Letter to Elliot, age 1

Dear Elliot,

Oh, baby. What a year this has been.

Let me begin by telling you that you are such a wonderful baby. My birth experience with you could not have been better. You were a champ. Everything fell into place. September 5th, 2012, was a beautiful day. I could not have asked for a more perfect day.

You are such a gorgeous baby. People compliment you all the time. They especially love your eyes. They are so round and bright; we are not sure what color they will be yet... they started out as blue and are slowly getting darker, but are not brown yet. A darker hazel, perhaps? You have an honest smile and your hair has just recently started curling ever so slightly. I am thrilled by this development! I have always wanted a little boy with curls. I hope yours stick around.

You are an easy baby. You slept through the night so soon! I thought something was wrong, because babies aren't supposed to sleep. But you did. Of course, since you turned six months it has been a different story entirely, but it was a nice stretch you gave us.

Everybody always talks about how happy you are. And you ARE! You are a happy baby. Laid-back. Despite this, Momma and Daddy see a glimpse of your strong will. You are mischievous. Determined. I can tell that with you, there is no middle ground. You feel what you feel passionately. Watch out, world.

Your favorite things right now are blocks, your Sophie giraffe, and anything that brother is playing with. You give kisses! You also shake your head no. You call for me, "Mama!" and look at me pleadingly while putting your arms up. At bedtime, I nurse you, rock you, and we sing the night-night song. You love cuddling with me and I treasure this time. You grin at me so sweetly and it melts my heart.

I have so enjoyed your babyhood. I know that soon, you will become a toddler. I can hardly believe it, because I have savored every single moment of you being my baby. Some might say that I have spoiled you a bit...

Sweet Elliot, Momma loves you forever. You are my sunshine and always will be.

Always and forever,

Momma

Letter to Connor, age 3

Dear Connor,

Sweet boy... everyday you are showing us more and more of the little boy you are becoming. There are so many things you do, and say, that remind me of both myself and your father. You are sweet. You are stubborn. You are cautious. You have an imagination that makes my heart soar. One day, I know you will wake up and that imagination will be pushed aside to be replaced with reality. But for now... you pretend there are monsters in the room, that your superheroes talk to you, and that the drink of water you bring me is really being drunk. It is so wonderful, experiencing you.

Your favorite things include superheroes, Rescue Bots, and cars. You bring me book after book, and some of them you have memorized! You can read them to us. I was so surprised the night I told you I did not like reading the Darth Vader book, and how about you read it to me? You opened its pages and began reading aloud. Word for word. Your favorite movies are Wall-E and Toy Story (1 AND 3!). 

You are just beginning to notice your brother. You are wary of him - and with good reason! He is all over the place lately and you have made it your mission to protect your toys. But, better than that, you love him so much. You will come over to him and sing to him, tickle him, wrestle with him. His face lights up the instant he sees you. You are his big brother and he ADORES you. You take care of him and I know are his favorite person.

Love, I could write pages and pages about you. Your eyes are a beautiful hazel color and you have two dimples in your cheeks that are precious. You are friendly. When you walk into the room, you shout, "Hi, guys!" I don't think you know a stranger. You still want Mommy to rock you at night. When I walk into your room at night, when you are supposed to be asleep, you whisper, "Rock, Mommy. I wanna rock." So you curl up into the rocker with me (you are getting so tall!) and we rock. Sometimes we sing songs. Your favorite is Baby Mine. When I sing it to you, you listen intently and smile sweetly.

I love you so much, beautiful boy. You will always be my baby. I can't wait to see how you will be at age four. 

Always and forever,

Mommy