I have had a lot of thoughts about my sweet boy lately, and I'm afraid that life will get busier and I will forget to write them down. So tonight I wrote a lot down, in a note to Anderson. I'm sorry if it gets too sappy, but I do love my boy SO much, and I am 8 months pregnant. Hope you enjoy catching up with Anderson. :)
To my dearest Anderson at 18 months,
Sweet boy, I would freeze time if I could, except that I have continued to love each little change and each new phase even more than the last. I hope in this note I will freeze just a moment and we will always remember these precious days.
Sometimes I worry that you are too young, too new, too little to be a big brother. I worry that I will not be able to give you all of the time that you so completely deserve. My worries sometimes creep in. But then, Anderson, I am reminded that God has planned this beautiful family for us. Mommy and Daddy hoped and prayed so much for you, and we have long hoped and prayed for our family. But you, and Baby Brady, are gifts straight from God. Before I even noticed, God saw how brave and strong you were growing. He knew you were ready. Before I could see it, God knew that you have so much love in your heart that you needed a baby brother to pour your love into. I’m so glad, sweet Anderson, that you will be the big brother for this family.
You can do so many things, and you are always amazing Daddy and me! Just earlier this afternoon, you and Daddy were looking at a book full of pictures, and Daddy said, “He is so smart! He knows every one of these!” You are so smart, Anderson, and you are so patient. One of your very favorite things to do is to sit and look at a book. You like to point at pictures, letters, and numbers, and you wait for us to tell you what they are. But really, you’re just being polite because you know so many of them already. When we ask you to find letters or animals or pictures, you almost always get it right. I can’t think of a (capital) letter you can’t already find. And if there is something new, after just practicing once or twice, you seem to know that one, too. You recognize and point out your family and best friends in person and in pictures. Daddy and I have to try not to show off too much because we are just so proud of you!
You also love for us to read to you. Some of your favorite books right now are “Love You Forever,” “Happy Pig Day”, “LMNO Peas,” “Brown Bear,Brown Bear,” “Biscuit,” “Click, Clack, Moo,” “Llama, Llama Red Pajama,” and “Watson”books.
You ask us about a lot of things. Usually you say, “Maaa?” and point to something so that we can tell you about it. We wonder if this means “mama” or “more” or if you have just found that it works for you, and we usually figure out what you want. You can tell us what a fishy, elephant, the Count, and sheep say. Sometimes you tell us about a dog, Santa, and a bird (which just sounds like anything else but high pitched.) You call mama and dada by name. Sometimes we can hear “uma” and papa. Most of the time everyone is “mama,” though. You are very good at saying “bye bye” with the cutest southern accent. You say bye to the TV when we turn it off, the bath when it’s time to go, and people as we get ready to leave. You can tell us how old you are “wuu” and show us one finger. Sometimes you’ll say “turtle”, which is the cutest little word I’ve ever heard. You’ll say, “Yea!” some, and you used to talk about “a ball” a lot, but not as much lately. Very recently you’ve started shaking your head “No” when I ask you something. You seem so sure, but I don’t think you always mean “no” yet. You’re still figuring that one out.
You started walking by yourself the day that you turned 17 months old (Nov. 26, 2012.) Now you are an excellent walker. You can pick things up, stand up, carry things with you, and sometimes you start to run. When you fall down usually you just say, “Uh oh!” and keep moving.
You are such a happy little guy. You have the best laugh ever, and you seem to love laughing as much as we love to hear you. Peek-a-boo still makes you laugh, and so do silly things that people say. You like to play chase/ hide, and you also like closing doors. I have to keep up with you because you sometimes close a door and sit so quietly hiding that it would be hard to find you. You love to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and we try to let you watch it once or twice a day. If you’re feeling sick (like just now you had RSV and an ear infection!)we spoil you with a little extra Mickey. Really we love it too, though, because you are the best snuggler in the world while you watch it. You give hugs and kisses a lot, but I am so lucky to get the most of them! You also love to play with Mama’s hair, and your own hair, too. You’re learning to be gentle and not pull hair. You are also learning not to hit, when you’re playing or when you’re upset.
You love to drink milk, and you definitely have some favorite foods. You love grilled cheese, macaroni and cheese, raviolis, cheese quesadillas, noodles, bread, and sometimes you get excited about chicken nuggets. You have a banana for breakfast every day, and you really like cereal (the healthy kind!) and waffles. You love green beans and sweet potatoes best,but you will usually eat some corn and peas. You also like olives a lot, which I think is funny. You like apple sauce a lot and sometimes you’ll eat your grapes. Mommy keeps hoping you’ll find more fruits and vegetables that you love. You are a growing boy. The doctor said you weigh about 23 and a half pounds. It’s hard to believe I knew you when you were just 5 pounds and 10 ounces coming home from the hospital.
Anderson, you bring more joy into Daddy and my lives than anything else in this world. We love you so much and we thank God for you every day. Hugs, hugs, hugs and kisses!
LOVE,
Mama
