dear little mister,
it’s alright…
sometimes little boys just need to jump in the tub…
and their highchairs just need to hop in the shower…
‘cause getting that food to sit tight on that spoon…and then stay put there ‘til it’s safe inside your mouth…takes some time…and lots of practice!
but you’ll get the hang of it!
i promise!
very sincerely,
me (your grateful-for-smocks-and-tubs-and-showers-and-towels mama)
dear mis(ter)chief,
so it’s lookin’ like…as of last weekend…it’s officially begun…
you livin’ most of your time…outside!
and this is your typical outside attire…
a diaper…and that most happiest smile!
but…this…is you just still hardly gettin’ started!
typically…when we drag you back inside at the end of your day…that diaper’s been accessorized with any-and-always-whatever’s-available water…some well-placed bumps, scrapes and bruises…a smattering of grass just here and there…and a liberally applied all-over layer of mud!
and…sometimes…tears instead of that smile!
but…this…is you just pickin’ right back up where you left off at the end of last summer…
outside!
so, here’s to the next four months (or so), little mister mischief…
when all i expect to hear out of you is…
“ ‘side?!? ”
very sincerely,
me (your lovin’-that-hannah-styled-happy-hairs-do mama)
dear b’eian,
you have the deardorff stance…
all you need, now…is the bull!
goodness, but i miss that man…our grampa bert…
you share his stance…and his chin…and his ruthy’s eyes…
it’s truly wonderful, really…
when i spot your daddy in jack…and gramma mary in claire…and grampa bert and gramma ruth…and their boy…your papa…in you!
great-grands and grands…uncles and aunties…
this whole wonderful family…all swirled up together…
and always peeking out at me…through all of you!
how i wish so many hadn’t already left before getting to kiss on you…
how grateful i am for these pictures…so you can “know” them too…
my heart aches sometimes…they’re missed so much…
but how it smiles…when i spot grampa standing out in the yard…all shrunked down in little you!
very sincerely,
me (your kinda-hopeful-you-don’t-have-the-deardorff-teeth-too mama)
– hannah’s image…and grampa with one of his “blacks”
dear baby,
is it even possible?
is it even possible for you to be even more deliciously squishy when you’re just fresh awake?
those baby blues still dreamy…those chubba cheeks all rosy…that little body so cozy-warm…and oh-so-squishy!
so deliciously squishy!
i think it is…
i think it’s very possible.
very sincerely,
me (your lovin’-your-delicious-post-naptime-squish mama)
dear baby,
and now…waving “bye bye”…
that’s just ironic…
right?
very sincerely,
me (still spinnin’)
dear baby,
over the past 7½ minutes (or so) you’ve…
i don’t think you’re obeying me…
very sincerely,
me (your spinnin’-headed mama)
dear baby,
as you’ve gained in months, more have asked, “is he sleeping through the night, yet?”
and as each night crept…and you called out…i began to feel pressed…
but your sweet daddy said, “he’s your last one…you’ll regret rushing this…”
~ just love, love, lovin’ that daddy ~
so if you’re not ready…that’s just fine…
‘cause i’m not ready either.
and if i could…i’d go back…
and i’d get right up…and step into that dark…and reach right down, feeling for your brothers’ and sisters’ warm, squishy little bodies…
and i’d snatch them right up…if only one more time…and snuggle right down with them…
if only i could…
i’d forget the rushing…the urgency for “schedules” and “standards”…
‘cause time’s growing you all up fast enough…
and how i wish i hadn’t helped it along so much!
so, so thankful for you…our little eighth chance!
very sincerely,
me (your contented sleepy mama)
dear birthday baby,
happy 9-months!
so…this means you’ve been out every bit as long as you were in…
seriously?!?
i give up…i simply cannot grasp this time thing!
goin’ too, too fast…
but even worse…to me…you’ve been lookin’ more and more like a 1-year-old…
growin’ too, too fast!
so i weighed and measured and checked…
and yep…
exactly the same as your “substantial” older brother was…at 1-year-old!
22 pounds…12 ounces…29¼ inches tall…and every bit as cute!
but seriously, now…
stop!
very sincerely,
me (you know who)
p.s.
thanks for the unbirthday present! leanin’ in…lookin’ right deep…and sayin’, “mmm…mom!”
– alex’s image
dear baby,
last night, your nursings were all wonky…
after you nursed again at 5:30, i laid you back down…hoping you’d squeeze in a smidge more sleep before the rest of the house began to wake…
you protested for a bit, but finally drifted off…
at around 7:00, daddy sneaked out of bed and brought me some medicine for that headache that just wouldn’t let me go…
and i curled back up, waiting for relief…and watched you sleep…
your little fists rested above your peach-fuzzed head and your chubba fingers twitched…
your fringed eyelids danced…
that one propped-up knee swayed…back and forth…back and forth…
your back arched…stretched…then relaxed as a sigh escaped your lips…
then that little tongue started to dance…milky dreams playing behind those heavy lids…
and all at once…a knee-swaying, back-arching, chubby-fist-rubbing-the-eye stretch combination!
bear-bear and i watched…rapt…for over an hour…
eight babies…and i’ve never just done this?!?
what sweet heavenliness could possibly happen next?
and then…
flashing dreamy grins!
heavenly!
finally…one all-over stretch…and blink, blink, blink…
two baby blues looking into mine…
then a dimple-pierced grin…
and i jumped up to grab you…us snuggling right down into that cozy bed daddy made for me…you eye-smiling at me as you nursed…
that one chubba finger playing with the ring he gave me so long ago…it finally reaching up and touching my lips for those kisses it always finds there…
and me fighting back happy, happy tears…
then my fingers found that tickley spot under all those chins…and that blissful belly-giggle rumbled up from way down deep…
and those two sisters heard it…the ones who always vie for you first thing in the morning…and they suddenly appeared, exclaiming, “you slept so long!”
and just like that…they whisked you away…
and just like that…the day began…
that medicine never truly bringing relief…
and me…never more grateful for a headache in all my life!
very sincerely,
me (your ever-so-grateful mama)