Toddler Slumber Party

Last night was the first night since Cy was a little bitty one that we put them both in the same room. They talked and played until around 8:30-9pm (went down at 7:30pm) until they finally fell asleep. It was hard to scold them for not sleeping because it was so darned cute that they were enjoying one another so much. It's rare they have that much fun together, so I don't want to discourage them when they're doing so well together. But, they're paying for it sorely this morning - or rather, I'm paying for it. I've been teaching Charlotte to quietly wake me up if she has to go potty in the middle of the night or early in the morning so she learns not to go in her diaper at night, so we can train her off the night time diapers. She's been doing pretty good and she'll come in early, around 6ish and say she has to go potty. Sometimes she's wet from earlier in the night but most often she's still dry. So, I take her, and if it's already about time to get up anyway, I let her come into bed and snuggle a bit. Well, this morning she came in on her own accord at around 5:20am and just wanted to snuggle. I told her that it didn't work that way, that she was only to come out of bed if she had to potty and then she was to go right back to bed. She ended up going back to bed without a fuss (a promise of marshmallows after breakfast make for great bribes). Since Cy is sleeping in the crib right at the head of her bed and I didn't want him waking up too. Well, about two minutes later she pads back into our room saying she needs to go potty. I take her, she goes, we go back to her room. Cy's still sleeping - success. Two minutes later, pads back into her room. She needs her hat. (She always sleeps with her blue baseball hat). She can't find her hat. I go back in, help her find her hat, tell her to go back to sleep. I go back to bed and very soon after I hear them both up talking and playing. It's 5:45am. Needless to say, Cy is already down for an early morning nap and she's in her room throwing a fit because she's "not tired". Oh yes, yes she is. What a morning. I know in time the novelty will wear off and they'll get used to sleeping together without keeping one another up to all hours, but for now, what a morning.

Cy Turns One

Dear Cy,
I'm a couple weeks late in writing your letter because I kept waiting for a time when I wouldn't be so tired and I could focus a little better on the task at hand. Then I figured that if I wait for such an occasion, you'll probably be in college by the time it gets written. So, I settled for you and your sister both being asleep for nap time and the best case scenario of six hours of uninterrupted sleep last night. We'll take what we can get on this end.

I'm sitting here staring at the screen trying to think of how I can possibly sum up this past year in one letter. There's just so much to who you are. How can I contain it? To be honest, I say the same about you at times. You are a mischievous one for certain. Just thinking about that little glimmer in your eye makes me smile. Because it's part total recklessness and part heart-melting warmth. Sometimes when I rock you before nap time and bed time, and hold you on your side so we're looking at one another, I am just spellbound at what a marvelous miracle you are. Every time I just want to bottle that moment and hold it in my pocket to revist whenever I need a little glint of sunshine in my day. You are our little sweetness. Even when you're sick, nobody would even know if they didn't take your temperature. You may be a little fussy, but even your little fussy is vastly less than most babies on a good day.

Although I'm not so sure your sister would brag quite as much about your good nature. Your good nature has the strong desire to constantly invade Charlotte's space. On any given day, if anyone were to wait even five minutes, they'd invariably find you chasing after Charlotte with a big smile on your face and her running from you with a look of terror, shouting, "Cy NO!!". You LOVE your sister and want to be in everything on everything and touching everything she's presentl playing with. Or, alteratively, on HER. Currently, you two are separated in weight by about a half a pound, give or take, in your favor. So, when you try to pull up on her to practice your new walking skills, you consequently pull her down. Unfortunatey, I can't seem to convince her of the charming nature of this attribute. Maybe it's because more than half the time, you try to catch your balance by holding onto her hair and she ends up on the floor and you end up with a fist full of it in your hand, ready to charge her again. I'm reaching here, but maybe that's it.

You two do have good times together though and moments of great sweetness. The other day in the grocery store, you two were sitting together in the basket. You were wanting to show love to your sister by going for the ever-popular hair grab and she was about to lose her patience. She yelled and I repremanded you. After a brief moment of frustration, you seemed to collect yourself and then very lovingly rested your head on her shoulder. Charlotte reached over and patted your cheek sweetly and said, "it's okay Cy." Moments like those make me smile. There are also the times when I'm in the kitchen cooking and I hear it quiet in the house. Hmmmm. Ok, the knives are all here. The bleach is in the cabinet. The flour is in its bin.The bathroom door is closed. I realize all the major players are stored away, so I take the chance and let the quiet continue. A couple minutes later, I peek around the corner into your and Charlotte's room and see you two playing together. Your play consists of unloading every last piece of clothing from your clothing bins and relocating them to the dirty clothes hamper, the shoe in, Carlotte's bed, or under the crib. But at this moment I really don't care that I will invariably have to fold, stack, and replace these items for the tenth time today, because....you two are playing...together...quietly. This is a mother's happy place. Cy, daily, you are a very wonderful part of my happy place.

The birthday cake experience

 I know you hear the word "no" more than probably any other word that is uttered from my mouth on a daily basis, but I need you to know it is for your best. I know you really think the trash can is a great pace for the remote controls and that the potty is like your personal little water park and you can't understand why I would possibly take you away from your own private heaven. But, believe me, it's for your best. I know you think it's the funnest thing on earth to watch your sister slowly go bald one fistful of hair at a time and that rice crispies on the carpet really do add some much needed texture to the design scheme of our apartment, but it's best to leave Charlotte's hair alone and the rice crispies on the table. Believe me, it's for your best. I know you think I'm keeping you from the best fun possible when I take you down from the bookcase or out of the bathtub or out from under the bed or out of the ashes in the fireplace or put you down for bed. But, it's for your best. It's for your best that I tell you "no" and I know you don't understand it now. Hopefully one day you'll have a little boy of your own and you'll understand in a way I couldn't possibly explain to you now. If  were to give it my best shot, I'd tell you I say no to you becasue God says no to me, and it's the best thing he could ever do for me. God's "no" has kept me from more dangerous situations and bad decisions in my life than I could count. As you grow, Cy, if you're able to slowly trust our "no", you will be able to trust God's "no" so much more easily. And that would be the best gift I could ever give you.

Post-birthday cake experience.

You're walking now and showing off your skills more and more every day. The best part of it is seeing this excited look of pride on your face as you put one foot in front of the other and charge toward my open arms. You are still a bit tentative with it all though. At home, where you're at ease, you will walk everywhere, but when we go someplace new, it takes a while for you to gain the confidence to use your new skill. We went to your Aunt Kati's last weekend and for the two days we were there, you got upset even when I tried to put you up on your feet. Then, as soon as we got home, I set you down and you walked straight down the hallway into your bedroom. You little rascal!

I often hold you close and nuzzle your neck and whisper to you softly, "Don't ever grow up, okay? Don't ever grow up." You are just the sweetest little boy and no matter how big you get, I know there will be this part of me that will always see you as my little baby boy. You get into everything and you terrorize your sister for the larger part of the day and you are like a magnet to all that is dangerous and electrical, but I still adore you more than you'll ever know. You will always be my little man, my first little boy. I love you so very much and I know it may embarrass you as you get older, but I don't think I'll ever be able to stop holding you close.

Love,
Your Mommy

Dear Charlotte - Thirty months

Dear Charlotte,                                                                                        
(written 5/3/2012)

In a couple days you will be two and a half. When I look at you I see this little girl now. You're so grown up already. You dress yourself, go potty on your own, feed yourself, play with your friends, climb into your car seat by yourself and now want to buckle yourself in. And yet, you're still my baby girl, and still very much a baby. I have to fight the urge to treat you older than you are, because so often you act so much older. From very early on, if we just told you what to do, you'd have such a tough time accepting it; but if we explained it to you, you understood and obeyed willingly. I have to remember though that you're still very young and I pray often I don't burden you with responsibilities and knowledge that surpasses your age of understanding.
 

Sometimes I feel an ache so deep in my heart that I feel it will burst wide open with all the love I have for you, Charlotte. I so badly want the very best for you in all things. More than anything, I long for you to know our Lord and Savior and to know the deep and lasting peace of welcoming him into your heart. I pray that on your behalf every day. I see your sweet and sensitive nature and your desire to please us, and I pray that when the time comes, you ask him into your heart because it fills a longing like nothing else on this earth ever could, but not because you think it will please us. Oh yes, we will be pleased beyond recognition, more than you could ever know, but we want your faith to be yours, for you to own it and keep it deep deep inside where nothing could possibly penetrate it. We pray your faith will be so big that it will put ours to shame and you will share it proudly and openly with all who care to listen. I pray one day you will know the great joy of sharing that wonderful truth with your own children.

It was last week that I experienced one of the most memorable parenting moments. You and I have a game we play. When you're in the middle of something - whether it's playing with your toys in the bath, reading your books, or helping me in the kitchen - I'll call our your name and distract you from what you're doing so that you look up at me. When your eyes catch mine, I'll tell you, "I love you." It was a few months ago when I was playing this game with you when you were taking a bath. I called your name a few times and then when you finally looked up at me, you were the one to answer, "I love you." It was so very sweet, but part of me knew you only knew it as a game. Sure, I believe you understood there was an affection in it, but it was still just a game. Well, last week, when I was tucking you into bed, after the songs and the talks about the day and the cuddles, I looked at you in your eyes and told you, "I love you". You smiled sweetly, kept my gaze, and responded, "I love you too." I get tears in my eyes recounting the story, just as I did the moment it happened. You saw how happy I was, which made you smile every bigger. That day was one of my very best days.

One of the sweetest characteristics of yours is your sensitivity toward others. You can tell whenever I'm even the slightest bit upset. You'll come up to me, gently pat my arm and ask me, "You okay Mommy?" You ask the same thing to anyone you see get hurt, and even to Cy when he cries after being disciplined. To which I promptly reply, "Yes, Charlotte, he is FINE." I pray the Lord will use your sweet and sensitive nature to bless others in ways you never thought possible.

You are very active and would be outside at the park all day every day if we were able. You run and jump more than any other two year old I know. You slide down the slide, get to the end, stand up and jump off with all your might. You don't mind tumbling on the ground when you fall, but just get right up and brush off the dirt. I've had to learn to let you do your thing and climb and jump and take chances on your own. For your age, you've surprised me with your good judgment regarding these things and if you really aren't able to accomplish a task, you will ask for help and make good decisions. I do happen to never be more than a second away during these times though; but you'll never know it.

You also make friends very easily when we're at the park and we're usually not there more than five minutes before you've found a playmate to run around with. You love trains and bicycles and balls and get so excited when you have the chance to play with any of them. I guess that's the reason why you often play more often with other little boys your age than girls. I think we only have one baby doll in your toy box and I'm not sure you've played with it once. You LOVE Thomas the Tank Engine and know all the Thomas characters. A friend of ours babysat you the other day and when I came back to pick you up, she said we should really think about getting you some girlie undies. I told her that I've tried and we actually have a whole drawer full of Hello Kitty underwear, but you'll only wear the Thomas the Train undies. The only time you'll wear the girlie ones are when the Thomas undies are all dirty or if you've had an accident (very rare these days) and you're not allowed to wear Thomas until you're dry for a few days in a row. It is only then that you reluctantly wear the "other" undies. These are the little things I just love about you.

We have a fun game we play these days called "tickle time". When the time comes for your afternoon nap, I'll tell you that it's nap time and we need to get ready for sleep. That's when you tell me that it's not nap time, but rather, "tickle time". I then ask you, "What time is it? Nap time?", and you say, "Nooooo, it's tickle time!" Then I proceed to toss you on the bed and tickle you till you laugh so hard you can barely make a noise. We do this a few times and you just love it. The hard part is convincing you that you now need to sleep and tickle time is over. You don't normally enjoy being tickled, but you really love this game. I think it's because it's on your terms. You're pretty big about having things on your terms. You often need to be prepared of all the steps ahead and have a difficult time with quick changes. 

Charlotte, you are such a fun little girl and such a delight in our lives. Sometimes I look at you and can't believe my eyes at what a big girl you're becoming. At night, after you've gone to sleep, I'll quietly come into your room, pull your covers up over you and just gaze at your sweet little face, asking the Lord to protect you and grow you into a woman after his own heart. I love you so much Charlotte. I pray I will do my best to raise you the way the Lord has called me to do so and that by His grace you would remember the good and forget everything else. I pray I would always be a safe place for you to come to share all the joys and challenges of life. I pray that even when things get hard, you will know much I love you and how very very special you are to me.

I love you Sweet Pea,
Mommy

What Charlotte Never Did

There are a few things I've learned about little boys in the past ten months. Most of which is that they behave drastically different than little girls. Here are just a few examples.

Eating vacuum attachment parts.

 

I believe this one is self-explanatory. 

 

This was one of Charlotte's favorite things, playing with newspaper, although the thing she never did was EAT the newspaper, along with every book I try to read him or toy I try to play with him.

March 2012

Charlotte with her new love, Pooh Bear. Her Grandma Taylor got her a Pooh video and now she just adores her little Pooh and jumps around the house most of the day like Tigger.

Charlotte associates most colors with Thomas the Train characters. So, on this day she was wearing her "Toby" shirt, pants and boots.

I can't quite remember at what age Charlotte mastered this little tower, but it seems like I just turn around and Cy has learned something new. I showed him how to do this once and on the second try he was putting it together all by himself.

A little self-portrait fun.

I turned around just a couple minutes and turned back to find Charlotte had climbed into the highchair with Cy. "Look Mommy! I did it all by myself!". From the looks of things, Cy wasn't quite so amused.

Daddy attack! In all fairness, they're "helping" rub Daddy's back.

Charlotte on her little "Percy" motorcycle at church.

Toy dump day at the Smith house.

Saving some for later. My sweet little blue eyes.

Barb came to visit us for a long weekend and watched the kiddos overnight so Pete and I could enjoy an anniversary evening together in Fort Worth. Praise the Lord for wonderful mothers-in-law!! The kids just adored their time with her and we really enjoyed our chance to catch up and spend some time with her as well.

Christmas in Texas

A little late, I know, but better than never. Here are a few shots of Christmas with  my family this year in Austin. We spent the day at my mom's place in the hill country a bit west of Austin. Kati, Erich and Arwen, along with Erich's parents joined us as well. My grandma joined us for dinner as well, so it was fun for the kids to get to spend some time with their great-grandmother too.

Christmas Day at my mom's house.

My brother in law brought his gun and clay pigeons and Cy got to see some good ol' Texas shooting.

Me and my sister, Kati, with her daughter, Arwen.

The moms and their daughters.

Charlotte and her Christmas present from Erich's mom, Lucia.

Our young Jedi knight. Erich's sweet father held Cy all day and Cy had no problems with it at all.

Cy at Six Months

Dear Cy,
It's easy to tell that life is going by much faster the second time around, seeing as how I'm writing your six-month letter two days before you are seven months old. These last seven months have been some of the best and hardest of my life. I was told I would have my hands full having two children 18-months apart. But, I also knew I wouldn't know any different and just take it as it comes. It's true I don't know any different, but I also do indeed have my hands full. Although, I didn't truly feel that way until you started crawling, shortly after you turned five months old. Until then, I thought I was doing really well, and the parental sanctification process was going quite smoothly. Then, you became mobile. I remember thinking to myself about how great of a parent I had been in disciplining Charlotte and how well she minded. We never had to childproof anything and if we scolded her once for going toward the wires on the floor, she never ventured that way again. Then you came along and as soon as you got mobile, I received a fast-track education in parenting boys. I now have no guilty feelings over not adopting a workout regimen, since I feel like I am constantly chasing you down and pulling you away from the wires, Christmas tree, DVDs, toilet brush, cabinets, shoes, shoes, shoes, your sister's hair or clothes or blankie or hair or hair or hair. You are all boy and I absolutely love you. You are a constant workout but I really don't think I'd have it any other way. You've also done an excellent job in keeping me humble as to the true caliber of my parenting skills. And, we will be child proofing.

From the moment I met you, Cy, I was absolutely in love. The first few days after we brought you home from the hospital, I remember loving to kiss the soft spot right above your temple. Then, as you got older and much bigger than I was ever used to with your sister, I grew especially fond of those soft and so very kissable cheeks. I feel like my lips were made for those cheeks. You've got the baby chub and I love love love it. I prayed for a cuddly baby this time around, since your sister wasn't particularly fond of being cuddled early on, and the Lord really did answer that prayer. After your naps, I pick you up and hold you to me and you just let your arms fall limp by their sides and nuzzle your head right into my neck as I wrap you in up in my arms. Early on you would let me rock you to sleep for naps and bedtime. Now, you've become a bit more independent and resist a bit more, but every now and again, I put you down just at the right time and you relax completely into my arms as I sing you to sleep. I've been trying to let you go down before you fall asleep so you can get used to putting yourself to sleep, but at those moments, I can't help but sing an extra chorus and hold you just a bit longer as I feel your warm breath soft on my neck.

You have just adored your big sister from the day you were born. Whenever she is in your line of sight, you just light up. She's two years old right now, so her ideas of play are a bit different than yours at this point, but I'm convinced that as you grow older, she won't be able to help enjoying your sweet and easy going nature. You are for sure one of the most flexible babies I've met. I've set a pretty solid schedule for you in terms of eating and sleeping, but if we ever veer off that schedule, you have no problem working through it, and most often with a smile on your face. Even when you're sick with a cold, you still try so hard to be happy. You loathe having your nose wiped, but if that's the worst of it, I think we're going to do just fine.

Another thing I prayed about before you were born was that you'd be a great eater, and the Lord definitely answered that prayer. You were great from the very start with nursing and now that we're feeding you solids as well, you've taken just about anything we've offered. I'm definitely glad I have the habit of making much more food than we ever eat on any one night because I know it won't be long before it will be just the right amount. This like so much is so new to me, as you are so very different than your big sister, in personality and stature. She was so petite, barely ate a thing, slept through the night very early on, and never really got into much of anything in the house. Then comes this big baby boy with the cutest chub I've ever seen, who eats like it's going out of style, still wakes up in the middle of the night to eat (if he has it his way), and will get into anything and everything. You both, I am very thankful to say, have delightful personalities, love to laugh, and are sweet as can be, and I am so happy that you are alike in that way.

There were so very many prayers that were answered when you came into our lives. Through you and your sister, the Lord is teaching me to be more like Christ. I pray that each day I would learn to be a more willing participant, so that through me, you might come to know the greatness of calling Him Lord of your life. I pray you and your sister would grow in wisdom and stature in the Lord above all else. I pray he would cause you two to become great friends with one another and do great things for His Kingdom. I pray you might be a shoulder to one another and an encouragement in times of hardship and hurt. I pray we might raise you in a way that you would know above all else that you have been loved with the love of Christ and that you can rest every night knowing you are in His care. I pray we would teach you to turn to his truth in every decision you make and seek Him out first in all your questioning as you journey through life. We love you Cy, more than you'll ever know. You are such a light and joy in our lives and we are so very blessed the Lord has entrusted us with your care for these very short and precious years.

Love,
Mommy