Letter to Jarom: Month 62

Dear Jarom,


Happy Halloween! Today you are 62 months old and, according to you, this was the best day ever! You've been waiting for Halloween all month and it finally came. This year you dressed up as Wolverine. You didn't have a clear idea of who you would be until we went costume shopping and then you just HAD to be Wolverine. And you were so bummed I wouldn't let you wear your costume except for Halloween things because I knew you'd have it ruined before you went trick-or-treating. Now you can wear it as much as you want.



Your favorite thing these days is shadow puppets. Daddy taught you how to make some and now you like to make up your own too. It's really cute. You even did some for show and tell at school. You are always saying and doing the funniest things. Like, we bought you skeleton pajamas for Halloween and you think it's fun to turn the lights off and dance around (because they glow in the dark). You love these pajamas. You would wear them every night if we let you.




I love October because there are always fun things to do. We went to Gardner Village and you got to wear your costume. You love seeing the witches and all the Halloween decorations. And of course we had to get a Halloween cookie while we were there.






We also went to the pumpkin patch with the Syme's. You always tell me Dylan is your best friend, even though we don't get to see them a lot. You guys had a great time picking pumpkins and sitting on the tractors. You said your favorite part was the cornfield maze.





You had fun helping daddy carve our pumpkins and you even designed a crazy one-eyed face that daddy carved in one of the pumpkins!



You are still doing really well in school and you love to come home and tell me about all the fun things you are learning. You had a Halloween parade and party today. You're starting to sound out letters to make words - you'll be reading in no time!



You are such a big helper and such a joy to our family.


Love, Mommy

Letter to Alex: Month 23

Dear Alex,


Today you are 23 months! I can't believe it's only a month away from your second birthday. I've already started planning it. You are such a funny kid. We've started calling you "mini Jarom" because you have to do everything he does, or say everything he says. If he's singing, you're singing. If he's dancing around, you're dancing around. I think by the time you start school you will already know everything Jarom knows.




We went to daddy's work party at This is the Place Heritage Park and you had so much fun. You got to go on your first pony ride! I thought you'd be scared but you loved it. You loved the train ride and plowing the field too.





You got really sick this month. We're still not sure what was the problem. The doctor was worried you might have pneumonia so I had to take you to Primary Children's Hospital to get a chest x-ray. You were so sick you just sat on the stool and let them take the x-ray. You were so good. Mommy and daddy took turns sleeping with you for a few nights because you could barely sleep and then you'd wake up and want us. None of us got much sleep for several nights. Fortunately you are feeling much better now, although you still tend to wake up at least once every night and then I have to put you back to bed.


You love being a big brother. You always want to hold Megan or feed her or give her kisses. You are such a big helper too - throwing things in the garbage or putting clothes in your hamper. I'll take advantage of the help while you enjoy helping!




You are getting very excited for Halloween. You love your skeleton jammies and we got your Halloween costume. I wanted to get this cute lion costume but as soon as you saw Elmo that was it. You LOVE Elmo! You think it's fun to wear Jarom's Wolverine claws with your Elmo costume. Halloween is going to be so fun.





You are such a cute kid and are so funny right now. I can't wait to see what you'll do next.


Love, Mommy

Letter to Megan: Month 2

Dear Megan,


Today you are 2 months old! You now weigh 11 lbs and are 22.5 inches long. You are getting so big! I had to switch you to size two diapers - they're supposed to start at 12 lbs but your thighs are so chubby the size one diapers didn't fit very well anymore. And I promise that while you are a baby is the only time I will discuss your thighs! Your eyes are still blue. Your brothers' eyes had turned brown by this age so we're hoping yours stay blue because they are so pretty. If not, you'll have pretty brown eyes instead. Only time will tell. Whatever color your eyes turn out you'll be beautiful.




You have started to smile and coo just in the last few days. You make a little noise like you're trying to laugh but you haven't figured that part out yet. You are so alert and expressive. You are a very sweet-natured baby and don't get upset unless you're starving!




You're not sleeping through the night yet but usually only wake up to eat around 3am. Then I just swaddle you and lay you in your crib and you put yourself back to sleep. That is so nice. Then I don't have to stay up for another hour trying to get you back to sleep. You don't usually even take your binky, you have learned to suck on your tongue instead.




You sleep really well in your carseat too. You love to go for walks and usually fall asleep in the stroller walking Jarom to or from school. If you have to be in the carseat when we go somewhere like a restaurant or church you like it to be rocking.


You hold your head up really well. You like to be held in an upright position so you can see what's going on so you get lots of practice holding your head up.




It is so fun to dress you in new clothes every day and put little bows in your hair. I just can't get enough of it! Fortunately for me, I'll be picking out all your clothes for several more years. We love having you as part of our family.

Our first "family of five" photo

Love, Mommy