Dear Milo: Year 3

Dear Milo,

You are three years old! I'll be honest, more than once I've had to do the math to assure myself that this was in fact your third birthday and not your fourth. Somehow it seems impossible that you've only been in our lives for three years. Plus, you're really tall. You're wearing the clothes your brother wore just last Fall. 

First of all, I want to thank you for everything you are to this family. You are hilarious and are never happier than when we're all laughing at your newest bit. One night when Gehrig and Dad were gone, you and I were eating dinner and you said something {I couldn't understand what it was} and you laughed SO hard at yourself that I couldn't help but laugh, too. That made you laugh even harder, which made me laugh harder. Pretty soon we were both in tears and I still don't even know what the joke was. When Gehrig laughs at your antics, you turn to him with a gleam in your eye and say, "Do dat again?" He says yes and you do. And he laughs. And it goes on and on and on. I love that you get joy out of others' laughter. 

You are so sweet to your baby sister. "Mom, baby awake?" "Can my see her?" "Can my hold her?" "Baby otay?" "Mom, can my kiss her?" I hope you always look out for her like this. She's a very lucky girl to have you for a big brother.

You are still such a cuddler when you finally slow down. If I'm sitting on the floor, you move in behind me and hug me around the neck. After I change your diaper {yes, you're still stubbornly in diapers}, I pull you up by your hands and you immediately wrap them around me in a hug. Every time. I'm anxious to potty train you, but I will miss those hugs. You wake up too early every morning, but are usually willing to curl up in my bed for a little while before demanding breakfast. You really love to eat, but cuddling is a close second.

Dad and I always say, "It's good to be Milo." You are such a happy kid who finds the fun in everything. You love to be with your siblings, but also love to play by yourself. There are few things cuter than listening to you make up conversations between your toys. You're also in a big nurturing phase right now. You carry stuffed animals around, calling them your babies. Sometimes you put me in charge: "Mom, take good care of my babies!" But most of the time you carry them around, tuck them into blankets, and find places for them to sleep {laundry baskets, your hat, a kitchen cupboard}.

You are imaginative, sweet, loud, funny, and you bring so much personality wherever you go.

We are all so in love with you. Happy happy birthday, Bugs!

Dear Milo: Month 10

Dear Mi-Guy,

I could start this letter with every single cliché about the passage of time {it's flying by. where does it go? you're growing up too fast. wish i could make it stand still....etc. etc.), but really, Baby Boy, you are seeming so big lately. You even took your first step this past week! You want to walk so badly and always prefer to be standing {holding on to something...usually my leg...or just standing in the middle of a room}. I think you'll be running behind your brother in no time.

You think your brother is hilarious. He thinks you're pretty funny, too, except when you try to eat his toys. You are extremely tolerant of his impatience, smiling when he pushes you or laughing when he throws a tantrum. But you also like to wrestle with him and pull his hair, so I guess you can hold your own in those rougher moments. 

We had some months of very little sleep, but you are gradually getting better at taking naps and giving me a little break at night {waking up to nurse one time as opposed to three}. Those four teeth that all came in at once really wreaked havoc on our house. So glad you're feeling better and back to your happy, cuddly self.

You love giving kisses, which usually involves grabbing our faces and locking us in to a big, open-mouth slobberfest. You love attention more than anything. If we're not making eye contact with you, you crane your neck  and get right in our faces so we'll look at you. You think you're pretty cool when you imitate Gehrig and make us all laugh. The dinner table is becoming much louder with the shrieking and hissing noises you make.

You started doing some signs recently, which always fascinates me and makes me so happy to be able to actually communicate with you. You sign 'more' and 'all done' and 'danger' and every time you do I kind of think you're a genius. I love watching you learn new things.

I am enthralled with the little huge personality you are developing. You're a bit of a daredevil...trying to climb stairs and get into everything you possibly can. One of your favorite things to do is bolt toward anything we try to keep you away from {a computer cord, the vacuum, a closed door when big brother is napping...}. You think it's so fun to be chased and the glimmer you get in your eye makes me think I've got some challenging moments in my future.

Thanks for making our days so fun and our nights so long, Buster. We all love you so much and think you're {as G says} "so tute."

Love, Mama 

Dear Milo: Month 3

Dear Mi-Guy,

You have been here for three months already. How is that possible? You have pretty much been the perfect baby since day one, which we should have predicted since your arrival was almost exactly what I hoped it would be: quick, "easy," and peaceful. Isn't it fitting that the meaning of Milo is "peaceful"? Your dad and I didn't know that before we met you, but now I can't imagine a name being more appropriate.

There are so many things I love about you. On top of having the most kissable cheeks and gorgeous pouty lips, you are a champion sleeper, waking up twice per night, at most, with a 4 or 5 hour stretch thrown in there. That is an amazing gift for your mama. Thank you! What's most surprising to me is that when you do wake up, you don't cry. You just squirm a little and grunt until I pick you up, upon which you usually flash a big, gummy grin my way. 

You are extremely tolerant of your brother, who tends to bombard you with pokes, jabs, and baseballs thrown in your general direction. In fact, your first ever smile came when he was all up in your grill.  He loves you so much and I can already see your relationship start to develop into something amazing.

In the last couple weeks you have really started to giggle, especially when Dad talks to you or we tickle your excellent rolls. You push up during tummy time and you even rolled over both ways a couple days ago. All these milestones are happening quicker than I might like, but I also feel so lucky that I get to watch you grow. 

You have added so much love to our family. I can't imagine my world without you. 

Love forever and ever.