Dear Liam,
Today is Christmas eve! You are soooooooo excited! Daddy and I put out most of the presents last night, so when you woke up this morning and saw them under the tree, you flipped out. I can't wait to see you open your gifts tonight and tomorrow.
You actually asked to see Santa this year. Last year, you were scared of him, but this year, you've sat on his lap three times! You told him that you'll like anything he wants to bring you. You're such a sweet boy. Not many kids would say that. I think you'll be thankful for any gift that you receive. You're a very lucky little boy, and I think you understand that in a way that most four year olds don't.
You also asked to "buy" (meaning, pick out) a gift for Libby. You picked out an Elmo book that has buttons that make noise. She is going to love it. It was very sweet of you to think of your baby sister.
10 days until your birthday, which will mean even more presents! I can't wait to have that day off of work, to spend all alone with you.
Love you,
Mommy
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Christmas is coming! And your birthday too!
Dear Liam,
It's almost December! Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and before we know it, Christmas will be here, and then your fifth birthday too! How is this possible?! We drove to WI for an early Thanksgiving with my family over the weekend. You had so much fun. I love to see you play with your aunts and uncles. They all love you so much. You learned how to play Uno and Sorry this weekend, and I think you're hooked! You were a very good boy in the car on both the way there and the way home, even with the drive home taking longer than normal due to some snow. You watched movies and colored, and didn't "freak out" at all like you did on our last trip there. (You told me numerous times, "Mommy! I'm not freaking out!" It was pretty hilarious.)
I'm still not sure what you'll be getting for Christmas or your birthday. I'd like to buy you a big boy bike, but it seems mean to give you a gift that you won't be able to use for a few months, due to the winter weather. I've bought you a few things so far... but definitely need to pick up a few other things.
You're starting to read, and it's amazing! You're learning your sight words, and you're starting to understand that (most of the time) when two words look similar/end in similar letters, then they sound similar too. I love seeing your brain working. I can't wait for you to be able to read on your own. You are going to love it!
I love you so much, sweet boy.
Mommy
It's almost December! Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and before we know it, Christmas will be here, and then your fifth birthday too! How is this possible?! We drove to WI for an early Thanksgiving with my family over the weekend. You had so much fun. I love to see you play with your aunts and uncles. They all love you so much. You learned how to play Uno and Sorry this weekend, and I think you're hooked! You were a very good boy in the car on both the way there and the way home, even with the drive home taking longer than normal due to some snow. You watched movies and colored, and didn't "freak out" at all like you did on our last trip there. (You told me numerous times, "Mommy! I'm not freaking out!" It was pretty hilarious.)
I'm still not sure what you'll be getting for Christmas or your birthday. I'd like to buy you a big boy bike, but it seems mean to give you a gift that you won't be able to use for a few months, due to the winter weather. I've bought you a few things so far... but definitely need to pick up a few other things.
You're starting to read, and it's amazing! You're learning your sight words, and you're starting to understand that (most of the time) when two words look similar/end in similar letters, then they sound similar too. I love seeing your brain working. I can't wait for you to be able to read on your own. You are going to love it!
I love you so much, sweet boy.
Mommy
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
So much going on!
Dear Liam,
Last week, your class went on a field trip to a farm for a children's farm festival. I was able to leave work for a couple hours to help chaperone your class. You guys got to ride a bus, and have a sack lunch! You were so excited. We got to see animals and go on a hayride. It was so much fun, and I'm so glad that I was able to come too. You were so well-behaved, and such a good listener. I'm always so proud of you, sweet boy.
You've been playing soccer this fall. I think you only have two weeks left. You're also a really good listener at soccer. You follow the coach's directions so well. Daddy bought you a soccer goal and Liam-sized ball a few weeks ago, but you rarely want to play soccer at home. I wish you'd play more! But, it can be hard to find time to get outside. We are so busy in the evenings, and everything is such a rush. It's exhausting just getting dinner ready and Libby and you put to bed each night. I do the best I can for you, Liam. I try so hard to be a good mommy to you.
You're having problems sleeping still. Nothing seems to make you want to sleep by yourself. You just seem completely incapable of falling asleep without me in the room. I've been sitting there with you for over two years now. My whole evening is taken up by dinner, putting Libby to bed, giving you your bath, washing bottles, pumping, and putting you to bed. It's just so much to deal with. I know you'll start sleeping by yourself once your ready... and I really hope that day comes soon.
Yesterday, two boys at school were mean to you. When I got there to pick you up, you were heading behind a tree. You told me that you were going there to cry. You said that they kept running away from you when you tried to play with them, and they called you a baby for sucking your thumb. I'm so sorry, sweetheart. It breaks my heart to see you cry. I hate that other kids can be so freaking mean, even at 4 years old. I would do anything to make you happy, and to stop your tears.
Love you,
Mommy
Last week, your class went on a field trip to a farm for a children's farm festival. I was able to leave work for a couple hours to help chaperone your class. You guys got to ride a bus, and have a sack lunch! You were so excited. We got to see animals and go on a hayride. It was so much fun, and I'm so glad that I was able to come too. You were so well-behaved, and such a good listener. I'm always so proud of you, sweet boy.
You've been playing soccer this fall. I think you only have two weeks left. You're also a really good listener at soccer. You follow the coach's directions so well. Daddy bought you a soccer goal and Liam-sized ball a few weeks ago, but you rarely want to play soccer at home. I wish you'd play more! But, it can be hard to find time to get outside. We are so busy in the evenings, and everything is such a rush. It's exhausting just getting dinner ready and Libby and you put to bed each night. I do the best I can for you, Liam. I try so hard to be a good mommy to you.
You're having problems sleeping still. Nothing seems to make you want to sleep by yourself. You just seem completely incapable of falling asleep without me in the room. I've been sitting there with you for over two years now. My whole evening is taken up by dinner, putting Libby to bed, giving you your bath, washing bottles, pumping, and putting you to bed. It's just so much to deal with. I know you'll start sleeping by yourself once your ready... and I really hope that day comes soon.
Yesterday, two boys at school were mean to you. When I got there to pick you up, you were heading behind a tree. You told me that you were going there to cry. You said that they kept running away from you when you tried to play with them, and they called you a baby for sucking your thumb. I'm so sorry, sweetheart. It breaks my heart to see you cry. I hate that other kids can be so freaking mean, even at 4 years old. I would do anything to make you happy, and to stop your tears.
Love you,
Mommy
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
A few things I have a hard time believing...
Dear Liam,
Here are a few things I'm having a hard time believing...
1.) It's August. Um, what?!
2.) Today is the first day of school for K-12 here. Next year, it will be you heading off to kindergarten. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?!
3.) You have become very tall all of a sudden. You just seem to get longer and longer, and your face keeps getting narrower. You aren't a little boy anymore. You're becoming a big boy!
4.) You'll be moving to Miss Sara's class at school soon. I'm pretty sure you won't nap at all once you get to her class. This is both good and bad... good because you'll hopefully go to sleep quicker and earlier than now, but bad because you will most likely become overtired, and our after-school time together may become hectic due to how tired you'll be!
5.) For the first time, when you got very angry at me about something a few days ago, you yelled, "You're not going to be my mommy anymore!" That made me very sad, and really hurt my feelings. But, no matter what, I always will love you.
Love,
Mommy
Here are a few things I'm having a hard time believing...
1.) It's August. Um, what?!
2.) Today is the first day of school for K-12 here. Next year, it will be you heading off to kindergarten. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?!
3.) You have become very tall all of a sudden. You just seem to get longer and longer, and your face keeps getting narrower. You aren't a little boy anymore. You're becoming a big boy!
4.) You'll be moving to Miss Sara's class at school soon. I'm pretty sure you won't nap at all once you get to her class. This is both good and bad... good because you'll hopefully go to sleep quicker and earlier than now, but bad because you will most likely become overtired, and our after-school time together may become hectic due to how tired you'll be!
5.) For the first time, when you got very angry at me about something a few days ago, you yelled, "You're not going to be my mommy anymore!" That made me very sad, and really hurt my feelings. But, no matter what, I always will love you.
Love,
Mommy
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Summer!
Dear Liam,
I can't believe it's already July! This summer is flying by! It's been a pretty nice summer so far- not too hot, and we've had plenty of rain, so the grass is green and the flowers are pretty. You get a lot of time to play outside, at school and at home. You're usually FILTHY when I pick you up from school each day. Last night, after removing a band-aid from your knee, I had to laugh out loud- the clean spot where it had been was surrounded by filth. Your fingernails never are totally clean. You usually smell like a sweaty, wet dog. But, I love you anyway.
You've had some bad days lately, and some good days. Some days, you are just very... naughty. Naughty, defiant, disobedient, almost... angry. And other days, you are my sweet boy, and you tell me that I'm the best mommy in the world. You seem to know when I need to hear that, and I love you for that.
Come this time next summer, we'll be thinking about getting ready for kindergarten. This seriously blows my mind. I simply CANNOT think about that yet. I just can't. You are your own little person now, which still surprises me every single day. The thought of you being in kindergarten is just too much. It is overwhelming, and amazing at the same time. You're so smart. I know you will do well in school. I'm not concerned about that. It's just that it's another step in you getting bigger and bigger. Last week, you said something about how you'd have a family one day. I said that yes, maybe you would. You then said that you'd still always want to live with me. I hope you continue to feel that way for awhile.
I love you.
Mommy
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Time is flying!
Dear Liam,
How in the world is it almost June?! Time is flying, and I can't seem to get it to stop! Tomorrow, we're leaving to drive to Auntie Cari and Uncle Ty's house. This will be our first trip as a family of 4! Also, it will be our first trip in our new car, which you LOVE. (You keep asking to bring toys out to it, so you can play in the back.) It will be a long drive... hopefully Libby will sleep for much of it! Uncle Brian and Auntie Julia are coming too, and we're all going to the Twins and Brewers game on Memorial Day. Should be a lot of fun!
You recently finished swimming lessons. On the last day, you put your head under twice! I was so proud of you. You're going to start another session of lessons in a couple weeks. I think it will really help you to continue with them right away, so that you will feel more comfortable at the pool this summer.
Now that the weather is warmer, you want to play baseball pretty much all the time. The second Daddy gets home each night, you practically tackle him at the door, to get him to play with you. You're really a pretty amazing hitter. I'm so proud of you.
I'm also proud of what a good big brother you are. You're usually very gentle with Libby, and you love to make her laugh. She squeals and laughs when you are near here. She really loves you, Liam. Sometimes, you'll tattle on her, saying that she took your lovie, or scratched your finger or something... because you gave her your lovie and then she won't let go of it, or you put your hand in her hand and then she scratched it. Too funny.
I love you, my sweet boy.
Love,
Mommy
How in the world is it almost June?! Time is flying, and I can't seem to get it to stop! Tomorrow, we're leaving to drive to Auntie Cari and Uncle Ty's house. This will be our first trip as a family of 4! Also, it will be our first trip in our new car, which you LOVE. (You keep asking to bring toys out to it, so you can play in the back.) It will be a long drive... hopefully Libby will sleep for much of it! Uncle Brian and Auntie Julia are coming too, and we're all going to the Twins and Brewers game on Memorial Day. Should be a lot of fun!
You recently finished swimming lessons. On the last day, you put your head under twice! I was so proud of you. You're going to start another session of lessons in a couple weeks. I think it will really help you to continue with them right away, so that you will feel more comfortable at the pool this summer.
Now that the weather is warmer, you want to play baseball pretty much all the time. The second Daddy gets home each night, you practically tackle him at the door, to get him to play with you. You're really a pretty amazing hitter. I'm so proud of you.
I'm also proud of what a good big brother you are. You're usually very gentle with Libby, and you love to make her laugh. She squeals and laughs when you are near here. She really loves you, Liam. Sometimes, you'll tattle on her, saying that she took your lovie, or scratched your finger or something... because you gave her your lovie and then she won't let go of it, or you put your hand in her hand and then she scratched it. Too funny.
I love you, my sweet boy.
Love,
Mommy
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
It's been a long time!
Dear Liam,
It's been a long time since I've written you a letter! Your baby sister, Libby Rose, was born on December 13, 2012. Things have actually gone pretty well since she came home. She's a very easy-going baby, and a good sleeper. I don't think she's ever woken you up during the night, from crying, since she doesn't cry very much. The day after I came home from the hospital, you did say one mean thing to me. You said that you didn't want me to live in the house anymore. It was me you wanted out, not Libby. I admit that I cried. But, that was your only really mean moment. You've seemed to regressed in your sleep habits. Prior to Libby's arrival, you had been going to sleep without me sitting in your room, for a few months. As soon as I came home from the arrival, you went back to needing me to sit in your room until you all asleep. But, I'm just glad you haven't regressed in potty-training or anything else.
We've had some Mommy and LiLi dates, so that we have special time together. I enjoy those dates so much, and I think you do too. We've gone out to eat, or to Starbucks, or even just to the bookmobile. Now that Libby is finally starting to take a bottle (since she started daycare this week), we will hopefully be able to have more Mommy and LiLi dates.
My maternity leave was tough for you. If you were younger, you wouldn't have really realized that I was staying at home each day with the baby, but you definitely knew. Early during my leave, and even into February, you begged almost every day to stay home with Libby and I. I did give in and let you stay home quite often, oftentimes because if I hadn't given in, Daddy would have ended up late for work, due to your refusal to leave the house. The 3 week period from Libby's birthday to yours, with Christmas in the middle, was a crazy blur. You were home most of that time, which then set you up to expect to stay home after that. (And you'd stayed home with Grandma for over a week prior to her birth.) Printing out a calendar, with school and home days marked on it, really helped. And later in my leave, I kept you home on a bunch of Fridays, and used some of your vacation days at daycare.
I had to come back to work this week. When I took you and Libby to daycare on Monday, you said to the teachers, "My mommy is really sad today. She doesn't want Libby coming to this place." That really made me laugh. You get it, little man. You were exactly spot on. I've cried a lot this week, and you've been very sweet. On the way to school this morning, you said, "I hope Libby doesn't fall asleep on the way to school today like she did yesterday, because I want to be able to play with her when we get to school." Awwwww. That made my heart very happy.
Coming back to work has been really hard this time. It was hard to come back to work after I had you, but I think it's doubly hard this time, knowing that both you AND Libby are in daycare. I know that they take good care of you guys, but it still really hurts me to not be able to be with you two all the time. I think and think about ways I could possibly stay home, but there's just no way we could make it. You cried on Sunday night (before I started work again on Monday morning), and said that you wanted me to stay home with you and Libby forever. Believe me, sweet boy, I want nothing more. I had to explain that I need to work, so that we have money for our house, and food, and other things we need. You said, "yeah, like toys." Well, that wasn't exactly what I was talking about... :)
I love you,
Mommy
It's been a long time since I've written you a letter! Your baby sister, Libby Rose, was born on December 13, 2012. Things have actually gone pretty well since she came home. She's a very easy-going baby, and a good sleeper. I don't think she's ever woken you up during the night, from crying, since she doesn't cry very much. The day after I came home from the hospital, you did say one mean thing to me. You said that you didn't want me to live in the house anymore. It was me you wanted out, not Libby. I admit that I cried. But, that was your only really mean moment. You've seemed to regressed in your sleep habits. Prior to Libby's arrival, you had been going to sleep without me sitting in your room, for a few months. As soon as I came home from the arrival, you went back to needing me to sit in your room until you all asleep. But, I'm just glad you haven't regressed in potty-training or anything else.
We've had some Mommy and LiLi dates, so that we have special time together. I enjoy those dates so much, and I think you do too. We've gone out to eat, or to Starbucks, or even just to the bookmobile. Now that Libby is finally starting to take a bottle (since she started daycare this week), we will hopefully be able to have more Mommy and LiLi dates.
My maternity leave was tough for you. If you were younger, you wouldn't have really realized that I was staying at home each day with the baby, but you definitely knew. Early during my leave, and even into February, you begged almost every day to stay home with Libby and I. I did give in and let you stay home quite often, oftentimes because if I hadn't given in, Daddy would have ended up late for work, due to your refusal to leave the house. The 3 week period from Libby's birthday to yours, with Christmas in the middle, was a crazy blur. You were home most of that time, which then set you up to expect to stay home after that. (And you'd stayed home with Grandma for over a week prior to her birth.) Printing out a calendar, with school and home days marked on it, really helped. And later in my leave, I kept you home on a bunch of Fridays, and used some of your vacation days at daycare.
I had to come back to work this week. When I took you and Libby to daycare on Monday, you said to the teachers, "My mommy is really sad today. She doesn't want Libby coming to this place." That really made me laugh. You get it, little man. You were exactly spot on. I've cried a lot this week, and you've been very sweet. On the way to school this morning, you said, "I hope Libby doesn't fall asleep on the way to school today like she did yesterday, because I want to be able to play with her when we get to school." Awwwww. That made my heart very happy.
Coming back to work has been really hard this time. It was hard to come back to work after I had you, but I think it's doubly hard this time, knowing that both you AND Libby are in daycare. I know that they take good care of you guys, but it still really hurts me to not be able to be with you two all the time. I think and think about ways I could possibly stay home, but there's just no way we could make it. You cried on Sunday night (before I started work again on Monday morning), and said that you wanted me to stay home with you and Libby forever. Believe me, sweet boy, I want nothing more. I had to explain that I need to work, so that we have money for our house, and food, and other things we need. You said, "yeah, like toys." Well, that wasn't exactly what I was talking about... :)
I love you,
Mommy
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