Letter to Cub: THREE!

Dear Cubby,

It's your birthday! How did three years go by so fast? I know I haven't blogged much for you lately, but you should know that you are an AMAZING kid. You've managed to get the best qualities from me and your Daddy. You're our social bee, a big helper and a love bug! You have now made allowances for Daddy to sleep in 'Mamma's bed' and even ask him to "lay down!" when you want some snuggle time.

You DEFINITELY know what you want and when you want it and it's been quite a struggle for you to learn that you can't always have what you want. You're having a great time learning how to put things together and do things yourself. Your most commonly heard phrases are "No, Mom! Not YOU!" or "No, Dad! Not YOU!"

We changed daycare/schools in August and you have been thriving. Mommy was very worried you'd get lost in the shuffle with 24 kids, but you have adapted well and started staying dry and even peeing in the potty at school!! Once Mommy realized that, we buckled down and focused Labor Day weekend and had you learning all about the potty situation. You did AWESOME and are now potty-trained!

We still have our 'goke' time at night or in the morning although it seems like you are sometimes not asking for it (which is good for you!) and trying hard to be a big boy.

Never did I ever think I'd be at this point with such a special treasure as you in my life. You make me and your Daddy proud and we are happy we've been blessed with you.

♥,

Mommy

Letter to Cub 2...

Wow! Another year! Another year has flown by and I'm in awe how fast that went! I still remember the day you were born like it was yesterday! You have learned so much in this past year and are talking up a storm! You are still giving us hugs and kisses but you're telling us "no" more often. Sometimes it's a game and sometimes it's a genuine protest for not wanting to brush your teeth, take a bath, or have your diaper changed.

You give both me and your Pappa grief over EVERYTHING (terrible two's perhaps?) but you still manage to get in some snuggle time and hugs and kisses to both of us every day.

You've flown to Omaha this year to meet your long distance pal, C. 

We've had changes this year. Teresa & T3 had been a major part of your life until they moved in May. It was heartbreaking for me, as T3 was your "brother" and you absolutely LOVED Teresa.

You went to your first LIVE show - Sesame Street Live! You seemed to have enjoyed it although you didn't openly clap or get excited.

You had an AWESOME summer of swimming. You purposely put your face under the water, holding your breath and pick your head up on your own. You've jumped in unassisted into the pool for me or Pappa to catch you. You were thrilled to do it and not scared at all.

You've been to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom more times this year than I have ever been in my life so far thanks to the season passes we bought. 

You had your first sleepover/overnight away from Mamma & Pappa. I missed you so much the whole time you were away.

You went to your first concert - Rascal Flatts with Sara Evans at Sleep Train Amphitheatre. You had a GREAT time and even wound up with an inflatable guitar to go home with. Not a tear/complaint about the loud music or the late night. When you fell asleep in my arms at 9:30 p.m., I could've just melted. ♥

Your personality is really showing and you're just a silly Cub! You love things that make noise, have wheels, and you love to "color". You make tiny circles on the paper with a pen or pencil. Every day, you're growing more into a little boy and wanting to do more "big boy" things. Some days I just want to hold/squeeze you tight because I know these times only last a short while.

Every day I love you more and more and am so proud of the little boy you're becoming. I hope you know that I will always love you. ♥

Big Boy!

A signature sleep pose ...

... along with this one on occasion.

The beginning of the "faces"...

...still going!

 

A new family...

 

...a year later!

 

Boy, how time has flown and changed!
What a big boy the Cub is! He's now one!

Letter to Cub...

Dear Cub,

As I sit here and type this letter to you, I am getting all choked up and tears are welling up in my eyes. It is so hard for me to believe that a year ago tomorrow at 7:15pm, you entered the world and forever changed our lives. So many emotions happen when a baby arrives, but especially one as special as you. I have always been a planner and had planned everything out for your arrival. Little did I know that you were going to wreak havoc on my plans and forever change my life.

You were due to arrive on November 3rd and your Auntie Lena was keeping her fingers crossed that you were going to arrive on her birthday. I was PLANNING on working until October 24th and then have a week or so before you arrived... But nope. You were already in the womb, working your way out and throwing a monkey wrench in my plans. Two weeks early, you arrived. Six pounds, 13 ounces and 19 1/4 inches long. Here you were:

Nothing can ever explain the emotions and feelings of your arrival and all that followed. Most of it was a blur and as I try to look back and remember it's just so hard. We have a kajillion pictures of you from when you arrived all the way up to this point. Trying to remember holding you as a little Cub and how sweet you were, so new to the world. I am in awe of how much you've grown, how much you've learned and how much life has changed for the better with you in it.

It's no secret that I've struggled to adjust with the changes that came with you in our life but with each passing day, I am more grateful that you're here. My heart seems to overflow and burst with love for you so much. No matter how tough a day I'm having, I can't wait to get home and squeeze you and feel like the world has been righted for me because you're there.

At ONE YEAR, you've done so much. You're walking and starting to talk (Mamma, Mum, DaDa, Duh (dog), Hi, Hey). You make Mamma's scrunchie face. You clap, laugh, giggle, love to be thrown up in the air. With only 4 teeth, you munch on food like there's no tomorrow, especially anything that Grandma makes for you. :)


You love the water and you're learning to swim.

You're learning new things at the Little Gym every week We'll get you flexible like a bendy straw soon enough! You're already into cars and make the 'car noise' whenever you're pushing something.

You help me out by pushing the laundry basket and closing the dryer door. You help Daddy do the dishes (more like unload the dishes). You dance to music and shake the maracas or anything else that makes noise. You've learned to blow a whistle, hum the kazoo and bang on the drums (tell me you aren't a musician in the making!).

You've gone on your first plane ride, vacationed in Sedona, Arizona, saw the Grand Canyon and went on an off-road Hummer Tour.

 You've gone to your first Rivercats baseball game, your first Kings basketball game.

You have many friends and girlfriends (better watch out for those Daddies) and you are LOVED. There really are no words to describe the well of emotions that you bring to me, but you should always know that you are our precious Cub and you mean the world to us.

Happy Birthday my Son. I love you.