at the mechanics play booth building things and playing with robots. You are going to be the smart one of the family!

Sure love you, Joshy bear!! Happy birthday next week! I am glad you are a part of our family!

Love, Mom

Newsies--

Dear Josh,

We listen to a lot of showtunes at our house.  I love that you love them!! You especially love Newsies--Seize the Day is your favorite.  I don't hear you sing a lot of the words out loud, but you know them all and can tell me exactly what song is called what as I shuffle through the CD looking for 'the cool ones.'  It's just fine with me that you are my little showtunes man. I love it!

Love, Mom

Chucking Frogs

Dear Josh:
Today was Stake Conference.  We showed up early, but not early enough, as the only comfy seats were the ones on the very front row.  'It will be okay,' we thought.  Not.  Dad made it about 4 minutes before her took Luke out in the hall and I was left alone with you and Katelyn. Not big deal, right?  Wrong, again.  We made it pretty good for the first 45 minutes or so, and then things went nuts.  The curtains drew your attention, Katelyn was twirling around to the musical numbers, the fruit snacks were all eaten and the apple jacks were gone.  You were all done coloring and I was out of stickers. Then it happened...you grabbed Luke's play frog and did a half turn saying, "It's over there!", and let that frog go. It flew through the air, about 3 rows back and nailed an older gentlemen right in the forehead. Oh boy.  Embarrassed Mama!!

Sure love you and your antics, but I wish you would stop throwing things inside!

Love, Mom

Poop

Dear Josh,

Did you know that you poop...all. the. time.  My heavens. Last night, we put you to bed.  Within an hour, you came out TWICE with a poopy bum.  On average, I change 4 poopy diapers a day--although, I have had days that it was more like 7.  Rarely, do I only change 1.  When you add Luke to the mix, we have a lot of poop at our house. Dr. Evans diagnosed you with something called Toddler Diarrhea.  I worry about potty training you. I worry that you won't actually grow out of this. I worry that I'm going to go broke buying diapers and wipes.  I worry that I will always be smelling poopy bums.  I worry that I'm going to nuts changing a messy diaper so often!

Love, Mom

You are a sweetheart.

You are my little sweetheart.  As often as we call you 'destructo', you prove me wrong by being so sweet. Last night we had Grandma and Grandpa Blomquist over for dinner. Without any prodding, you freely pointed around the table at everybody, one by one, and said "I love you, and I love you, and I love you..."   You can often be heard to say 'You're my best friend', and Katelyn is your 'best sister' and Luke your 'best  brother' and I'm your 'best mommy' and Dad is your 'best Daddy.'  It's so sweet.  Today, after we spent the day with Grandma Williams, you looked up at her and said, "Well, that was a pretty good day."
So, my sweet boy, even though you throw everything you touch, even though you can't stay out of water, even though you destroy everything in your path, you are still my little sweetheart and I think you have a heart of gold.  I sure do love you buddy! You're my best Joshy!

Love, Mom

Love Letters

In preparation for Valentines Day, I was talking to a friend. She writes her children a 'love letter' every Valentines Day and will eventually put them all together in a book to give to her children. I love this idea!
Later, I was talking to another friend and she shared an experience with me which sealed my resolve to write to my children.  As a teenager, she was rebellious and difficult. During a particularly trying time in her life, she found a journal her mom had kept for her.  In this journal, there were notes of love and appreciation and affirmation to her, from her mom.  That day, finding that journal, reading those letters, changed her life.
So, here is my attempt to record, catalog, write, and love my children.
I love you Joshy!
Love, Mom