Dear Ransom,
The last few months have been truly different for our family. For one thing, you are currently separated from your Mommy and Daddy and are staying with Papa and Spicy in Nacogdoches.
When we first decided to come to Texas to give Tabitha the best possible care, we thought that you would get to stay with Mommy in Houston. However, things changed and you are now living in Nacogdoches at Papa and Spicy's house. You spend Monday's with Nana and you go to school on Tuesday's and Thursday's with Kilsyth. And then, on the weekends you usually get to go visit Mommy at the Ronald McDonald House, which you call the "ol' McDonald House".
As your Mommy I cannot tell you how proud I am of you and how well you have adjusted to all of the changes that have taken place in your little life these last few months. One habit you have developed is to ask what people are doing over and over again. It usually goes like this:
"What's Daddy doing?"
Answer: "Daddy is at work."
"What's Mommy doing?"
Answer: "Mommy is at the Doctor ( or as the case may be now...) she is at the Ol' Mcdonald house."
You will ask these questions many times in a day, even if you just so happen to be with us, sitting across the table from us! But you are always happy with a simple answer and I am grateful that you seem comforted by an answer that you feel like you already know is coming. In fact, if we answer something different from "Daddy is working" you will correct the person and tell them that, no, Daddy is at work! You are a funny fellow!
As hard as it is to not get to see you every single day, we are so glad that you're having so much fun with the rest of your family. You are such a talkative little boy and you now can easily tell us about your day in pretty good detail. We are so proud of your extensive vocabulary. You still love fire engines and ambulances and anything else that have lights and loud sounds! And you are one lucky little boy, because since your birthday in August you have gotten to visit a Fire Station, you've "driven" an airplane, motorcycles and even a real race car! We are lucky that you love cars and trucks so much because traveling with you is really quite fun! You point out all the different cars and big rigs and construction equipment that you see along the way and have a grand time telling everyone about it.
You also love this opportunity to go to school with your cousin Kilsyth. Every time you see each other, even if its only been a few hours, you always run and give each other a big hug and a kiss. It is such fun to see you play together and lately you've really enjoyed talking to one another on the phone. You have full blown 2-year-old conversations with one another! You love going to school and getting to play and see your teacher "Miss Allison". You've only gotten in trouble once, when you and Kilsyth ganged up on another kid, and you apparently threw such a fit when you got in trouble that other teachers were coming to check on your class to make sure everything was OK! You definitely do not like to get in trouble and usually try your best to "punish" whoever is punishing you with a huge spectacle.
You've had fun getting to spend time at Nana's house too. You love how much you get to play outside at her house and that she has a dog and a cat AND a tricycle for you to ride. We are so grateful that you've built such a strong relationship with your grandparents because of this particular situation. But with all the good that has come from this time, we can not WAIT to be back together as a family! Your mommy and daddy miss you terribly every single day we are apart!
We love you,
Mommy
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
2 years old
Dear Ransom,
You are going to be 2 years old tomorrow. Which means, that 2 years ago today I was in labor. Thanks for that.
That being said, I've been thinking recently about the sentiment that you often hear from mothers, how they wish they their little babies would stay little babies forever. I never understood this. I loved you when you were a baby, sure. But I really could hardly wait for the fun things to come. Well, I think I've finally reached the point. The point when I'd like to keep you like this forever. You are so very very fun to be around. You are constantly saying funny things, doing funny things. You are bubbling over with excitement for life and you can hardly contain it all.
I love how you so very much wish you knew more words. You can speak in short sentences now, but its quite clear that, in your mind, some things deserve to be talked about in paragraphs. Of course, your lack of vocabulary does not stop you. Oh no. You'll just repeat the words you DO know until they have adequately filled the proper space that is needed.
You have a very good sense of humor and are continually cracking yourself up. But this is not enough, you have also started yelling for Mommy or Daddy until one of us acknowledges what your incredible wit has come up with now. Why, yes, Ransom...two pacifiers in your mouth is hilarious. Putting a little piece of play dough into that lantern where a candle should go....pure genius. Of course, we laugh with you. We laugh because we are delighted by your discoveries of the world around you. We too, have renewed interest in firetrucks, motorcycles, mail trucks, ambulances, police cars, bicycles, pianos, guitars, dogs and anything else you might have come to love.
We think its great that you love the Wheels on the Bus song so much, that for a while you would ask us to put anything and everything on the bus. Not just normal things like people and animals (one could argue that they do not belong on the bus either) but airplanes and helicopters, pacifiers, showers, rain, various foods...all of them have been on the bus, and we have done our very best to come up with the proper sounds for each one.
We think its great that have recently started pushing two of your stuffed animals around perched on top of your lawnmower like it were a stroller. Every so often you will take one off, cradle it like a baby and bounce and "shhh" it. We assume that God is subconsciously preparing you for two sisters....but whatever the case, you are quite the little Daddy.
We think its great that you like to eat grapes and bananas, strawberries and you LOVE cheese. We love that you now understand bargaining and will at least try bites of new foods if you know that you'll get a bite of something you like afterwards. In this way you have found that you are actually not as picky as you may have thought you were...and that your food tastes really DO branch out past four foods. geez.
Yes, there are definitely things that are not fun about two year olds. 2 year old tantrums are REAL. And you have them from time to time. Especially if things change quickly or if something different from what you were expecting happens. Or if someone looks at you wrong and doesn't give you exactly what you want. ha! ;-)
But, honestly, the good outweighs the bad so very much. And I love that you are still my little boy. My little boy who gives the very best hugs and kisses. My little boy who is the very best cuddler and who likes to hang out in bed playing under pillows and blankets ( Mommy likes beds too). I love that your hair grows super fast and gets curly when its humid. I love your stinky little feet and how you like to hold hands when we pray. I love that you sing in your crib when you wake up in the mornings and before you go to sleep at night.
Your Daddy and I are so very grateful for you in our lives, above all you have taught us that we know very little and must rely on our Lord Jesus for all wisdom when it comes to raising you. We are thankful that you point us to Him every single day, and we pray that one day you will come to love Him as much as we do.
Happy Birthday, my little two year old!
Mommy
You are going to be 2 years old tomorrow. Which means, that 2 years ago today I was in labor. Thanks for that.
That being said, I've been thinking recently about the sentiment that you often hear from mothers, how they wish they their little babies would stay little babies forever. I never understood this. I loved you when you were a baby, sure. But I really could hardly wait for the fun things to come. Well, I think I've finally reached the point. The point when I'd like to keep you like this forever. You are so very very fun to be around. You are constantly saying funny things, doing funny things. You are bubbling over with excitement for life and you can hardly contain it all.
I love how you so very much wish you knew more words. You can speak in short sentences now, but its quite clear that, in your mind, some things deserve to be talked about in paragraphs. Of course, your lack of vocabulary does not stop you. Oh no. You'll just repeat the words you DO know until they have adequately filled the proper space that is needed.
You have a very good sense of humor and are continually cracking yourself up. But this is not enough, you have also started yelling for Mommy or Daddy until one of us acknowledges what your incredible wit has come up with now. Why, yes, Ransom...two pacifiers in your mouth is hilarious. Putting a little piece of play dough into that lantern where a candle should go....pure genius. Of course, we laugh with you. We laugh because we are delighted by your discoveries of the world around you. We too, have renewed interest in firetrucks, motorcycles, mail trucks, ambulances, police cars, bicycles, pianos, guitars, dogs and anything else you might have come to love.
We think its great that you love the Wheels on the Bus song so much, that for a while you would ask us to put anything and everything on the bus. Not just normal things like people and animals (one could argue that they do not belong on the bus either) but airplanes and helicopters, pacifiers, showers, rain, various foods...all of them have been on the bus, and we have done our very best to come up with the proper sounds for each one.
We think its great that have recently started pushing two of your stuffed animals around perched on top of your lawnmower like it were a stroller. Every so often you will take one off, cradle it like a baby and bounce and "shhh" it. We assume that God is subconsciously preparing you for two sisters....but whatever the case, you are quite the little Daddy.
We think its great that you like to eat grapes and bananas, strawberries and you LOVE cheese. We love that you now understand bargaining and will at least try bites of new foods if you know that you'll get a bite of something you like afterwards. In this way you have found that you are actually not as picky as you may have thought you were...and that your food tastes really DO branch out past four foods. geez.
Yes, there are definitely things that are not fun about two year olds. 2 year old tantrums are REAL. And you have them from time to time. Especially if things change quickly or if something different from what you were expecting happens. Or if someone looks at you wrong and doesn't give you exactly what you want. ha! ;-)
But, honestly, the good outweighs the bad so very much. And I love that you are still my little boy. My little boy who gives the very best hugs and kisses. My little boy who is the very best cuddler and who likes to hang out in bed playing under pillows and blankets ( Mommy likes beds too). I love that your hair grows super fast and gets curly when its humid. I love your stinky little feet and how you like to hold hands when we pray. I love that you sing in your crib when you wake up in the mornings and before you go to sleep at night.
Your Daddy and I are so very grateful for you in our lives, above all you have taught us that we know very little and must rely on our Lord Jesus for all wisdom when it comes to raising you. We are thankful that you point us to Him every single day, and we pray that one day you will come to love Him as much as we do.
Happy Birthday, my little two year old!
Mommy
Friday, July 13, 2012
"Guitar"
Dear Ransom,
Over the last few weeks your love of guitars has grown exponentially. It started one day when we showed you a video of Great Steve playing one of his guitars on Youtube. That is when you learned the word, and also learned the sound that guitars made. From then on if a song started on the radio with a guitar solo you would yell out "GOOOO-TAR" very loudly.
Your interest and love grew even more when your Daddy one day let you play with his guitar. The guitar lives propped up in a corner of our living room and from then on Mommy has been bombarded by your requests to play with it again. Lets just say that it got so incessant that a Ukulele was quickly purchased on Amazon for 20 dollars so you could have your own guitar.
You LOVE it. At night it is the last thing you talk about before going to sleep. When you wake up from your naps it is the first thing you want to go find. And in the mornings.....well, in the mornings you watch video after video of people playing guitars on youtube while Mommy does her quiet time. No more sesame street or preschool prep videos for you! Nope, straight up people doing guitar rifts is the only thing for you.
Love, Mommy
Over the last few weeks your love of guitars has grown exponentially. It started one day when we showed you a video of Great Steve playing one of his guitars on Youtube. That is when you learned the word, and also learned the sound that guitars made. From then on if a song started on the radio with a guitar solo you would yell out "GOOOO-TAR" very loudly.
Your interest and love grew even more when your Daddy one day let you play with his guitar. The guitar lives propped up in a corner of our living room and from then on Mommy has been bombarded by your requests to play with it again. Lets just say that it got so incessant that a Ukulele was quickly purchased on Amazon for 20 dollars so you could have your own guitar.
You LOVE it. At night it is the last thing you talk about before going to sleep. When you wake up from your naps it is the first thing you want to go find. And in the mornings.....well, in the mornings you watch video after video of people playing guitars on youtube while Mommy does her quiet time. No more sesame street or preschool prep videos for you! Nope, straight up people doing guitar rifts is the only thing for you.
Love, Mommy
Monday, June 25, 2012
Special Friends
Dear Ransom,
The last few months you have become more and more attached to your stuffed animals. Not only do you love Bear and Lamb, who have slept with you since you were an infant, but you have added to the pack. Now you have Bear, Lamb, Bear 2, Liger and most recently Fox. I will seriously have to have people ask me for permission to give you more stuffed animals because its already almost impossible for you to carry all of your friends-and yet you give it your best effort. You have them all stuffed in your arms and you carry them around with you throughout the day. However, probably for your ease, you will often choose one or two of them to be your "favorites" for several days. Last week it was most definitely "Lamb". Your love for Lamb coincided with a little trip to Texas while Daddy was in the field for work. And you need to have Lamb with you while we flew on an airplane to TX. I had not noticed until we were in public the pitfall of your love for lamb combined with your inability to pronounce the "L" sound. Yup. There we were in the airport, around tons of people, and you were calling out for your Daaaaaaaammmmmnnn. Yup. Lamb with a "D" at the beginning is a totally different word.
This week you are attached at the hip to Bear 2. You enjoy having him sit next to you while you eat dinner, and you feed him all the things you don't like. Which is usually a lot. Since you eat about 5 food items and sniff disdainfully at everything else. Don't worry, Mommy won't let you go so easily and we've been having quite the epic meal sessions where you cry and scream for an hour or so before finally giving in and eating whatever I serve you. You also take Bear 2 with you in the car and into StoryTime. Or anywhere else we might go during the day. Its definitely nice to have a friend to share things like pointing out all the cars, trucks, ambulances, buses, fire engines, balloons, and tractors that you might see in a given trip.
You are such a fun kid and I love you so much,
Your Mommy
The last few months you have become more and more attached to your stuffed animals. Not only do you love Bear and Lamb, who have slept with you since you were an infant, but you have added to the pack. Now you have Bear, Lamb, Bear 2, Liger and most recently Fox. I will seriously have to have people ask me for permission to give you more stuffed animals because its already almost impossible for you to carry all of your friends-and yet you give it your best effort. You have them all stuffed in your arms and you carry them around with you throughout the day. However, probably for your ease, you will often choose one or two of them to be your "favorites" for several days. Last week it was most definitely "Lamb". Your love for Lamb coincided with a little trip to Texas while Daddy was in the field for work. And you need to have Lamb with you while we flew on an airplane to TX. I had not noticed until we were in public the pitfall of your love for lamb combined with your inability to pronounce the "L" sound. Yup. There we were in the airport, around tons of people, and you were calling out for your Daaaaaaaammmmmnnn. Yup. Lamb with a "D" at the beginning is a totally different word.
This week you are attached at the hip to Bear 2. You enjoy having him sit next to you while you eat dinner, and you feed him all the things you don't like. Which is usually a lot. Since you eat about 5 food items and sniff disdainfully at everything else. Don't worry, Mommy won't let you go so easily and we've been having quite the epic meal sessions where you cry and scream for an hour or so before finally giving in and eating whatever I serve you. You also take Bear 2 with you in the car and into StoryTime. Or anywhere else we might go during the day. Its definitely nice to have a friend to share things like pointing out all the cars, trucks, ambulances, buses, fire engines, balloons, and tractors that you might see in a given trip.
You are such a fun kid and I love you so much,
Your Mommy
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Gymnastics
Dear Ransom,
Today was you first day of gymnastics. You were pretty excited when we arrived and you wanted to get into everything. But as soon as you had to do the first "structured" activity which was running down a trampoline you balked big time. It became pretty clear that you do everything on your own terms and your terms are described with one word: slower. As long as I didn't push you, or gave you time to watch the other kids do it, you were usually really good at what ever activity it was, but all in all it was a lot like herding cats trying to keep you on track and doing what every one else was doing! I was impressed, however, with your really good balance and how well you did all the climbing and jumping! I'm looking forward to next week and seeing how you warm up to the class!
Love you!
Mommy
Today was you first day of gymnastics. You were pretty excited when we arrived and you wanted to get into everything. But as soon as you had to do the first "structured" activity which was running down a trampoline you balked big time. It became pretty clear that you do everything on your own terms and your terms are described with one word: slower. As long as I didn't push you, or gave you time to watch the other kids do it, you were usually really good at what ever activity it was, but all in all it was a lot like herding cats trying to keep you on track and doing what every one else was doing! I was impressed, however, with your really good balance and how well you did all the climbing and jumping! I'm looking forward to next week and seeing how you warm up to the class!
Love you!
Mommy
Thursday, April 5, 2012
19 months
Dear Ransom,
I know its been a while since I've written, but you and I have been busy! Daddy was gone for a whole month of March and that was a bit different for us both!
While there are tons of things I could mention, like how you know 90 % your letters ( most of the time) and you can sing ( most of) the ABC Song, ( you're favorite part is definitely the "now I know my ABCs" part...which is ironic, since you don't reeeeally know them all). And how your vocabulary continues to blossom...there are two things I don't want to forget.
While your Daddy was away, I was both happy and sad at how much you missed him! You mentioned him all the time, especially if you thought you heard the back door open in the evenings. And when you saw anyone with a Hoodie, hood up ( something daddy always does in the mornings or while lounging) you immediately thought it was Daddy. You always took special care to point out any picture of Daddy when looking through pictures. And while you liked to watch the videos he made for you of him reading to you...you liked the video of just you talking better. *sigh* I guess you ARE just a toddler. ;-)
This month you've also become very attached to your "Bears" this month, and you especially enjoy carrying your Mommy's special "Brett Bear" around with you whereever you go ( I'm very nice about sharing) ...You also really like to put diapers on your bears. You aren't very good at it, but you enjoy the process of going and getting the diapers out of their basket, bringing them in to your bear and then placing the bear on top of them. You also like to have you bears hug each other and give each other big smacking kisses and fed them your sippy cups.
You continue to be the pride and absolute delight of my days. Your Mommy and Daddy love you SO much,
Mommy
I know its been a while since I've written, but you and I have been busy! Daddy was gone for a whole month of March and that was a bit different for us both!
While there are tons of things I could mention, like how you know 90 % your letters ( most of the time) and you can sing ( most of) the ABC Song, ( you're favorite part is definitely the "now I know my ABCs" part...which is ironic, since you don't reeeeally know them all). And how your vocabulary continues to blossom...there are two things I don't want to forget.
While your Daddy was away, I was both happy and sad at how much you missed him! You mentioned him all the time, especially if you thought you heard the back door open in the evenings. And when you saw anyone with a Hoodie, hood up ( something daddy always does in the mornings or while lounging) you immediately thought it was Daddy. You always took special care to point out any picture of Daddy when looking through pictures. And while you liked to watch the videos he made for you of him reading to you...you liked the video of just you talking better. *sigh* I guess you ARE just a toddler. ;-)
This month you've also become very attached to your "Bears" this month, and you especially enjoy carrying your Mommy's special "Brett Bear" around with you whereever you go ( I'm very nice about sharing) ...You also really like to put diapers on your bears. You aren't very good at it, but you enjoy the process of going and getting the diapers out of their basket, bringing them in to your bear and then placing the bear on top of them. You also like to have you bears hug each other and give each other big smacking kisses and fed them your sippy cups.
You continue to be the pride and absolute delight of my days. Your Mommy and Daddy love you SO much,
Thursday, February 9, 2012
18 months
Dear Ransom,
You're a year and a half old today! Where has the time gone? Its gone so fast that I didn't even write you a letter last month! This is probably because I was busy chasing after you- you're quite the fast little runner...and you're favorite is running up and down the hall, giggling and landing in the basket of blankets at the end. Or running up and down the front walkway- mouth open, expression of delight on your face...
And I've been busy answering your questions: " What's that?" or "How are you?" (you ask this all the time now). And while I'm not a morning person and I doubt I ever, ever will be...the fact that I can count on your little curly head poking up out of your crib and saying, "Hi! How are you?" when I come in every morning...well, that's about as good as a double tall soy latte.
Of course, you've also been busy the last two months. You've gotten more attached to your "bears" ( all your stuffed animals) your favorite being your Mommy's Brett Bear that Daddy got her while he was deployed. You carry it around a lot during the day, pretending to feed it your sippy cup and pretending to put a "die-purr" on it...you're quite the good little babysitter. You also are really into trucks and are constantly crawling around the floor pushing a car, making car noises ( how do little boys know all the car sounds from such an early age?!).
We've also started going to two different story times during the week, the one on Monday's is at the Columbus Library and the one on Wednesday's at the Fort Benning Library. Even though we've been going for some time now you still stand perfectly still and watch all the other kids during any dancing/singing segment. At first I just thought you weren't interested in the music, but now I know its just that you're a major observer when you're in a large group. But, once we get you home you absolutely looove to do the Hokey Pokey and Wheels on the Bus with all the hand motions. ( you usually ask us to repeat ANY and EVERY song we sing to you with a very loud "MO!")
You also still love being outside, and you love going to the little park behind our house. Going down the slide is definitely your favorite, though you'd rather have Mommy or Daddy go down the slide with you. And you've been perfecting your climbing up steps skills in a big way, which is good since we live on the top floor and have to climb stairs every day!
Speaking of top floor, our dear friends the Fones have moved in down stairs, and we get to share baby monitor channels with them! One of the things you ask for all the time is to see "Baby" on the baby monitor. You also know all the places that Lily plays when she comes up stairs to visit us and you often point at her empty Bumpo and ask for the Baby ( Lily is a hard name to say, but you do try every so often...).
You still love to draw and sit at your table and chairs and "write" for a good part of every day. You don't like "big crayons" that most kids your age use, but prefer to have a normal pen ( we have these cool crayon pens that twist up that I love!) . You also hold the pen correctly which also plays nicely into your ability to feed yourself. You are very good with both spoons and forks, but honestly the hard part is keeping that OTHER hand out of your food bowl. Its just SO much fun to stick your hand in your food...
Ransom, I could go on and on about all the fun things that you do and have learned in the past few months. And even though you only take one nap a day I have actually caught myself a few times during nap time thinking that I can't wait till you get up so we can play together some more.
You are such a cuddly and loving little dude ( you're very nice about saying "I love you" back when someone says it to you.) and your hugs and wet open mouthed kisses are some of the best parts of my day.
I love you with all my heart,
Mommy
You're a year and a half old today! Where has the time gone? Its gone so fast that I didn't even write you a letter last month! This is probably because I was busy chasing after you- you're quite the fast little runner...and you're favorite is running up and down the hall, giggling and landing in the basket of blankets at the end. Or running up and down the front walkway- mouth open, expression of delight on your face...
And I've been busy answering your questions: " What's that?" or "How are you?" (you ask this all the time now). And while I'm not a morning person and I doubt I ever, ever will be...the fact that I can count on your little curly head poking up out of your crib and saying, "Hi! How are you?" when I come in every morning...well, that's about as good as a double tall soy latte.
Of course, you've also been busy the last two months. You've gotten more attached to your "bears" ( all your stuffed animals) your favorite being your Mommy's Brett Bear that Daddy got her while he was deployed. You carry it around a lot during the day, pretending to feed it your sippy cup and pretending to put a "die-purr" on it...you're quite the good little babysitter. You also are really into trucks and are constantly crawling around the floor pushing a car, making car noises ( how do little boys know all the car sounds from such an early age?!).
In the mornings you get to watch one of your Movies in Mommy's bed while she does her Quiet Time. You've been watching an ABC's video for a few weeks now, and while you don't seem to differentiate any of the letters when it comes to how they look, you DO prefer certain letters because of how they sound coming off your tongue. Your first favorite letter was "E" ( or "eeeeeeeeeee") your second favorite letter was "O" ( or "ooooooohhhhh") and now you've given all other letters up for "W" ( or "double-yoooooooooou") . ALL letters are "W" to you now, and any time you see any letter you point and say 'W'. You are a genius for sure.
We've also started going to two different story times during the week, the one on Monday's is at the Columbus Library and the one on Wednesday's at the Fort Benning Library. Even though we've been going for some time now you still stand perfectly still and watch all the other kids during any dancing/singing segment. At first I just thought you weren't interested in the music, but now I know its just that you're a major observer when you're in a large group. But, once we get you home you absolutely looove to do the Hokey Pokey and Wheels on the Bus with all the hand motions. ( you usually ask us to repeat ANY and EVERY song we sing to you with a very loud "MO!")
You also still love being outside, and you love going to the little park behind our house. Going down the slide is definitely your favorite, though you'd rather have Mommy or Daddy go down the slide with you. And you've been perfecting your climbing up steps skills in a big way, which is good since we live on the top floor and have to climb stairs every day!
Speaking of top floor, our dear friends the Fones have moved in down stairs, and we get to share baby monitor channels with them! One of the things you ask for all the time is to see "Baby" on the baby monitor. You also know all the places that Lily plays when she comes up stairs to visit us and you often point at her empty Bumpo and ask for the Baby ( Lily is a hard name to say, but you do try every so often...).
You still love to draw and sit at your table and chairs and "write" for a good part of every day. You don't like "big crayons" that most kids your age use, but prefer to have a normal pen ( we have these cool crayon pens that twist up that I love!) . You also hold the pen correctly which also plays nicely into your ability to feed yourself. You are very good with both spoons and forks, but honestly the hard part is keeping that OTHER hand out of your food bowl. Its just SO much fun to stick your hand in your food...
Ransom, I could go on and on about all the fun things that you do and have learned in the past few months. And even though you only take one nap a day I have actually caught myself a few times during nap time thinking that I can't wait till you get up so we can play together some more.
You are such a cuddly and loving little dude ( you're very nice about saying "I love you" back when someone says it to you.) and your hugs and wet open mouthed kisses are some of the best parts of my day.
I love you with all my heart,
Mommy
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