Escalator

To the pre-teen boy in the Chargers jersey,

You have no reason to be ashamed. You have no reason to be embarrassed. Fear is a powerful emotion induced by a perceived threat that can be rational or irrational. Did you know there are actual phobias like fearing clothing, or beards, or the color yellow, and even fearing peanut butter getting stuck to the roof of their mouth. No joke! Sometimes fear leads us to act bigger or stronger or quicker than our normal and sometimes it can just be paralyzing. I want you to know it's ok. I saw you. I felt your fear. I could see you were trying to do something that though may be second nature to a lot of people was hard for you. And you did it. I am proud of you! Good job!

Love,
The lady behind you on the escalator

ps. I hope someday you can face another fear and confront your dad about his reaction.

One of those days

Attitudes are flaring this week. Sleep has not been suffice. Patience is running thin. Throwing things at mom and biting has been tried out (what the heck?!). Nerves are on edge. Time outs have been given out like candy.  I felt defeated at points and overwhelmingly frustrated at points. And I know this is just a part of mommyhood. Sometimes being a mom is effortless and fun and sometimes its biting your tongue, breathing deeply, taking every ounce to control yourself hard. On one of those days...

Take an extra 10 minutes to sing in the shower.
Paint your nails.
Make a coffee date even if its just with yourself.
Go for a run.
Sit and watch a tv show instead of doing another load of laundry.
Make a simple dinner.
Have a cup of tea in the middle of the day.
Do your hair a little differently.
Clean something well that you have been putting off.
Read some ecards.
Call a friend.
Do a craft.
Find a new blog to follow.
Put on a outfit that makes you feel pretty.

Do something, anything for you.

Love,
Amy

The two precious boys who have given me a run for my money this week =)

Mirror

To my boys,

I admire your sense of confidence, your lack of shame, your ease with your goofy free self. I pray you never lose this. Mommy, will do her best to let you be you and encourage your quirkiness and your appreciation for yourself. Be silly. Laugh at yourself. Be proud of who God made you. To quote the Veggie Tales book Hudson pushes the singing button a thousand times a day "when you look in the mirror you'll see His touch, because God made you special and He loves you very much!".

So does mommy.

Love,
Mommy

Smooshy

To my Hudson,

You are freaking adorable! You make me melt!

Love,
Mommy

Lawyer

To Lawyers & Future Lawyers,

Consider this your warning. He is not even in kindergarten and he can convince, persuade, lead, and debate with the best of them. He won't take no for an answer without a solid reason. He has a gift of coming at problems from different angles. He is adamant you see things his way. He seeks creative solutions. He loves people and can rally those around him to trust the direction he is going. He is perseverant.

His weakness though is cookies. Offer him a cookie and you have a chance.

Love,
His biggest fan and the first prosecutor in his life

Four

To my Corbyn,

Four whole years old! You are imaginative, creative, kind, and compassionate. You are an entertainer, a leader, a thoughtful friend, and a caring brother. You are hilarious, observant, courageous, and audacious. You are a deep thinker, a persistent asker of questions, and a connection maker! You are a lover! You make us so happy! We are proud of the little man you have become and look forward to God growing you exponentially this year.

What is your favorite color? Orange
What is your favorite toy? Bubble gun, Legos
What is your favorite food? Sweet potatoes
What is your favorite tv show? Spider-Man
What is your favorite outfit? Superman shirt
What is your favorite game? Pop Goes Froggio
What is your favorite snack? Apple because I get my eye vision
What is your favorite animal? Lions
What is your favorite song? The pop song! (Starts singing) A Moment Forever by Volbeat (Spotify it!)
What is your favorite book? Ira Sleeps Over or Any Bernstein Bears
Who is your best friend? Marley & Riggs (they can come to my house 4-eva)
What is your favorite thing to do outside? Jump on the trampoline, ride scooter
What is your favorite drink? lemonade
What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy? Go to bed and lay. Play hide and seek.
What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy? Read books. Have a tea party.
What is your favorite thing to do with Hudson? Fight crime. Play chase around the coffee table.

Love you my bubby!

Love, Mom

Giver

To Parents and Future Parents,

We give. We give. We give some more. We have nothing left to give and we give.
It's "can you wipe my toosh."
"I'm hungry."
"I can't find my batman, can you?"
"Whah." Change diaper.
"Mom, Hudson is trying to get into the toilet."
"Can I watch tv?" No.
"Can we go for a walk then."
"I want to ride my scooter." Get scooter.
"Mom, I want to ride my bike." Get bike.
"Hudson is riding in the wagon? I want to ride in the wagon."
"My sheets have sand in them can you change them."
"Mamamamamama." Feed baby.
"Mooom, can you please put on my Captain America suit."
"I accidentally peed on the floor, can you clean it up?"
"Can you turn my suit inside out?"
"Can you button me up again?" Put on.
"Actually I want to be Ironman, can you put that on."
"Whah." Sit on floor with baby.
"Mom, I'm thirsty."
"Mom, this is just water I want ice also."
"Whah." Back to floor.
"Mommy, I opened my cup to make sure there was ice and I spilled it."
"Mom, can you read this book to me."
"Moooom, can you please put Hudson somewhere else he keeps grabbing the pages."
"Hudson spit up."
"Whah." Give baby toy to play with.
"Mom, these shoes are pinching."
"Whah."
"Mamamamamamamamama."
"Mom."
"Mommy."
"Mama."
"Mom."
"Wonder woman."
"Mom."
"Mamamamamama."

We give and give. It is the absolute best thing and hardest thing to be mom (or dad)! But then there are moments, sweet glimpses of your babies learning to give back when they offer a very aggressive kiss or a "Mom! I love you!" "You are the best!" and your heart wants to explode with love. I have never given so much of myself to anything. I have never loved so hard. So emotionally. So passionately. So intimately. So unconditionally. Then the way I love my kids.

It kind of reminds me of a love I have received! Maybe being a parent is a glimpse into how God loves us. His tank just never depletes like ours do and he never whines about it.

Thank you God for loving me. Thank you for my amazing boys and for teaching me how to love them.  I love you! You are the best!

Parents (future parents), we can do it, we have a beautiful giver to imitate!

Love, Amy