51 Months - September 2011

Oh kid, I feel like I am trying to work so much to get ready for the winter that I don't really have much time to write your letter this month, but I'm going to try to remember some things that have gone on.

You started preschool at the high school this month. It's so funny because you are pretty much convinced that you are a high schooler since your preschool is there. You tell everyone you are in high school. I'm sure it will feel like you will be there in a snap for me, but it will take a little bit longer for you to get there than I'm sure you'll like.

I LOVE this picture that we got on the first day. I do not pretend to be a photographer so of course something is wrong with it (I cut off your head a bit), but I LOVE the look on your face. I was singing silly songs and putting the wrong lyrics in to get you to smile and it worked. I also didn't make the words underneath the First Day of Preschool big enough to read but they say Ms. April's Class, Kanab High School, September 6, 2011. You had so much fun the first day, and I did good and didn't cry! You were a little nervous to go back the second day...until I picked you up that is. You jumped in the car and said "Mom I didn't even MISS you!" I was a little offended and said something about how it is okay to miss me a little bit but you didn't need to be sad but you quickly replied, "I know, but mom I didn't even miss you at ALL!" Well okay buddy, that's all right I guess. I did melt a little bit later in the week when you jumped out of the car and asked me to roll down my window. When I did you blew me a kiss and yelled "Love you Mom!" I know those days of public affection for your momma are soon going to be over so I may have gotten a little teary eyed!


Not your most flattering picture, but I snapped a quick one of you in class on the first day.

The other day when we were getting ready for school I thought I smelled something that reminded me of your dad. I couldn't quite place what it was or what it could be since he had left for work hours earlier, so I didn't think much of it. After we got in the car you told me that your elbows smelled nice. I thought that was weird but, again, not too unusual. Then you said, "Mom do you want to know why my elbows smell good?" I told you I didn't, and you proceeded to tell me that you put dad's deodorant on the inside of your elbows so they wouldn't stink. I laughed and laughed and laughed. I'm sure all the girls at preschool were wondering who the nice-smelling stud in class was that day.

We've finally broken you of watching a movie to get to sleep, and once again it was the simplest thing to do when we finally decided to do it. I swear you have spoiled me by being the easiest-going kid on this earth. We do read a book or two before we let you read or color until you fall asleep. One night as I was coming back by to turn off your light when I figured you had fallen asleep and I saw this...

and of course ran to grab my camera. You can't have too many pictures of you asleep holding a book. But as I was standing there with my camera I went to zoom in but before I could this happened...
It still makes me laugh. I was so glad I was able to witness that happen. It would have been funny to open your door and see you like that but to watch the book fall was hilarious.

Just now your dad finished tucking you in for the night and he told you that he'd love you forever, and you replied, "Yep, cause we're all sealed together." What a kid you are. You say so many smart, funny, and sometimes even mean things that surprise me every day. Tonight in the tub you and Tessa were playing nice together, which was a change from the usual screaming as soon as I leave you alone for 2 minutes. When I asked what why you were playing so nicely you told me you were pretending to be best friends. Whatever works I guess!

You are such a good kid. I'm worried now that I got my easy boy and your brother is going to be a hellion! Please be a good example to him and to Tess. I honestly, truly could not ask for a better first child than you have been and continue to be - even if you do drive me and your sister crazy sometimes.

Love you bud,

Mom

27 Months - September 2011

Well Miss Tess, August was definitely a lot less busy than July. It must have been because I looked in my August folder for pictures and only found a few from our camping trip out on the Kaibab in our new trailer. We went out on the Dutton for Uncle Dusty's bowhunt too, but it just wouldn't be me unless I forgot the camera on at least one fun occasion during the month. I guess that works out okay though because I was wondering how I was going to pick just one picture from that trip since I took quite a few cute ones of you.

Watching Logan play in the fire and looking quite relaxed...

Cheesing it for mom with your dirty face. That half-burned log in the background was your favorite place to play and you were covered in black constantly.

Walking away pouting. You did this at one point when Grandma and Grandpa Hillier were out at camp with us and got quite a ways away before someone told you to stop because there were snakes in the forest. You stopped in your tracks, snapped your head up, and turned right around and came back to camp. I don't think I have laughed that hard in a long time.

Looking pretty excited about the piece of cheese you got for a snack...

You definitely had a good time camping, and it was nice to have a trailer again to make it more enjoyable. We took you camping when we had our old trailer when you were about 3 months old, and I have to say this was much better. You did end up falling off the bottom bunk bed somehow in the middle of the night even though Logan was on the bed with you. We assumed he would be enough to keep you from rolling off the end, but the loud thunk early in the morning proved us wrong.

You've had a lot of fun at the pool this last month too. I finally convinced Logan to give up his round tube for floaties, and you decided you wanted to wear some too. It didn't take you long to master staying upright instead of tipping backwards or face first in the water, and now you and Logan could go around and around the lazy river all day long. I go around with you still, but I am NOT allowed to touch you or try to help you. In fact if I get closer than 3 feet away you let me know that isn't cool too. I'm pretty sure if I would let you go down the big orange slide you would probably spend all day going down that by yourself too.

You've definitely got a bit of a diva attitude Ms. Tess, and I had to laugh when I was looking through pictures on my iPod today and found these that Logan had taken without me knowing while your dad and I were at the bank. There are about 20 pictures of you on there, but this is by far the best one...

That's one sassy face Miss! I think you will do just fine sandwiched between 2 brothers, and I got some good advice the other day from a friend of mine who grew up in the same situation. She told me to make sure you had a Cabbage Patch doll because they have a hard head - good for keeping those brothers in line! I still need to work on making sure I don't blame your brother for things that he didn't do though, because you are awfully good at knowing you can place the blame on him more often than not. Just yesterday I was cooking dinner and Logan was sitting at the table doing something while you ran around in the kitchen and out of sight into the laundry area. I heard a thunk that meant you had slipped and fell, and you came crying into the kitchen with the saddest look and fakest cry you could muster and said, "Mom! Logan pushed me!" Logan looked at me like, "You know I was sitting right here, right?" I had to laugh and told you that Logan couldn't have pushed you since he was about 30 feet away when it happened, but you were telling me an awfully convincing tale anyway. Be good to your brothers, especially your older brother. He loves you more than he lets on.

I have to admit that the drama queen that sometimes comes out in you made me a little relieved to find out your new sibling is a brother. I don't think you would handle having a sister very well, although by the time you read this you may be cursing me for not giving you a sister. Your dad and I thought about this when we talked about having 3 kids - how either you or Logan would grow up without a brother or a sister - but I'm pretty sure that the 3-kid thing is a permanent decision, and you're the one who ends up left out. I think about how well your Aunt Lisa and I got along, and still do, and am a little sad for you, but I also think of the girl friends I had in high school and college who became "sisters" for me too. I think the friend thing is probably the scariest thing for every parent and definitely scares me the most about you guys growing up. I had awesome friends and know that they shaped the person I am (and I'm awesome, right?). I didn't have a million friends, but I had a few real GOOD ones. Ones who didn't care what I wore or who I dated or what I believed in. Find good friends Tess. Girls are mean! Find friends who won't stab you in the back over a boy or talk about you behind your back or use you for some great talent you have. Find friends who want to be your friend because of YOU, not because you have a cute brother or an awesome mom or the highest grades.

Find yourself some sisters, Tess, and try to look on the bright side of the younger brother thing. Chances are all his friends are going to think you are gorgeous instead of having a little sister chasing after all of your boy friends!

And if you get desperate know you can always talk to your nerdy old mom :)

Love you sis,

Mom