Dear Breck

Dear Breck,
I just wrote a letter to your sister for her to read years later and now it's your turn. Mommy is not great at writing things down, but I want to at least once a year capture some memories that I know will escape both of us in future years.

You are such a fun, talented and creative little boy. You are stubborn and emotional at times, but your heart is pure and I love to watch you develop into your own.

Things you love: video games (Star Wars lego and other lego ones, Daddy's games like battlefield and halo, Minecraft), legos - you are awesome at building them like they are "supposed to be" but also turning them into your own creations later (which sometimes drives Mommy crazy but she's trying to let you have that creative outlet!), Star Wars, gun battles, sometimes reading with mom, trying new sports (soccer, tennis, karate, tball, running, basketball - haven't quite found your true love yet as you'd rather play video games or with your legos), swimming, playing with Nolan, Adi

Things you don't love so much: going to school, bed time, sleeping by yourself, that dad won't let you get a hamster or guinea pig, hearing "no," having to be patient, getting dressed and brushing your teeth, sharing with your sister and being patient with her

You've had a busy year trying lots of different sports and you really took off in the pool this year, finally swimming on your own after a lesson in Arizona over spring break. We went to the pool a lot this summer and I had fun exploring around Colorado Springs with you and your sister this summer.

You're growing into a smart young man and growing up too fast. I want you to forever by my little boy but I know you'll be my "little" man soon. I love you bubba.

End of another year approaching

My dearest Bryn,
I hope when you grow up and see that your baby book is not quite filled up or that I didn't blog that often, you don't think it's because you weren't precious to me. In fact baby girl, time with you is so precious that taking time to write about it is not high on the priority list. But I did want to take this time at the end of another year with you to write down some thoughts for me to remember what this time was like for you and me - and for you to read some day and know how very much I loved you.

You are so your own little person, but yet there is so much of your brother and me in you too. Sweet, yet stubborn. Laid back yet emotional at times too. Your laugh and smile is infectious and as long as you get your way, it is present often.

Things you love: your shoes, purses, hats, hairbands (but only taking them on and off - you won't leave them in), when anyone you love comes home or to pick you up at daycare (your smile lights up the room), "reading" books, "talking" on mommy or daddy's cell phone, messing with brother's toys, climbing on the doggies, cheese, yogurt, tortillas, ice cream, juice ("deuce), your stuffed monkey, blankets - lots of blankets ( you make us carry them from the crib downstairs and back daily), stacking toys, music, dancing, spinning around in circles to make yourself dizzy, playing peek a boo, chasing brother

Things you hate: sharing, mommy leaving, not getting what you want when you want it, most foods (surviving on nuggets, hot dogs, cheese, yogurt and sometimes fruit mostly), not getting to go bye bye if others are going.

Vocabulary: mine (first clear word with meaning behind it), mommy, daddy, Adi (all animals are called Adi including Zoe, our other dog), deuce (for juice), away (throw something away), bye bye, hi, cheese -- sign language - more, please, all done.

It has been such a fun year with you. I loved having summer off with you and Breck this year - lots of time at the pool and park watching you blossom into a full blown toddler. You now absolutely love going up and down the slide.

Christmas was so fun. Last year neither you or I were walking yet (me from foot surgery). This year you could run all over and you did. You liked getting new toys but were just as happy looking at old ones too. Santa scared you this year and you didn't really get what Christmas was but you had fun any way. I bet next year you will understand it a little more and get why brother was so excited about it.

I love you sweet girl. You've made my heart so full.

Rock a Bye Baby

Bryn's Smart Trike

Breck's Big Wheel

Bryn wants to feed herself, messy or not

I don't know if it's because she is starting part time at day care tomorrow or that summer is ending too soon or how grown up she's seem lately, but I rocked Bryn a little longer tonight before putting her to bed. I was trying to memorize the feel of her cuddling on my shoulder, her soft breaths, the weight of her across my chest - such a sweet feeling. Her first year sure did fly by. Every day, she's coming into her own personality a little more.

Today I got her a Smart Trike and Breck a big wheel. She liked feeling like she was part of the action chasing her brother on her bike. She's such a character and so smart. She knows where the frozen yogurt tubes are in the door of the freezer and practically sprints whenever she hears the freezer door open. I think she'd just keeping eating those all day if I let her. She seems like she's going to be an adventurous eater. She wants to try everything anyone else is eating. Her favorites right now, besides frozen yogurt tubes, are watermelon, cheese, and CostCo macaroni and cheese. And she likes all carbohydrates - bread, crackers, pretzels, pizza, quesadilla.

I'm enjoying time with both kids this summer though Breck keeps me busy with all the activities he likes to do - sports camp, tennis lessons, swimming, t-ball, etc. And of course lots of time riding his various vehicles - bike, scooter and now big wheel. He goes goes goes all day and then crashes hard at night. I wish I could bottle some of his energy!

Babyzilla

Babyzilla - aka Bryn - is walking like crazy now. She took her first step on June 9 and now after a week of lots of practice in Arizona with Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Heather, she is really on the move. If Breck thought she was annoying before, just wait!

It has been fun to watch Bryn grow up into her own person, some things similar to Breck and some different. Breck is stubborn but Bryn is already taking that to a whole new level! I finally have her spending the night in her crib (though with wake ups), but still  have not gotten her to nap in the crib. She will cry and cry and never go to sleep (I let her go almost 2 hours once - painful for both of us). I hope I can get her there before she starts day care in August.

We had a great visit in Arizona. Breck went to Wet n Wild three times and loved it. Hopefully next summer he will be tall enough for all the rides as he definitely wasn't scared. He's growing into a confident little boy which is nice to see. He also really swam for the first time. I ran into someone giving a lesson at the pool and booked one for him. It seemed that one-on-one time is what he really needed to make the leap to swimming more than one breath's worth. She pushed him to do more and he did it. He was so proud of himself. He's a lot more confident in the water now and I can worry just a little less.

Breck's creation in Scottsdale

Breck is also doing tball this summer. I'd be just fine with this being the last summer of that! The games are boring and the parents are something else, especially from this year's team. I almost feel like I'm back in North Ridgeville. I'm hoping he really gets into tennis so I have someone to play with in a few years. He'll start lessons again in July.

I am really enjoying learning tennis myself and playing as often as I can get time. It's been fun to learn a new sport and feel rejuvenated again. The hard part is finding the time and also dealing with still some pain in both feet. I know losing weight will help that so I'm focusing on eating healthier and moving more.

So far summer has been fun. It is nice to be off "work", but it's not exactly relaxing to be home with 2 young kids. Still, I'm very glad to get to spend the time with them. They grow up so fast.

I am the worst blogger ever! Here is Bryn 10 months old tomorrow and I haven't written anything since last July! I've been a little better with her baby book, but not by much! Partly second child syndrome and partly that being a teacher is pretty all-consuming. If it weren't for the summer breaks, I don't think I could stay with it. One of my colleagues described it as feast or famine and she's exactly right. We get tons of time with family on break, but during the school year, there is never nearly enough time.

Both kiddos are growing up so fast. Bryn started crawling a month ago and I don't think walking will be far behind. She loves to pull herself up to a stand on anything she can. She really wants to keep up with big brother so it won't be long before she's chasing after him full speed. My tiny little girl (1 percentile for height) can only get her tiptoes down in her walker so she can only manage to scoot backwards so far, much to her frustration. Brandon says she needs a pair of high tops. Her first tooth broke through on March 3, which is good because she's not a big fan of baby food. Best thing about my little girl - her smile lights up her whole face. What a cutie.

Breck is more than halfway through kindergarten. He's not a big fan of school, except for recess, but he's doing pretty well. He is learning so much and constantly amazes us. He's reading and doing math facts. He likes math better than reading and writing. I told him he's better than some of my students at math and I'm only half kidding.

Well, I would love to write more but Bryn is coming over and trying to type. Time to play with her.