It has been a long time since I have written a letter, and man is there a lot to share, so before I forget it all... Here I go!
I'm going to start in August like I did with your sis since I did a pretty good job keep up through your second birthday. Pics and captions... that is what I have. Ha! I have kept up with fun happenings on Instagram and print those books regularly, so between this and those... we should have a good feel for how things have been the last 8 months.
AUGUST 2017
A little zoo trip with our adopted sister Paigey!
First Day of School where I ask you what your favorite things are and what you want to be when you grow up, and your answer to everything was BLUE!
You and your sister on the first day of school!
Mommy and Daddy are both happy and sad... our babies are growing up. Maxon's last first day of Toddler and Mollie's last first day of Primary! Next year is Primary and Elementary for my babies!
The Fair - way too hot (never going during the day again), but you loved getting into all the tractors!
Movie Night with my babies!
I have no idea what you were eating, but you are sooooo adorable.
SEPTEMBER 2017
The creepy mask that Mommy and Daddy got from a theatre experience in NYC that you both loved to play in... you were super creepy with it! Ha!
You and your sis watching a little TV. You are just cute...
At the Stott's home... you love their riding jeep and Mollie put a hat on you, which you wore happily. Then you were pretending to play air drums.
My gorgeous, beautiful, sweet, happy, fun little man. I love you so very much.
Mommy and her babies!
Being creative with balls and baskets.
Pool Time!
Music and Molasses Fall Festival to celebrate Willow Stott's Birthday! So fun... grandma even got to come.
All of the above pics are from the Fall Festival at The Hermitage (Home of President Andrew Jackson). You love watching plays, playing with your cousin (who was visiting), learning an instrument and lots of other fun activities. I love this festival every year!
Playing on our next door neighbor's trampoline. You and Donovan had a blast!
OCTOBER 2017
Early October visit by the Hamtramck MI family! Aunt V is pregnant with Baby Brandon here, but we don't know that he is Baby Brandon. Benefit of writing a letter about October in June of the following year.
Your hard work with dump trucks!
My baby... I love our sweet pics together.
Another couple of mommy/son photos. I love you, my baby boy!
We had been at the park on this day and they came out to say they had a multi-cultural dance/instrument event int he Library, so we attended. You loved it for about 20 minutes and then Daddy took you outside. Mollie and I stayed until the end.
Our sweet family! Daddy got to do Fall Festivals and Pumpkin picking and all kinds of Fall Fun with us this year. Sad he will sick, but he was a trooper himself and we loved all of our family time!
So you have had these types of rashes and break outs since you were a baby... We tried to stop everything and nothing worked. So... when you were 2 1/2 we begged for an allergy test. Turns out you have chronic hives as part of an auto-immune issue. So... we give you 2.5ml of Zyrtec every night and you are golden!!! Such a relief!
You are ridiculously adorable and that is really hard to pick up for a 2 year, 3 month old!
Supporting Reme Lynn Miller at her first cheerleading event and Jon Bruce at one of his last games at DCA! Everyone is growing up so fast!
Best BOO AT THE ZOO ever! So much fun! We were mostly with the Debi Miller family, but got to see Aunt Jess too. It was so low key and really fun!
You on a bike at school - you love bikes.
Really silly snapchat time with my babies at bedtime. It is so silly, but really fun!
My little man!
Jacob's 4th Birthday Party - so fun!
Nashville Shores BooFest! Another fun event!
Mama and Baby Fall Crafts (in lieu of cookies)
Park Time at next-door Jessica's 6th Birthday Party!
You two are soooo silly! I love it!
Bath time silly babies!
Outdoor digging with your construction equipment. Many pumpkins were moved during this time!
The beginning of Maxon's obsession with SPIDER-MAN!
Fall Festival at School!
An Annual Tradition - maybe our last - Trick-or-Treating with Emma Crawford's House
Mollie and I made a sign for the candy we left behind for our neighborhood kids!
NOVEMBER 2017
Come on... you are the cutest thing ever...
Family bike riding at the park
You and Mollie playing in the water... you guys were doing flips and rolling around in this mud.
We got some great bike riding in on this day!
Your First Race was in November (only) - because it got really cold and we couldn't swing it.
you did great!
The first race, you were way behind, the second race, you found an interesting bug on the ground you wanted to check out, and the third race you'd tricked the kid into thinking you weren't paying attention and almost beat him ;-)
2nd place! 1st trophy!
Grandma took Mollie to the store while we took you for a celebratory ice cream!
Another cool zoo trip just the three of us.
Making some Thanksgiving crafts at the house!
You "helped" me make cinnamon rolls. You were super good at it and not messy at all.
Then some bike riding while the cinnamon rolls were rising.
Snuggle and reading time with Daddy
This is a tradition with Mommy's best friend's family and ours. We go to the Country Cove Christmas Tree Farm and cut down our tree, go on a hayride, and get hot cocoa. Such a fun time on Thanksgiving weekend!
Another tradition is going to the Dancing Lights of Christmas with the Miller's - then the fun Santa's playhouse, Santa pics, and all the fun! This year you got to ride a train!
Trying to get the house decorated before Daddy has surgery on the First, so we did a LOT on Thanksgiving weekend, but we had so much fun!
You got sick, and so we also got to snuggle. I love your snuggles, I just wish you weren't sick.
big sis putting the star on the tree and watching a movie.
Grandpa Ed spent his second Thanksgiving with us in the last two years. He and Mollie went on a scavenger hunt, and you tagged along. They got to go camping, but I think 2018 will be your year to start participating in some of that stuff!
Craft time by the Christmas Tree!
Up and downstairs decorated before the end of the month.
Cuddle Time with Daddy!
Pics from School - holes in your bread.
DECEMBER 2018
In March of 2017 - your Daddy was diagnosed with Stage III Rectal (colon) Cancer. He spent the year going through chemo, radiation/chemo and surgery. These pics are your daddy before and after surgery. In December 2017 - he spent 10 days in the hospital, so I was funneling between Vanderbilt Medical Center, home, school, etc. Thankfully I had Grammie. We did all of our decorating before surgery on December 1st, so we were able to enjoy a lovely home decorated for the holidays while going through a scary and uncertain time. You and your sister were amazing. We are so grateful that you have such a tough daddy and that he beat that crazy cancer!!!!
In the midst of your Daddy being in the hospital... you were dealing with something too. You (we later learned) have chronic urticaria or chronic hives. This is a result of an auto immune issue. Well... you were getting hives one night in early December, which turned into your face swelling on one side. I rushed you to the doctor and was pulled over in the process, and the police officer didn't care... he only cared about writing me a ticket (I'm still angry about that one), but this too is a part of that auto-immune issue. Why you gotta scare your mama so bad all the time with seizures and swelling faces, and chronic hives? Ha!
Daddy was so sad to miss this for the first time, but we didn't want you guys to miss the MJ Christmas Parade, so Grammie and I took you and you will NEVER believe what happened? The morning of the parade you were talking with Aunt Jenny and we told her we were going to a Christmas Parade and the theme was Star Wars, so she says - I sure hope a Storm Trooper gives you candy. Well... you took that to heart and spent the morning talking about a Storm Trooper giving you candy. Guess what????? A Storm Trooper gave you candy! I have it on video and it was THE BEST!
Don't hate me for this one... so cute!!!
Christmas craft time!
Outdoor digging...
A blurry picture at our annual Friend Christmas at the Cotterman's. Framily: The Miller's, The Cotterman's, and the Crawford's (Kids: Mollie, Maxon, Keenan, Neve, Will, Emma)
Framily time gift exchange with Aunt Jess and RL! So fun! Then Mollie cleaned out her car as a part of her random acts of kindness!
Christmas with Grammie before she leaves!
First haircut by GRAMMIE! Grammie has given the first haircut to all the grandkids!
School pajama day! You two are so stinking adorable!
Gifts from our neighbor, Ms. Mavis!
Craft Time.
Our Christmas Card front and back... If I'd had the time send them out.
Our beautiful upstairs tree for Christmas 2017!
My adorable Christmas bubbs!
Christmas Eve presents and Christmas Eve surprise guests... The Mathis family!
CHRISTMAS MORNING 2017!!!
Downstairs Tree - Christmas 2017
The Big Gifts - The Dump Truck
And the Trampoline!
More gifts kept arriving by the Christmas Elves!
Saying goodbye to 2017 and HELLO TO 2018!
New Year's Eve with the Bruce's! And Grandma!
Grandma is helping you break in the new trampoline on New Year's Eve!
Mommy and Daddy Love!
Mollie made it to midnight... maybe next year you will too!
The midnight crew that rang in the new year!
JANUARY 2018
We began our First Sunday Brunch Club for all the non-church-going people we know, and we had a blast!!!
Playtime with Sis... these are such great moments.
Being silly with Snapchat.
Decorating Cookies!
We had snow coloring from Jessica next door - she was a little sad you used all the red, but Daddy got some great footage of you looking like you were bleeding. It definitely looked like destruction had happened.
Sledding!
First snow of the year.
You LOVED sledding on our dusting of snow!
You cooked me some food and it was totally delicious... tasted like plastic, but made with love.
Dinner with our friend Reme Lynn.
Haha! I have such great pics of you... you are always in underwear or Spider-Man
Best. Shots. Ever.
My sweet little butterfly.
FEBRUARY 2018
Cooler than a cucumber!
The cutest boy in the tiniest glasses ;-)
You were not feeling good on this day...
Captain Underpants!
Meeting a dog in the neighborhood!
Our Friend Neve was over and you showed her your tent.
My little boy that excavates...
Birthday Parties wear you out and you were still not 100%
My Spider-Man... you live in this Spider-Man OOOniform!
Bowling Night with the family!
I went and put together IKEA furniture for someone to get this bed for you! All Star Wars... little did I know that your true love will continue to be Spider-Man. We will be doing a re-do of the room for your Birthday!
Valentines Day!!! You got your Spider-ManAction Figure!
Half Spider-Man/Half Peter Parker
Reading books before bedtime!
Baking Rainbow Cupcakes as a practice for Mollie's Birthday!
My Sweet Boy!
Success!
You gathered together your guys and gave them a talking to, because they were not protecting your mommy. This made me laugh and cry and I will NEVER forget it!
Spider-Man Trampoline Time!
Picnic time for the family!
Keenan's Pump It Up Birthday Party
You had a crush on this girl!
But you didn't want a picture...
until Now...
and now...
You met a fellow Spider-Man and had the most civil and adorable webbing battle I've ever seen. I can't even describe how precious this was... especially since you tend to be more aggressive than you realize sometimes!
TV Time with SIS!
MARCH 2018
Saying Goodbye to Kramer... our kitty of 15 1/2 years. We will miss him dearly. You loved this big fat cat.
My sweet, sick little boy.
My last pictures with Kramer.
Mollie's last pictures with Kramer. We couldn't get any with you, because you were sleeping and not feeling well yourself.
Cosmo feeling sad after losing his brother.
A rare Peter Parker sighting doing his Spider-Man moves
Our sweet friend Lyric's birthday party in Knoxville!
A pic with my babies... taken by Mollie
Final Swim Maintenance! You fought this sooooo hard. You know how to roll over, but you just scream the whole time. If I could go back and tell myself that I should wait two months until this summer, because you will be a different kid in the water.
First Haircut not by Grammie. You did great! Family's Edge.
Mollie's SIX days until she turns SIX!
More Spider-Man sightings... as Peter Parker. You really are rarely out of your uniform. You ask that we bring it with us, so you can change immediately. Sometimes I forget to your great sadness. But... you still bust out your SM MOVES!
Mollie reading to us while Darth Vader looks on...
Channeling your inner JEDI
I'm being webbed!
Hibatchi Grill for Mollie's birthday with the Miller's
My sweet family!
Rainbow Waffles for Mollie's Birthday - It's a tradition
We were so calm and stress-free the morning of Mollie's party that we played in puddles, jumped on the trampoline, and took baths before the party!
Mollie's Party!
You brought home the spoils.
The Birthday Girl!
Visiting Universal for an Easter Egg Hunt and the Easter Bunny, but you didn't want a pic with the bunny - you wanted to study and then web him. Ha!
Hanging with our big sis Paigey!
A little stop on the way to Texas for Spring Break - Mommy and Daddy get to go to Hawaii and you get extra time with family!
A walk at the park and by a stream with the fam!
A few pics of Mommy and Daddy in Hawaii - Shark's Cove, Turtle Bay, Hanauma Bay, random other spots. We had the ABSOLUTE best time!
Bouncy House and Ice Cream when we got back with the family!
The ZOO with Grandma and the four of us!
WE TUCKERED YOU GUYS OUT!
SIX FLAGS with our family, Aunt Jenny, Olivia, Lily, and Henry!
Easter Egg Hunt with our Fort Worth Family - Eggs were dropped from a Helicopter and you LOVED that!
APRIL 2018
Heading home after a beautiful time in TX and Hawaii! We have four worn out, happy Janiszewski's
Covered in hives and finally getting to the doc to get allergy tested, only you didn't get allergy tested because they discovered you have chronic hives. Auto-Immune issue. So... NO ALLERGIES... you just have to take 2.5ml of Zyrtec every day and you are FABULOUS! What a relief!
Playing in the park at the sand!
Daddy thought this was funny - it was at the Helicopter Egg Drop in TX, but didn't send it to me until later. haha!
Our Garden
Our front yard flowers
Spider-Man PJ's
School Pics!
Not sure where we were going, but we were happy about it!
Daddy getting ready for a night of camping.
Mollie's friend Shaunee came over and they slept in the tent, we roasted marshmallows, at smore's and had a great night!
Emma's 6th Birthday Party!
You both sat down to read your own bedtime stories.
Jacket-flip-fail, but oh so perfect in every way!
mommy and daddy doing our civic duty!
Trip to the Zoo with the Miller's
While Mommy was cleaning... sis helped herself to my makeup, and you both got a new face! I love this so much!
Sidewalk Paint - one of Mollie's Bday Presents
MAY 2018
Getting out poolside for the first time. It was warm enough for you guys, but not for me. At this point... you stay on the stairs... but not for long ;-)
Mr. Brendan and Ms. Carolyn - They are your swim teachers and they have taught you to save your life. Mommy and Daddy are making a documentary about them. They've changed our lives by teaching you to save yours, and YOU my sweet boy - are a completely different kid.
A little chilly after a May swim.
Decided to do this, because it was a tiny bit too cold to be in the pool and too warm to not be in water of some kind.
Trampoline time!
Thinking back on the anniversary of my dad's death - May 11th, 2015. Before you were born. You two did meet briefly... days before he died. He would call me over and put his hand on my big, huge belly full of you, my sweet little guy and you would immediately kick him and he would cry. He was in the hospital and likely grappling with the thought that he would die and never get to meet you. Weeks before he promised me he would make it to at least hold you in his arms, but he didn't. He died 2 months and 10 days before you were born. I'm glad you at least gave him a foot five... one of our favorite fives to give. You two would have loved each other.
Our gorgeous deck and backyard.
Will's 6th Birthday Party
Experiencing Virtual Reality!
Pool Time with Big Sis Paigey
Park Time!
You painted me a rock at school that said "My Mom Rocks" and you said "I made this for you Mommy... I love you sooooo much." I adore you my little love, and this gift meant the world to me. The paint crumbled off the next day, but I will always have this picture of you giving it to me.
I was treated to breakfast and flowers and swimming time and a nap! What a perfect day with my loves.
You have a smaller costume (your first one from Halloween) that you grew out of and keep for backup - you decided you wanted Neve to wear it so she could be Spider-Girl... she did and it was ADORABLE. and then you wanted it back...
Daddy working on floating. You were NOT happy about it, but you did it. Now... you don't need our help at all... you are ROCKING it!
Your first motor vehicle crash since the one that led to your early birth. You crashed it right into a bush. haha!
cheesing it
our Oasis!
Field Day at MJMA! What a fun day. You missed the whole thing because you were napping. Next year, you get to join us!
Mollie was in her first play... she was a munchkin, lullaby league, flying monkey and winkie guard. You loved her costumes and wanted to wear them. You wanted the fleece flying monkey costume out at the park first in 95 degree weather... poor kid, but I let you do it!
Last Day of Toddler, last day with Ms. Mayra. Ms. Desi was visiting her Grandfather that subsequently passed away... so she wasn't there to get a pic, but we will get one!
Last Day of School BLUES!
Lunch at Red Robin after Mollie's bridging ceremony to first grade on the last day of school.
Daddy took you guys up to MI so Mollie could go with Grammie. You had a wonderful trip.
They took you to the famous soccer game there in Hamtramck. You guys didn't last long, but you had a good time.
Aunt Veronica, Brandon, and Donovan came back with Daddy and spent a week with us. We had the best time, and loved every moment with our cousins. Mommy got lots of good one-on-one time with you too.
I adore you, my sweet boy, with everything I am. I am so grateful that I get to be your mommy. What an honor and how I love your commitment and joy to Spider-Man... you ARE Spider-Man (except when you are Peter Parker) and occasionally a lullaby leaguer and a flying monkey. You love to run, play, ride your bike, and swim. You are in soccer shots (love it) and we tried out gymnastics (not for you right now), and I love watching you grow and thrive.
You LOVE excavators. You see the pic at the Discovery Center above of you on the excavator? You were at that station for an hour of the two hours we were there. You would occasionally have to get up so other kids could do it, and then you waited patiently eager for the moment you could hop back on. You love trains and enjoyed playing at that station for a long time. I love watching you experience life and the way you love me. Your kisses and I Love You's cover all the times you ask me to walk away or that you don't want me ONE THOUSAND FOLD. We have a very special bond. I adore you completely... I will Love you Forever, I will Like you for Always, As long as I'm living - my baby you'll be.
Love you to the moon and back,
Mommy
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