To My Boy

Austin,

You are now 4.  I'm getting this letter off late, but better late than never they always say. 

The day that you turned 4, you turned to your dad and I and said, "Since I'm four, I'll do what I want, and I'm the boss."  And I will tell you little man, you have taken that completely to heart.  Since your birthday, you have become even more independent than you were before.  You want your way, and you want it now.  If you don't get your way, your attitude is bigger than a house.  It's been difficult for us to say the least, but at the same time, makes us laugh so hard at the strong willed boy you are becoming. 

However, you aren't all piss and vinegar, mister.  Your personality is amazing to me.  You can make anyone laugh at the drop of a hat; and the things that come out of your mouth sometimes leave me standing in shock.  Some good some bad, but I'll take it! 

One of your favorite things to do at this age is help me cook.  Anything I am doing in the kitchen, you have to drag your stool in and help me.  Even if helping in your book means licking sugar (or flour...yes you are special) off the kitchen counter.  You love when I make you a pancake in the shape of a car, and I'm waiting for the day when you ask me to make Spiderman or some other ridiculous form.  And chances are, I'll try, and you'll love it just the same.  That's just how you are.  You have a huge, huge heart. 

You ask me every day if we can cuddle.  You scoot right up under my arm with a blanket and lay there and watch cartoons.  Then you get a silly bone and go wild.  Seriously, wild.  You think the silliest things are the funniest things, and I love that about you.  You love your sister to death, and try to make her laugh when ever she cries.  Even when she isn't crying, you are always doing some silly antic to make her laugh at you.  You have been the best big brother, and I have no idea what I was so worried about. 

You have a huge obsession with The Hulk right now.  And I'm not talking about the cartoon.  I'm talking full blown real 80's TV show Hulk.  You watch it every day.  Heck who am I kidding, you watch it multiple times a day.  And when you aren't watching it, you run around growling and clawing stuff like you are Hulk.  You want to be Iron Man for Halloween, but I'm really thinking of getting you a Hulk costume and painting your face green.  You'd be perfect!

To sum up- you're perfect.  You are handsome, loving, silly, playful, strong willed, and a fantastic big brother.  I couldn't ask for a better son than the one you are.  I love you so much- and I hope you never forget that.  I will probably be the mom running up to you for kisses when I drop you off in 8th grade.  No, I'm kidding, that would be embarrassing.  Well, I might.

Love you Boog!

Mommy

I'm so BEHIND!

Austin (aka Boog, Beaver, Bubba)-

Next month you will be 3 1/2 years old. I can't believe that this is the year you will turn FOUR. Where has time gone? It seems like it was yesterday that we moved to Idaho and I was still pregnant with you. Like just yesterday that I was preparing your room for your entrance into this world. Like yesterday that we brought you home from the hospital bursting with pride for you. You have grown up so fast, and it's so bittersweet. I want to remember every moment of your life, take a mental picture of every smile, every giggle, every kiss and every hug. In my mind, there will never be a day that you won't call me momma, and won't run to give me hugs when I walk in the door. In trying to organize our pictures lately, I've been browsing through your baby pictures, and it's amazing how much you have grown. I do miss the little, tiny baby you were, but fall in love more and more every day with the little boy you've become. My heart bursts with pride for you, you are just so amazing.
Your personality breaks through at every waking moment. You are such a spit fire, that it cracks me up. You are so full of life, and so incredibly loving. You are so funny, you have me roaring with laughter on a daily basis. Just the other day we were in Wal Mart looking at curtains, and there was an employee (male) in the aisle scanning items. He had long hair in a braid that went down his back. You stood right behind him saying "Momma, LOOK! It's just like a girl, Mom, LOOK!" You said this over and over, and it finally caught my attention as to what you were saying. I could barely contain my laughter long enough to pull you and daddy into another aisle so I could bust up laughing.
You are also an insanely smart little boy. You know all your colors, numbers 1-11 (and even can count backwards from 5-1) and you are now learning your alphabet. When you get tired of singing the alphabet song with me, you look at me and pointedly say "I'm so sick of this game."
You are very into Superhero's right now. Spiderman, Batman, Hulk, Ironman, you name it, you love them. Transformers are a new love of yours as well. You can endlessly make me or daddy turn your transformers into cars, and then back again. Over and over and over.
You have found that you love playing Hide and Seek. When it's your turn to hide, you giggle the whole time, and once we get close to you, you jump out and say "HERE I AM!!!" Your hiding spots include: under the table, behind a chair, and I think your favorite is in our bedroom closet.
You love seeing your sister smile, and making her laugh. I can see the love you have for her written all over your face. She lights up every time she sees you, and it makes my heart burst. When she smiles or giggles at you, you proudly exclaim that "SISSY LOVES ME!" Yes, yes she does. In fact, her newest word is "Bubba." And boy that made you happy!
You have a new puppy now as well. You and Petey have endless hours of fun together, running back and forth. You think it's so funny when you get him so riled up that he starts barking at you, but aren't too fond of him nipping at your bottom while you run. Many times I have heard you, while hugging (maybe a little to tightly) his neck, saying, "You're my best friend."
Austin- you are just simply amazing. You light up my life, and bring me constant joy. I can't believe how blessed my life has been with you. I love you Bubba!

Love,
Momma

He's growing up!

He's three. THREE! Where did the time go? It seems like yesterday that we brought him home from the hospital. We had a little birthday for him, but Saturday the 15th is his friends birthday party where I will get to deck the house out in Spiderman and make him his big Cupcake Cake. I can't wait until he sees it!! Here's a picture of my boy on his new bike!

Dear Austin,

I started this tradition with Sissy when she was 2 months old... I wish I would have started it sooner with you, however, better late than never.
You are three today. Three years old. You are getting so big, I can't hardly believe it! I still remember bringing you home from the hospital. You were our first baby. Our pride and joy. Your laugh lights up my life. You have become such a huge part of me that I can't even remember life before you.
You are so smart. You know your colors, and you can count to ten. You also recognize numbers as well, which I am impressed with. You love to know what time it is, and sometimes even get it right all by yourself.
You have the best little personality. A lot of love, and a little sarcasm make you who you are. You say the silliest things that make Daddy and I roll with laughter. You are so sweet with your baby sissy, and it melts my heart over and over again watching you with her. You 'hush' her when she's getting fussy, and you pat her on her tummy. Today when I was feeding her, you were rubbing her feet. Every night before bed, you always make sure you give her kisses. You are the best big brother, Austin.
Your favorite things right now are Thomas the Train, and Spiderman. You are obsessed with both right now, and it's so cute. You know the names of all the trains, and know them by sight. You love to watch ANY train in general. You love being stopped at a train track while we let a train pass by. You are absolutely mesmerized by them. You say you want to be an engineer.
As far as Spiderman goes... you love to "web" people like spiderman does. You go around the house webbing anything and everything. When you web us, you tell us that we can't move. Then you come wipe our webs away. Just the other day I was getting onto you for being on the floor at the pharmacy, and you webbed my mouth shut and told me I couldn't talk. These are the things that make you you, and I love you for them.
You know how to put on your own shoes, although, you don't know how to tie them yet. You love the park, and you learned how to swim this year up at Twin Lakes on vacation. You love walking to the mailbox too. You like to help mommy unload the dishwasher during the day, and have a new found love for throwing clothes in the washing machine. You are such a little helper!
Your vocabulary is larger than life, and you enunciate your words so well. Everyone we come across is so impressed with how smart you are. You must take after your mommy. ;)
Anyways, little man- I am so proud of you. You make me want to be a better person, a better mommy. Watching you and your antics is my favorite thing to do. Your ability to make someone laugh is uncanny, and I hope nothing about you ever changes. You are perfect the way you are. Oh- and you're a momma's boy =)

I love you little man!
Momma