Happy Birthday, Brendan!

Dearest Brendan,

It is so very hard to believe you are already 4! It seems like just a few months ago you came home to us a chubby little baby. And now you are turning into a terrific little boy. When did that happen?

These days you are showing us that your brain is always working. We have been watching in wonder and amazement as you learn your numbers, letters, prayers, and one of your recent favorite things – planets. You aren’t all that excited about answering questions when we ask them, but when you feel compelled to spout off your knowledge, it is indeed great.

That is, I believe, one of your defining personality traits. You don’t like to do or say things until you are sure of them. For example, when you were learning to go up and down the stairs, you would NOT attempt to go down them yourself for such a long time. Then, one day, you just did. Same with talking. It took you longer than some to talk, but once you did we were introduced to Brendan Radio: “All Brendan, All the Time!” Even still, if you aren’t sure of a word, you are just quiet as a mouse. This is especially true when asked to speak in front of people you aren’t familiar with.

Another defining characteristic of yours is your absolute boy-ness. And, yes, I KNOW you are a boy! I thought, however, that we could try to avoid placing some of the stereotypes we put onto people based on whether they are boys or girls. We have given you toys of all different kinds from the first day. This includes stuffed animals, Lego's, books, colors, cooking sets, and trucks. And what are you MOST drawn to? Trucks and trains, of course! You don’t really want anything to do with stuffed animals apart from the half-dozen or so you sleep with. Dolls hold no interest at all. Cooking is fun, but not nearly so much as things with wheels! You are also rough and tumble, and you adore getting dirty. For any reason. It is fun to see you develop these preferences in ways that I would never have thought.

In the last year of your life we have been doing so many things and changing everything you know. We have added another little person to our family and moved to another state. We have been trying to do things just for you, like swim lesson, soccer, gymnastics, but it hasn’t always been easy for you. For the most part you have handled all of this with grace. It is only occasionally you end up in the “naughty corner” because you have hit, kicked, pushed, or taken a toy away from your little sister! You haven’t yet figured out that Grammie and Kate don’t live all that close anymore, either. Trying to explain such a long distance is not easy with a 4-year-old!

The best days we have are those where your natural inquisitiveness shine through and you are the sweetest little boy you know how to be. I think this is your true nature and that the less pleasant tantrums, whining, and physical acting out are just because you are coming out of your 3’s. I hope. Your hugs and kisses are so achingly sweet and your laugh is the best sound in the world. I am looking forward to watching you grow and learn so much in this next year. You are amazing and we are blessed you are in our lives.

Love,

Mommy

Brian's family comes to visit...

Over the weekend, Brian’s mom, sister, nephew and Kate came to visit for a couple of days. This was just way cool because it has been a LONG time since we have seen Brian’s sister, Stacey, and we had not gotten a chance to meet her son, Max. Max is just a month older than Sela, and really cute.

They drove from Colorado on Saturday (Stacey lives in Arkansas and got to Denver the day before). We basically had enough time to go to dinner before everyone headed to bed. Sunday we all needed some more rest – especially Stacey and Max who had been doing some hard traveling for a few days! So, Max came to our place to nap while his mommy got some much needed sleep at the hotel. After we were all rested up, we went to play in our complex’s pool. It was the perfect way for us all to relax, play, and spend time with one another – stuff we don’t get to do nearly enough.

Monday was a VERY busy day. We started out by heading to Sears to get our pictures taken. As it was close to Brendan’s 4th birthday we had already planned to get his taken, and this was a super opportunity to get some nifty family photos. The kids did pretty well for having to pose for about an hour!

We had lunch at the mall and then took some naps to get ready for a birthday party in the afternoon. We had decided to have Brendan’s party early while the family was in town, and I am really glad that we did. It was Brendan’s first party with kids, and we did the smartest thing I think we could have: we had it at a park! The kids had a great time playing and running around, the parents got to sit and chat, and the cleanup was a breeze. We are truly blessed to have such wonderful people in our lives.

The next morning we had breakfast with the family at IHOP before they headed back to Colorado. It was really much to short of a visit, but we are SO grateful we got the few days we did. In my ideal world, all of our family would live about an hour’s drive from one another so we could be close enough to visit often, but not so close we get on each other’s nerves! Alas, this is not likely to ever happen, so we cherish the times we do get together, and are ever thankful that we live in an age with email, cell phones, and blogs.

It's Official!

It’s official! Sela’s adoption has been recorded by the state of Utah, and we have a US birth certificate! Now we just have to get her a social security number/card, passport, and, oh yeah, fill out MORE paperwork so the government will recognize her as an honest-to-goodness US citizen. Geez. The paperwork and money outpouring never ends!