You're a giver.

Dear Brooklyn,
 Yesterday a tornado came through Moore Oklahoma and devastated homes and schools. Lives were lost and it is heart breaking. This morning I found out about several donation spots in Tulsa. I rounded up some diapers, baby food, canned goods, baby clothes, toothpaste and soap to give away. I sat you down, showed you photos of children who lost their homes and everything in it! We looked through your toys and stuffed animals (and after lots of encouragement from me) you picked out a car with lights and sounds and a stuffed dinosaur. It may seems like a small thing to others, but I know it was a HUGE thing for you! When we arrived at the donation center you wanted to carry the bags and diapers and give them away. I'm proud of you. You were filled with excitement and talked the whole way home about how the little boy in the photo you saw on the internet will love that dinosaur. That's what we are praying- that our donations make it to the right children and families in need! I'm so proud of you and your heart to give. Giving isn't always easy or convenient, but God has called us to give when we have extra. We are blessed to be a blessing. You are a blessing in my life and I'm so grateful for you; I'm also grateful that your tender heart is learning to give!


Love,
mom

Gummy bombs

Dear Brooklyn,
You are amazing. I know most kids are amazing to their parents, but truly you are!!!! I love how you can get a tiny bag of gummy treats and pretend they are "bombs" for over an hour. I love your imagination. You help me stay focused on whats important and I thank you.
You have a sibling coming soon... ok in about 7 1/2 months but you know soon :) I'm so excited to see you as a big brother. You can help her/him be fun and creative! We're going to have soooo much fun together.

I love you so much little man-

mom

Bad Fruit

Dear Brooklyn,
   Fall is here! This month and last month have been BEAUTIFUL outside and we've been biking or playing outside every night with dad (which is your favorite thing to do) But with fall comes new fruits and veggies in season. Which made me thing of something important.
  Every Monday is grocery shopping day, you and I load up with bags, our list and hopes of adventure :) or at least that's what I call it- hoping we'll have fun! You and I buy lot's of fruits and veggies and depending on where we are shopping you usually have to check the fruit very carefully.. here's why.
  When you buy a container of fruit like strawberries for instance, if there is ONE bad fruit hiding amongst the good fruit- it ALWAYS turns the good fruit around it bad. And on some occasions if I don't see it soon enough it's turned every single piece of fruit bad too. Here's my meaning- Friends like fruit influence those around them. If you have a group of friends and they are all good friends except ONE- get away from that group or that friend. Remember the strawberry? It's just like that with people. One bad fruit has NEVER ever been effected or changed by a whole container of good fruit- weird huh? Well that's it, remember to choose good friends and to be that good friend too :)

I love you my little B!



 Love,
   Mom

New Room, Big Love

Dear Brooklyn,
It's July now and we've just moved into our new home! You love it here and are enjoying your new room immensely. You have light blue walls, a fun bed with a tent on top that looks likes stars when you lay down to go to sleep; and dad and I just re-painted his kid dresser for you! There is color everywhere, you are fun and that's what I wanted your new space to be :)
Every morning you wake up to find dad and I on the back porch drinking coffee. You play with the same set of cars from the movie "Cars 2" on the table and eat your breakfast. You and I have so many adventures together but my favorite part of everyday is when we cuddle before your nap. You are extra loving and generous with your affection at this time. You always place your little arm around my neck, tell me you love me and kiss me over and over... you are the best.
As Mr. Bruce says- if I could "put a brick on your head to keep you from growing" I would :)
In the evenings we play with your toys after dinner, or work on house projects together. Just being together, the 3 of us is the BEST. Nothing compares to having you as my son, you light up my life and I'm so grateful for you. (Even when you had an accident and pooped in your pants during your nap today and had to have an impromtu bath, clothes changed, more laundry for me etc.) I truly can't explain my love for you, but it is starting to help me understand the love my parents have for me and our Father's love for us. That He would do anything- give His life for us. Wow. It's still so amazing. In a world where mom's are killing their children and covering it up- I'm so glad we have comfort and hope in our heavenly Father. I promise to do everything in my power to protect you. I'm so excited to be in our new house, to see our little family grow (not pregnant yet) and to see you learn new things! I love you-

Love,
mom

Your New Room

Dear Brooklyn,

I'm really having lot's of fun planning out your new bedroom. You and I found an adorable little twin headboard and footboard at a thrift store for $5!!!! It needs some major TLC and a nice coat of paint, but I can just see it now in my mind all finished :)

We also have a fun red and white dresser for you that used to be your dad's when he was little. Now that's a vintage treasure! You and I also found a Pottery Barn Kids table for your room at a garage sale for $40 (regularly priced at $99) I want to paint the legs white and the top with a colored chalkboard paint. So many projects and now I just need the weather to be better so I can tackle some of them!

I also came up with a cool idea to incorporate your love of Toy Story. I've been buying vintage frames to paint white and I want to do Buzz and Woody Silhouette's. Won't that be fun?

Ok, well there are lot's more projects for your room that I have planned, but no need to put them all down today! I love you little man and I've been having so much fun playing with you.

Your new room is going to be amazing!

Love,

mom

Like Mom, Like Dad

Dear Brooklyn,
Moving again! Our current Show Home sold and we must move out in the next 8 days. eek. We've been staging homes (that are for sale) with our furniture. BUT we have a house that's being renovated- but not ready for us :( So we'll be living in Marmie & Papa Doc's garage apartment.

Ok can we just agree that it's going to be AWESOME!? They have a heated pool & hot tub about 20 steps away from our room :) I'm sooo excited. I officially started packing this morning and you were not very excited to see some of your toys packed away. But no worries my little man- we'll get them all out again soon!

This afternoon you and I snuggled together for a little bit during your nap time and I was thinking how funny it was that there are things you do exactly like me! And then things you do that are exactly like your dad. I thought I would make you a list :)

Like Mom:
-We both sleep best on our tummies with our hands tucked under our legs
-We both love anything sweet :) or "treats" as you like to call them
-We both love to read (or in your case be read to) before bedtime
-We both have curly hair
-We both LOVE swimming


Like dad:
-Your blue eyes
-You are a morning person
-Your amazingly strong legs (you are already so athletic)
-You both love to laugh
-You both make incredible sound effects! (cars, planes, trains etc.)
-You both love to wrestle and get dirty outside


I know there are so many more- but that's what I thought of for now. Remember even with our differences- I will ALWAYS love you!

Love,

mom

No More Dipes

Dear Brooklyn,
Lot's of new things are happening right now, one of them is that you are potty training! Wow. It's pretty crazy in the midst of remodeling our new house, conferences at church, bridal and baby showers and just life moving along!
You absolutely LOVE wearing pull-ups now and not "dipes" (that's what you and I call diapers) You feel so big and grown up and smile the biggest, sweetest smile when you talk about your pull-ups. We've been training about 2-3 weeks now and you go pee on the potty about 1-2 times a day, but mostly do the pee pee hoppy-ing around dance and then hide to go pee in your pull up.
But today you went while we were out shopping at Hobby Lobby!!! I was so proud of you and even though you got pee all over your Woody costume you were wearing... I'm so excited for you!
So lesson learned for mom: bring extra clothes while potty training.

I really cannot believe you are going to be 3 in... 3 months! Where did my baby B go? You talk so well now and it feels like I really have a companion during the day instead of just a listener :)

Recently we've been getting movies from the library for "family movie night" which includes: mom, dad and you sitting on the couch eating popcorn and watching a kids movie :) You love "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" "Toy Story 1,2 & 3" ok most anything Disney :) It's one of my favorite times together- looking at you cuddled up between dad and I.

Let's keep working hard on this potty training thing... you'll get soon!

Love,
mom

Best Dressed

Dear Brooklyn,
Last month your dad and I joined this really cool gym called Sky Fitness. I've been doing really good about getting there about 3-4 times a week and even did an hour cardio session this past Sunday as a "bonus" workout! You aren't interested now in lifting weights or aerobic activity but someday you will be.
Today one if the Sky employees asked how I was enjoying the gym- I said I loved it and so did my son. Then he laughed and mentioned that all the workers loved him and also voted him "Best Dressed in December" - I thought that was pretty cute :) And to top it all off, you went today in your Buzz costume!

I love you in whatever you're wearing!

Love,

mom

Naked Nu Nu Man

Dear Brooklyn,
Something you've been asking to do lately is to run down the hall...naked :) After a dirty diaper has come off and I've wiped your bottom clean, you ask to run as a "naked nu nu" I think it's so funny that you love being naked so much and that it's such a treat to run while naked.

I'm sure when you're older you will love that I've posted this sweet, mildly personal baby moment~

Love you,

mom

Fatherly Advice

Dear Brooklyn,
Last night we went to a great little place called Chipotle for dinner. Rachel and Aaron met us there after our Ohio trip to see grandma Grace. As we were standing in line a man said to dad "I'll trade you sons" and then laughed, Chris asked how old his son was and the man said 21. Later on he and I started talking and I asked him if he had any advice for new parents, here's what he said:

1.- Document EVERYTHING: you think you will remember all the little things... but you won't. Write it all down .

2.- Time: remember that you only have a short time together, so spend as much of it together as you can, kids acquire 80% of who they will be from birth-3 years old. Don't waist that time- spend it together.

3.- Be very careful who you let them hang out with: their friends will determine their future. Don't worry about hurting your kids feelings or offending their friends.


... He then went on to say that his son was in prison :( He will be sitting in prison instead of living his life, he chose bad friends and they influenced him too much. His son had potential to play college baseball and instead threw his life away. He said briefly is was from alcohol influence as well. His throat was a little horse and he explained he just made it through throat cancer and it made him think about the things that are most important in life. It was his kids and his family. NOT a car, house, clothes or STUFF.

I was thinking about this sweet dad and how sad it must have been for him to be in the hospital with cancer and not have been surrounded by all of his family. I will never forget that man's courage to share his son's failures with a perfect stranger- me.

I want you to know son that the Lord is teaching me daily how precious my time is with you right now. That you will never be young again and just BEING with you is the most important thing. I'm learning that a clean house, the latest fashion or all the stuff I want will never compare to how valuable you are to me.

I love you-

mom

IT'S CHRISTMAS!!!

Dear Brooklyn,
I thought I would take a moment on this quiet Christmas morning to remind you of some amazing Christmas memories. You and dad are asleep still at 6:15 am and for some reason you've been getting up 1-4 times a night this week, coming into our bedroom and thinking it's morning! (the dark mornings sure don't help either) so this morning I just couldn't get back to sleep when you came in at 5:30~ all I kept thinking was that it was CHRISTMAS morning!!!!
Dad- I mean "Santa"- stayed up later then me putting your train, scooter and truck together and in front of the tree! It looks so great and I am admiring it with coffee in hand, pandora Christmas playing and soaking it all in.
This Christmas season has felt the most "un-Christmas" I've ever had: we've been looking at houses, having ubber amounts of showings to work around, neither dad or I can really think of much we want or are excited about ( in the line of presents for ourselves) because we just want our own house and furniture for that house!
Of course, we've walked through the Rhema lights, drove through neighborhoods looking at Christmas lights (which you ADORE) baked and decorated gingerbread men with friends, decorated a gingerbread house with dad, sat on Chick Fil A Santa Cow's lap, watched Polar Express and Elf (we tried other movies... you were NOT feeling any of the other ones) we've shopped for lot's of gifts and you helped me wrap presents.... but really it all really FEELS like Christmas when you, me and dad are together opening presents!!! Maybe cliche but oh well.
Yesterday we started a new Christmas Eve tradition and went to the gym early and worked out! Let's just say I'm feeling a little sore from that work out! We joined this amazing new gym (Sky Fitness and Well-Being) They are a really cool kid's area with games, slides and coloring! I also promise you a bag of organic gummy bears after every gym visit... hmmm that's not bribery is it?
This week we just started a new game downstairs: I hide all your stuffed animals (all 10) and you and dad come downstairs in the dark with your flashlight and "search" for them! You LOVE this game and say" igain" after each round!
Well I better get some food prep started before you boys wake up!

Love & Merry Christmas my sweets-
Mom

Things Red and GREEN

Dear Brooklyn,
Wow things have gotten more crazy, more hectic and through it all you are still your sweet self. Christmas is next week and we've been finishing up our shopping (but what about those non-existence Christmas cards? sorry family and friends- not sure if those will happen this year)
You've been helping me wrap gifts (you're the tape man) hang ornaments, make countless gingerbread men and in the midst of this all I've started our family eating more RAW.

I can't explain how amazed I am at your willingness to drink and eat so many new foods! We juice "green lemonade" every morning (kale or spinach, celery, lemon, ginger and apple) and you adorably call it apple juice (let's be honest their IS an apple in there) but... it's green :) You even downed a "green smoothie" (banana, water, spinach and strawberries) yesterday without taking a breath! I am so proud of you for eating so many new fruits and veggies and more daringly trying drinks that are GREEN.

We also are looking for a NEW NEW house, yes not one of the 5 houses we've lived in since April, and not the Sandusky house we've driven by, prayed over and waited on for the last 8 months... but a BETTER house. The Lord has a plan for us and while we wait for it to unfold we are hanging out in our Toledo house. You really love this house: you have your own room for JUST TOYS!!! we have stray kitties that play with you, it has hardwood floors for you to slide around on and mom and dads bedroom is only one room over.

I'm sure we will look back on this time and see that the Lord was teaching us lot's of new things... but I'll be honest it's been harder then I thought. You've been awesome during so much change, but I'm really ready to have a house to call our OWN! oh and to get rid of all the boxes and to officially UNPACK everything! (after 3 months of looking I finally found our blender!)

Love & hugs-

Mom

Holiday Ideas

Dear Brooklyn,
It's official the holidays are around the corner! It's 1/2 through November and I can't wait to start holiday decorating, events, movies and Christmas shopping. We've been going to toy stores and letting you give us ideas of what you like. So far, you want anything Toy Story :)
Besides holiday shopping we have some fun events coming up: this Saturday is Philbrook's Festival of Trees and its one of my favorite things to do to start off the holiday season. Lot's of local artist make trees, gingerbread houses and holiday items to sell and raise money for Philbrook art museum. This year Marmie and I are submitting pieces. It's been one of my dreams to enter a tree and I just finished it this morning.
I have a list of things to do and movies to watch this holiday season:

MOVIES:
Home Alone
Elf
Christmas Vacation
A Christmas Story
Polar Express

To Do:
Build Gingerbread House
See Rhema Lights
Bake Cookies
Buy and decorate Christmas Tree
Drive around town looking at Christmas lights
Go to Utica Square and shop at night with hot chocolate from Starbucks

I think that's most of what I can think of right now... I love you and can't wait for you to experience Christmas this year!

Love,
mom

p.s. this photo was from our first attempt at a Family Christmas photo... although dad doesn't like it.

In Those Crazy Times

Dear Brooklyn,
This morning was the last day of my Bible study and your Grammy and Pop Pop played with you all morning. When I came to pick you up... you were CRAZY WILD.

Not like the regular B I'm used to- you were soooo tired from not having a good night sleep (believe it or not- we all woke up from real cats fighting outside our windows, anyways) While driving home- you were very disobedient. You pulled my hair, hit me while I tried to buckle you in your seat, then pulled your straps off ( I pulled over and spanked you) then you wouldn't get back in your car seat or get buckled up... ugh.... it was horrible.

You cried the whole 5 minute ride home- ok it took about 10 because of you're temper tantrums, then when we got home I sat you down and told you why you were getting spankings- you cried and said no no no- but after your spankings you stopped, we hugged and then cuddled. You wanted to cuddle and giggle with me... the one who you were hitting 15 minutes prior.

All this to say- you have the best heart- it's so tender. On those rare days that you get a bad night sleep and throw fits- you still want to hug and be with me. I cannot explain the overwhelming love I have for you- even in those crazy times, I still love you.

Being a mom helps me to understand (just a little bit) our Heavenly Father's love for me. To think- he loves me when I throw fits, disobey and cry about things not going the way I want them. He is patient with me, thank you my sweet B for making me a mom and helping me to understand love a little bit better.

Love,
mom

You're Worth It

Dear Brooklyn,
Every morning you wake and ask for Dad. Actually you say "I want dada" Most of the time dad is still home, but on those rare occasions that you've slept in past 7:15am- I have to tell you dad is already at work. You are always sad to miss seeing dad in the morning and I don't blame you, he's wonderful to wake up to!

I then go on to explain why dad goes to work and why I stay home with you. Sometimes it's good for me to say it out loud and hear myself say it. "Dad goes to work to provide for us. So we can eat, live in a house and so that Brooklyn and mom can be together all day" That's right my sweet little man, dad works very hard every day at a great job so we can be together!

Several years before we had you, dad and I had a very serious conversation about if I would stay home with you or not. We both agreed that the sacrifice of me not working was worth it, so that I could raise you and be with you everyday. It wasn't easy, not because I loved my job so much- but because we knew that we would not only sacrifice now to make that decision happen.. but in the next 5-10 years we would have less "stuff" and maybe a smaller house and maybe an older car- so that I could be with you while you are young and raise you.

So we sold your dad's car (a silver Acura he liked a lot) and bought a little Vespa scooter (we named her Vicki) and agreed to pay of school loans and any debt we had (besides our house). We budgeted and saved and I had to learn a completely different lifestyle. I had to only buy groceries that fit into our monthly grocery budget, we couldn't go out to eat very much because our entertainment budget allowed us about 2-3 times per month and we shared my car- the faithful Jetta I got when I was 16. In about 2 years we reached our "debt-free" status and bought another car for dad. We still had our small house- but we loved it and cared for it like it was a mansion!

I want you to know you were WORTH it!!! I would do it again and again and again. I've changed a lot since being a mom and I now would rather buy you clothes, shoes, toys and your favorite movie over buying a new shirt at my favorite store Anthropologie. Seeing you happy everyday and knowing that I made the right choice for our family is such an amazing feeling.
I want the time at home together to be one of learning, sharing and playing. I hope you will have the best foundation built for you as a little guy. That's why I stay home with you... that's why the sacrifice is all worth it.
You're worth it.
I love you and am so glad you are my son.

Love,
mom

Growing

Dear Brooklyn,
Again you are asleep downstairs and I'm enjoying the quiet of your nap time :) I've been going through all the clothes you've out grown so we can loan them to a little friend (Liam Rawlings) and I can't help but smile over all the memories we had together when you where wearing them.

Your baby batman jammies: so cute!
Your puppy dog mittens- man alive!
Your first Lacoste polo from Marmie and Papa Doc (it's red and you looked so great in it with your amazing tan this past summer)
All your converse tennis shoes you out grow about every other month! (you are 2 years and 4 months and wear a size 9!!! the 8's still fit barely without socks)

As much as I love buying you clothes- I've finally learned to start buying some things at the consignment store! Like jammies for $3.99 that fit you for about 4 months vs. jammies for $15 from the department store.

I wonder if you will have a little brother who will wear your clothes? That is fun to think about, to be able to get each little onesie, jacket, sweater and booties out again! Oh well. I'm sure the Lord already has your next sibling lined up :)

B- I know you will keep growing and I can't stop you- but can you please DO NOT out grow your mini Boden jacket this year? Thanks :)

mom

You were Buzz

Dear Brooklyn,
You are asleep right now downstairs in mom and dad's room. Lately I've been cuddling up next to you and rubbing your back before you fall asleep. I know you need to sleep in your crib by yourself... but I love having those sweet moments of down time with you. Ever since the painters came (for 10 days straight) your naps have been off schedule. So now I need to get you back on track... it might take a day or two more.

Last Friday night we took you to the Disney store in the mall for a kids costume party! You went as Buzz Light Year from Toy Story. It's your favorite movie right now and you play with Buzz (who you call On) and Woody everyday. I can hear you playing in the other room with Buzz and Woody argueing back and forth to each other "No Me"- "No Me" and on and on... it's so cute.

I'm so thankful I get to be home with you. Everyday you learn something new, say a new word or play more grown up. I'm trying to be satisfied with the age you are, but its so hard to not get excited for when you are in a big boy bed, not in diapers anymore and talking in full sentences to me. I guess that also means: no more baby crib ( I guess we pack it away?) no more special times on the changing table tickling your tummy or you turning your bum bum around. And no more baby jabber. Ok, nevermind. Stay just the way you are. Grow up slow just like you are right now and I will try to soak in every moment, take LOTS of pictures and continue this journal for you. I want to remember the little things that make you- you. I want to be able to look back at this short, special season of you when you are little and smile!

I love you my sweet little curly joe~

mom