Food Lovin

Dear Marcus,

You are such a cool little dude!  We've blinked and you are more like a boy than a baby!  You are saying words and following directions and have even thrown a few fits, just like a regular two year old. :)

You have moved out of your high chair and out of your crib.  You look so grown up in your big boy bed.  Sometimes you get up and play and keep Jordan away but all I have to do is threaten you with going back to your baby bed, and you climb right back up!  Jordan loves having you in his room.  Most mornings, you wake up when he does and it's so cute to see you both coming out of your room together.

The only thing you really throw a fit about is food.  It's so funny!  Last Sunday, we had pizza and cupcakes at church and I took your cupcake away until you ate your pizza.  You screamed and screamed....people at church don't know that version of Marcus.  Everyone was shocked!

I'm really proud of how well you are swimming.  You just jump right in (with your puddle jumper on) and swim all over that pool.  A month ago, I had to force you in!

I can't believe we are going to celebrate your birthday soon.  It seems like yesterday, you were a tiny baby and now you are an almost two year old!  We love you so much!

Love,

Mom

Marky Pants!

Dear Marcus,

Tomorrow is Mother's Day and all I can think about is how much of an honor to be your mom!  I told your dad the other day that if God had let me pick my own child, I could never come up with you.  And that's a good thing!  I could never have come up with the perfect blend of sweetness, humor, activity, playfulness, and feistiness.  You have all of those qualities.  You love a good joke and you love to smile.

My favorite thing you do is how you say "Dada" anytime I ask you to say "Mama".  You totally get that you are giving me a hard time and that look you give me just melts my heart (although my Mother's Day gift from you needs to be actually saying Mama other than when you're upset!!).  I love that you have a great sense of humor.

You are a big guy and are extremely athletic.  We were just saying last night how skilled you are at shooting baskets.  And you love Ball-ball (baseball).  You will hit a ball off the tee and play catch as long as we will keep going.  The only thing you are not good at is gymnastics.  The other day we were laughing so hard because Jordan was jumping and doing somersaults and you just rolled.  You are very proud of how well you can roll!!

I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of big brother you are going to be.  I pray that you are sweet and protective and kind with whoever else God has for our family.

I love you!

Mom

 

Time is Flying!

Dear Marcus,

And just like that, it's been three months!  Story of my life. :)  Time is just FLYING by and I wish I could slow it down a little.  You are seventeen months old, going on three.  You want to do everything Jordan does and for the most part, you can.  And if you can't, you look awfully cute trying!

You are still such a sweet guy.  As long as you are rested in fed, you are content just to hang out, although you much prefer to hang out on someone's lap if you aren't playing.  But you have learned to play by yourself some.  You really enjoy stacking legos or picking up cars and putting them in the right place.  Yes, you heard that right.  You like picking up.  I don't know why, but you do and I'll take it!

One of my favorite things about you is that you always look a little confused.  You want to be a part of whatever is happening even if you don't get it!  So, if your brother is wrestling with dad, you want in on it.  If he is writing on the chalkboard, you get your chalk.  As an older sister, I can understand why sometimes Jordan gets a little frustrated with you, but he loves you!  If you two are apart for too long, he starts asking about you.  Every once in a while, he asks to hold you and on very rare (but wonderful!) occasions, you two hold hands.  I love watching you interact and am so thankful for your patience and your calm spirit.

I hope that I can keep updating.  Life is getting a little easier and more manageable as you two get older!

I love you, little man.

Mom

 

Falling!

Dear Marcus,

You have gone from walking to running to climbing...and falling.  A lot.  I feel like I can't turn my back on you for a second.  You get on the table, you get on the chairs, you stand on the recliners...and you fall.  A lot.  It's that age where I feel like I need to keep a helmet on you at all times.

Even though you are busy and keeping me on my toes, you are so sweet.  Your Dad was gone for eleven days to Eastern Europe and you were such a great kid.  You had your moments, of course, but you just were in a great mood and gave me so many smiles that it helped pass the time.  So many people comment on how you have grown up so fast.  I agree with them!

Part of the reason why you seem so big is you got a haircut!  I have to admit that I hated it at first and teared up, but now that I am used to it, I love it!  You look so handsome and I can really see your smile now. :)

I love you!!

Mom

 

Attitude

Dear Marcus,

In my last post, I talked about how you were walking.  Now you are running!  You love to go fast.  You love to be chased and to chase others.  You are so cute and such a little wild man. :)  You are in the age where I feel like I need to put a helmet on you all day. :)  You are such a mess.  I have found you standing (and sometimes falling off of) some very tall things...tables, chairs, etc.  And it seems like every time I pick you up from child-care at church or the gym, someone says "Well, Marcus had a little fall."  My response is always the same..."Well, he seems fine."  Silly kid!

You are still very sweet, but have started to get an attitude.  Or maybe I should call it, "an opinion"!  You know what you want and you have learned to assert yourself.  You are to the stage where you won't willingly give up a toy.  And you fight and push Jordan away if you have to.  He still wins most of the battles, but you are much more assertive!  And you are much more likely to scream at one of us if we don't meet your expectations.

We went to "Touch-a-Truck" a few weeks ago and it was so fun to see you turn into a little boy.  It's like a light switched and you are not a baby anymore.  You loved seeing the airplanes flying at Ozzie's and you were so excited to get to climb on trucks.  You make the best "proud of myself" face and we saw it all morning.

You are such a blessing to our family.  I cannot imagine what our lives would be like without you.  Certainly duller and much less sweet.  There would be fewer snuggles and fewer smiles.  You are happy and silly and perfect for us!  I love you!!

Love,

Mom

 

My Happy Guy

Dear Marcus,

You have always had a very calm and sweet disposition, but you definitely went through the whiney phase.  I think every kid does when they can't keep up with the people around them.  I couldn't blame you!  Who wants to be left by themselves in a room when everyone else can go everywhere they want. :)

Well, since you started walking, you have not stopped smiling.  You love walking!  Your favorite thing to do is to pick something up (preferably something really heavy!) and carry it to me.  You don't want to give it to me, but you just want to show me that you can carry it.  You have this very cute "proud of myself" look that just makes me smile!  And when I pick you up at the gym, you are usually just walking around smiling.  You are just so happy to be able to keep up with the rest of us!

We went to Granny and Papa Bill's house for Labor Day and you did great!  You had your moments where I was ready to go home (like during the entire OU game!) but you slept great, you played well and you just enjoyed walking around in the great outdoors!  My favorite was when Jordan caught a fish and Pappa put it down right in front of you.  You weren't quite sure about that, but you enjoyed poking at it!

Yesterday, we went to the Cleveland County fair. It was such a blast!  Jordan rode rides and you watched.  I took you on the carousel and you really enjoyed it.  You didn't smile the whole time, but you had a wide-eyed look as you soaked it all in.

I'm so thankful for you!  I'm blessed to be your Mom.

I love you!

Mom

 

The Big One

Dear Marcus,

Happy Birthday!  I cannot believe you are one.  This past year has gone by so fast and I just want to stop time.  But I'm glad that I can't, because I would have stopped it a year ago and missed out on the special little boy that you are.  Every stage of this past year has been wonderful.  You were a pretty easy baby, but even when things haven't been easy (the spit-up days, the "don't-leave-me-alone" days)...well, your sweet spirit just makes everything better.

You are the  perfect bend of sweet and wild.  You are patient and kind and gentle.  And yet, you are the first one to start a wrestling match or climb up on the couch and fall on your head.  (Thankfully, you've learned not to fall on your head, so that makes life easier!)  You are smart and silly and love to be with people.

You are not as much of a snuggler as Jordan is in the morning, but you make up for it throughout the day.  If someone is holding you, within a few minutes you will just lay your head on their shoulder.  Even if it is the briefest moment, that little gesture just makes my heart want to explode.  And you are sweet to just about everyone who will hold you.  You love people.

Your two favorite people: Your Dad and your brother.  Both of those guys just make your day.  When Dad comes home, he can't walk  by you without picking you up or you will follow him crying.  You will stay in his arms all day if he would let you.  You can't get enough of him.  And Jordan makes you giggle and laugh and all you want to do all day is follow him around and play with him.  He doesn't always enjoy that part of being a brother, but he loves you.  Your Dad and I get so much joy from seeing you two love each other.  A couple of days ago, while we were on a walk, Jordan reached over and held your hand.  It is such a wonderful thing to see you two grow closer.

You are a precious gift from God and I hope you always realize that.  You are miraculous, not just in how you came into this world, but the way you've made it a better place, even in just one year!  You are loved by so many and most importantly, you are loved by Him.  He created you just the way you are...and I am so thankful to have you as my son.  I wish I could find better words to let you know just how loved you are!

I love you, buddy.  Welcome to year #2!

Mom

 

You love your birthday presents!!