Dearest Troy boy...

Dearest Troy boy,

You are 4 years old!! I can hardly believe that. Time sure has flew with you my sweet boy. I think you could hardly stand being apart from all of us and wanted to enter the world 2 weeks early when you were born. :) We were surprised but completely grateful when you came early. You were such a perfect little baby!

I love you so much! Every single thing about you. I love when you're cute, funny, creative, silly, sweet and even when you are being a tad naughty. You turned into an amazing middle child. And I absolutely adore the way you have been so sweet on your littlest sibling. Never ever have you been jealous when she came into our family. You welcomed her with wide open arms. Completely and utterly in love! And that big brother of yours you look up to so much! When he comes home from school you usually greet him at the door eager to see him. Or when you wake up from your nap you ask where he is right away. He is very fond of you as well.

I love your sweet breath and your sweet scent. I secretly love it when you come into me and Daddy's bed every single night. I know that there will be a time when you are sleeping the entire night in your own bed. You give some of the best cuddles! :) I love your soft and tan skin. Your beautiful fine and golden hair is so perfect. I love the 2 scars around your left eye and the 1 by your right eye.  And how they show off your resilient little self: 1 time jumping on the bed and falling on the edge of the bed frame getting stitches in 2012, another time running and colliding with another boy last November and the last one from July of last year when you fell on a clothing rack at Target and a metal rod pierced your skin. Which caused you to get adhesive at the Doctor's office. Oh, Troy boy, you give me a run for my money. I get so worried about you but boy are you strong!

I love that you call your big brother "Aya or Auttin." We call you "Troy boy" or "Bubba." I love that you have stars in your eyes for your wonderful Daddy and want to be like him. The other night you brought all your tools out to where Daddy was working on our doors. Very seriously you started pounding your toy hammer at a door and looked on to what Daddy was doing next.  I love that you love me so very much! You give me lots of kisses and cuddles. And you say "You my wonderful Mama!" I am so smitten by you!

You are strong-willed and I think that will continue to be a fabulous strength for you. Getting you dressed in the morning use to be difficult. But we are working together. You can be picky with which shirt you wear. I try giving you options "Troy, do you want to wear your firetruck shirt or your striped shirt or your big mountain shirt with the patch or your alligator shirt?" No, No, No and No you say. But now I just let you pick out your shirt and things go much smoother. One day last month you stayed in your underwear the entire day. I wanted to get you dressed but Daddy was on your side and said "Why does it matter?" True dat Daddy! So you did and you were happy as a little koala bear. You'd much rather wear jeans every day just like Austin and Daddy. Socks is another story some days.

You enjoy making forts or any sort of invention you are able to. You can take a hair clip, hair binder, a stick, clothes hanger and a marker and make an extraordinary invention that you will hold all day. And your most favorite thing you do is making forts throughout the house. You bring all your blankets and pillows and combine them with ours downstairs and make a huge fort. That makes you really happy! You are creative that way. What a strength that will be when you're an adult. Just the other day you drew all over the bathroom door with pencil and used up an entire roll of blue painter tape on the floor and around your belly. Mischievous and amazing you are. I see such a bright future ahead of you, my sweet son.

You adore pets. Cats, dogs, fish, frogs, turtles and the list goes on and on. And you are very gentle with them as well. Last summer you collected many frogs and salamanders. I was an animal lover as well. So we have fun together catching those frogs! You got 3 fish for your Birthday. When you saw them for the first time you were so very happy!

At Preschool most days you are so happy to go and learn. The teachers do such an excellent job working with you. I know it is so good for you because the teachers are sweet and they help you with your speech. Which I am so proud of your improvement over the past year. Troy, I know that you have to work 10 times harder and that makes me all the more proud. Your voice is so soft and tender. At supper time, you always volunteer to pray and even if someone else is praying you also want to pray.  I absolutely adore listening to you pray. Your voice gets real loud and proud "Dear God, Thank you for this Food, ("Mom, what should I say next?) Dear God. I love you. You are good. Bless Daddy. Amen, Dear God." One of these days I just need to video it. And I know that God is smiling down on you saying "Well done, my child." :)

When we were driving to Costco last month you asked so many deep questions. I absolutely loved each and every one of them. "Where are we going, Mama?" "What's at Costco?" "Why we go there?" "When are we going home?" "How did Daddy make this car?" "How do you make a car?" "How did Daddy make our house?" Such great and inquisitive questions you have!

The growth you have made this past year is amazing! God has really been doing some huge and wonderful things in your life. And I am so very grateful!!

Bubba, I love you so much!!

Love Forever & ever,
Mommy

My Friday Faves!

Hello!

Today, I'm linking up with these ladies...

Andrea from Momfessionals, 

Narci from Grace and Love Blog 

and Erika from A Little Bit of Everything blog 

For Friday Favorites!

My Favorite Letter...

1.) Over the past month I've been reflecting on all the ways I see my 6 year old son growing up. I'm been jotting all the little things down to compile them into a special letter to him. I cried and laughed a bit while writing it. I got such sweet comments on my facebook page about how it made some of my girlfriends tear up and also make them grateful to be a Mom.

You can read it HERE if you'd like.

Do you see your oldest growing up quickly before your eyes? I sure do. It's bittersweet. I'm excited for him to be growing up but sad because I so wish I could go back to his baby or toddler years. I am so grateful for the (little) man he is becoming :). 

Some of my Favorite purchases...

2.) I've been looking for a cute plaid top and finally found one I really (really) love! The fabric is soft and so comfortable.

However, the one I got is now out of stock. Bummer! But here is a similar one. 

3.) I finally got the scarf that Erika from A Little Bit of Everything  and Mix and Match Mama have been raving about. And they were right about it! It's fab!! I ordered 2 (2 for $38). 1 for me and 1 to gift. Double fab!

Here I am in the 'Denim Blue' color. That color is not available but there are 27 other colors. Many choices.

Check them out here.

4.) I had to try out these earrings because they were only $8! Did I like them?

Yes! 

They are good quality (not great) and beautiful statement (big) earrings. I love the turquoise color. 

Click here to see them.

 5.)  So this favorite moment happened this week. Here's the story: Austin was working on his homework at the table and Troy wanted homework, too. So I gave him one of his PreK worksheets to do. He didn't want to do it. So very quietly Austin did his "homework" for him. Then he said "Good Job, Troy!" I smiled at Austin and asked him if he did it. He gave me a big guilty smile and said no. #alreadycoveringforhisbro #friendsforlife 

Too cute!

6.) And my sweet Troy boy fell asleep on my shoulder this past week! Favorite!! I love my kids so much!!

Happy Weekend to you. 

What are some of your favorites of the past week?

Jamie :)

I see you getting older...

Dear Austin,

I see you getting older, Austin. You use to enjoy spending time together cuddled on the couch reading books, watching Mickey Mouse's Christmas or Bob the Builder over and over and playing pretend kitchen. Now you'd much rather spend time hunting or fishing with Daddy. You love practicing your bow. It makes me feel special when you want me to watch you get a bull's eye. And when you're willing to teach me since I have no idea ;). You give me reminders on how to fish. I've been fishing since I was a little girl but you take the initiative and try to help me be a better fisher woman. And you know more about fishing lures than I ever will. The summer after you were first born, you and I would take a walk every day in your stroller around our neighborhood. Now you can ride your bike faster than I can run and can play basketball, football, soccer and baseball like a pro.

I can tell you're getting older when you come home from school eager to complete your homework. You can read a book to yourself now with little to no help from me. You can sound out words on signs we are driving by. But, at bedtime when you want me to read one of your past favorite books I am happy. Those past favorites include: "Little critter" or "Arthur" books which you would enjoy over and over.

You are tall enough now where you don't need the bench in the bathroom to reach the sink. You want a regular adult toothbrush now. Just last year you preferred a Sponge Bob Square Pants toothbrush or a Ninja Turtle Spin brush. When you do want me to brush your teeth, I happily agree. :)

Just last year after wrestling practice you would want to take a bath and play in the tub. And you would not be happy about taking a shower. But now you'd much rather take a shower and relax. You also like to use Daddy's "Man soap" versus my natural Citrus-mint soap I have for you kids. You like me to smell your skin afterwards because you love the smell. When you are a bit stinky after playing sports, you think it is hilarious for me to smell your stinky feet or armpits. You are such a silly boy!

I see you getting older because now you can sit in a booster seat instead of the 5 point harness car seat. You can buckle yourself in and even help buckle up Troy. You sure are growing into a tall boy.

You are big enough to know when I need extra help with the little kids when they aren't listening. You try to help out by getting them to dress or brush their teeth. You even read books to them. You can carry the youngest around on your hip. You're helpful by reminding me what I went downstairs to get or why I went into the kitchen.

You use to say "I ju ju!" Which meant "Hold me!" You loved to be carried around everywhere. I can remember when you were 2 years old I held you while climbing "The Devil's Tower" while on a vacation to South Dakota. You are now about 65 pounds and I can still hold you. Sometimes, you still like me to carry you upstairs. It may be a sad day when I can not hold you anymore.

I can tell you're growing because you are less picky with eating the meals I prepare. A couple years ago you wouldn't even try a bite of my homemade 'Chicken Pot Pie' but now you will eat what's on your plate. 1st grade has made you a hungry boy. Before supper you will ask me "What's for supper tonight, Mama?"You bring your dishes to the sink after every meal and rarely spill any food.

You pray out loud before supper on behalf of your family thanking God for the food, praising Him for family, asking Daddy to be protected on his way home from work and asking Him to forgive us of our sins. Before you get on the bus I pray over you and if I forget, you remind me. I love that!

I can tell you are growing in your faith because you know what is right and wrong. You hear not good words and you tell me. God has a strong place in your heart and I am so thankful. Nanny reads you your "Sugar Creek Gang" chapter books. They are Christian books and some of the characters haven't found God, yet. You've remarked that you wish a friend from school would know God. You understand that faith in God is important.

You want to wear "Levi's" like Daddy. They are the only kind of jeans you like to wear. You complete your outfit with a belt...like Daddy. You prefer wearing Viking's jerseys, camo or baseball shirts rather than the Lightning McQueen or Batman shirts you use to enjoy wearing. You wanted a camo coat so bad this school year. It is your favorite to wear.

When we go to the store you take a "No" more maturely rather than having a temper tantrum on the floor like you did when you were a toddler. You understand that I can't buy you everything you want. You even remind Troy if he wants something. You are helpful at the grocery store by reminding me that we need milk or strawberries.

You are more choosy of when I take your photo. You will run away or get embarrassed if I take a photo of you and put it on Instagram unless of course it's of you bow hunting or fishing. You still enjoy taking photos with me, though. Thank goodness :)!

(Photo by: Crystal's Photography)

2013

(Photo by: Crystal's Photography)

2014

I see you getting older because you don't need your baby blanket anymore and are perfectly happy cuddling with your camouflage comforter at night. You go to bed without a fuss. You sleep through the night in your own bed. When you were younger you would come into our bed every night to be as close as possible to Mom and Dad. The other day you came downstairs because you had a bad dream. I was grateful you did. You then slept in our bed comfortably.

Austin, I am so very proud to be your Mom. God has blessed me in a grand way by giving you to me and Daddy. I love you more than you will ever know. You were my first born son and I will think of you as my "First Baby" forever.

(Photo by: Crystal's Photography)

I love you!

Love Forever, Mommy