Dear Cory,

Remember that super awesome tie hanger I got you for Christmas?



Yeah, it only works if you actually PUT.YOUR.TIES.ON.IT.

As a matter of fact, the specific tie rack (pictured) that I purchased for you is cleverly named the Honey Can Do Belt and Tie Organizer. HA.


Love Always,
Me.

a day of celebration

I have loved our Diaper Genie.

Seriously, one of my very favorite purchases we made when Luke was first around. It's so convenient not having to take poopy diapers out to the dumpster every time you changed a diaper.

I just got back inside from taking the very last of the poopy diapers into the dumpster. I sanitized the DG and left it in the garage to be stored for the next child. (wait, there's a next child? we're still waiting for that day...)

Anyway, we have eliminated any and all diaper paraphernalia from our living quarters.

And it feels so good.

Letter

(when we first introduced underwear, he thought he didn't need to wear pants anymore....)

Dear Luke,

Remember when I was so good at writing letters to you and you thought you had the coolest-nicest-most-attentive mother around? Yeah, sorry to disappoint.

Anyway, I just wanted to jot down some thoughts I've had today while you've been off playing with the Giver of the Mega Blocks.

I am missing you today. I am missing your cutest little voice that tells the most hilarious stories (like the lion eating your car seat...you told me about that yesterday) and telling me things that are so off the wall that it sometimes shocks me (get me outta here mom!...you told me that one two days ago) Where do you come up with these things? You really just crack me up.

Your innocence makes me smile every day. Like yesterday we ran to the bank and it was closed, and when you asked why we weren't going in, I told you that it wasn't open. Then you told me I just needed to go buy some keys (at target) to open it. it was more like (go to target, buy more keys, open da bank)

You are the sweetest thing I've ever known. I can't even count how many times in the last week I've said "oh he is just my favorite thing" "oh my gosh I just love him so much". I don't know how you became such a good boy. How you got so smart, so cute and so funny. (probs from me, right?)

Can I also say how proud I am of you? For all the aforementioned characteristics, and also for the fact that you were potty trained in FOUR DAYS. Two days after eliminating diapers, you were staying dry all day. Four days later you were pooping in the toilet (for real, that's an accomplishment. and one that I hardly feel I can even take credit for.) staying dry through your naps and even all night! I am just so proud. (what am I supposed to do with all the left over pull ups??)

As I sit here thinking about you, tears welling up in my eyes, I am in awe at the little person you are becoming. I so badly wish that I could freeze you like this forever. My only request for you is this: please stay my nice little boy forever. In my mind, you probably will. So please don't make me the foolish parent who thinks you are just as innocent as nice as always, when really you are mischievous and mean to other children. Sound good? Ok good.


I love you so much. So much that the word "love" doesn't seem like enough to convey how much you have impacted my life. While you were at your Grandma's today, and it was just me and your dad hanging out all day, it made me try to remember what our life was like without you in it. It made me imagine what our house would look like without the pictures of you hanging on the walls, without the toys scattered around the entire place; how it would be without you asking if we can have a dance party in the middle of dinner-prep in the kitchen. That is such a lonely life to imagine.

I know it's cliche, but you bring so much life into our life. I know that you have helped mold me into the person I am today. In fact I think that you actually created an entirely new and improved version of me. Someone who strives every day to be worthy of being your mother. So, thanks for making me a better person. I know that you have helped mold the person that your Aunt Amber is. She loves you so much. You are so incredibly lucky to have so many people surrounding you that love you (almost) as much as I do.

Please stay my nice and funny and smart and clever boy forever.

Love,
Mom.

PS: this turned sappier than intended, sorry.

ostriching

I was ostriching all week last week.

(def: to ostrich. meaning to metaphorically bury one's head in the sand and hope that by the time you return, the world has passed you by).


This is how you know when life is too busy:

Chick-fil-a becomes a staple in your diet. And the wrappers sit on the table for at least 4 hours before being cleaned up. I wish I was exaggerating.

Megablocks and shoes and dirty clothes block the path to your bed. that is so covered in clothes you almost can't sleep on it.
(whoever thought giving a 2 year old blocks for Christmas apparently doesn't have to live with said blocks...or said 2 year old.)

Oh the bathroom. The joyous and terrifying bathroom. I have no words.
And yes, that is a jar of olive oil and a half-eaten bag of Cheetos sitting on the counter.
Don't judge.

The worst part is that these are the pictures I wasn't too ashamed to publish.
Now just imagine what I was too scared to reveal.



*On a happy side note, our house is not longer in the aforementioned condition. I toted the toddler off to the Megablock Gifter and had the house to myself for a few hours. It's amazing what can be accomplished without a 2 year old undoing everything behind you.