Sentences on Sunday

Dearest Asa,
I love hearing you call out “bawl. bawl. bawl.”   Hundreds of times a day I hear this word. You love all kinds of balls. And anyone who has ever met you agrees that you’re destined to be an athlete.

Your “eye teeth” are coming in, and I’m kind of sad that your baby smile is so quickly becoming a big kid smile.  (And why are they called eye teeth?  That makes no sense what-so-ever!)

Your laugh is infectious.  You love your big sister.  You are constantly trying to keep up with your big brother.  You don’t talk a lot, but it’s obvious that you comprehend plenty.

You haven’t started saying “no” yet, but I’m sure it’s coming.  You hear it enough lately because you’re really testing those limits.

But you, my barely-a-baby-anymore baby, soothe my chaotic heart and mind like no other.  And I love you.

Love, Mommy

***

Dear Lydia,

I can’t believe how still you sit when I braid your hair.  I love your long silky hair when it’s down, but it sure is cute in double french braids.  You look like an American Girl doll.  My whole life I dreamed of having a little girl to dress up and fix hair and put make-up on.

You are so motherly to your brothers, yet strong-willed and opinionated.  I love that even when you were the littlest kid at a new friend’s house, you didn’t hesitate to stand up for yourself when you felt slighted at play time.  You show ’em who’s boss…ok, kid?

I also love that when we went to see a local high school production of Beauty and the Beast, you looked at the girl playing Belle(who happened to be African-American) and said(in all honesty): “There’s something different about this Belle…but I just can’t quite put my finger on it.”  I may have teared up.  Just a little.

I love your sympathy, your compassion, your giggle, your eyes.  I love you.

Love, Mommy

***

Dear Carter,

I’m excited about this week.  You finished up with school last week, but Lydia still has a few more days.  I’m looking forward to spending some one-on-one time with you.  You’re so content being by yourself that sometimes you get lost in the shuffle and I’ll realize it’s been weeks since we’ve done something just the two of us.

You are so incredibly smart.  I love how we have begun to have “grown up conversations” lately.  Today at church you asked about communion.  As I quietly whispered my response to you, you nodded your head and stared out into space.  That’s your thinking look.  When I see you looking straight ahead at nothing in particular, I know you’re processing.  Your dad does the same thing.  I’ll be ready and waiting when the questions come.  God help me explain it well.

You are tough and sensitive all at once.  You love to cuddle and hug and love on others, but you also play hard and love to get dirty.  I am proud of you who are, and who you are becoming.  And I’m having a hard time believing that you’re old enough to go to “big school”.  Hopefully I’ll wrap my mind around that by the time you start in August.

My dear firstborn, oh how I love you.

Love, Mommy