Two and half years...

I won't even give an excuse this time.....here is Gage's letter.

My sweet Gage,


It’s been a while….I can’t believe I haven’t written you a letter in six months and even more unbelievable is reading the letter I did write you a half a year ago and things are so different. I don’t even know where to start. You are definitely the favorite part of my day and I can’t stand how smart and sharp you are. You are also 2.5 and on days, don’t let me forget it.

In the last 6 months, you have grown so much, physically and mentally. Your last letter said you were a little over 24lbs. however, that can’t be true, because that’s about what you weigh now. You are over 34ins, still slight, but steadily growing. You are wearing all 24 months shirts, but still need 18 months on the bottom, because your waist is still so tiny. At this point, we of course carry on daily conversations and I can’t even remember when you didn’t talk. You can read books to yourself and have memorized a few and ones you don’t know, you remember after reading them 2-3 times.

Some of your favorite things right now are clocks (still). You did become less obsessed a few months back but somehow they piqued your interest again recently and every day you have to see 2 in the morning and 2 in the evening. Unless you are naughty, and then that privilege is taken away from you. Speaking of being naughty, my oh my, have you seen timeout in the last few months. I’m not sure you even had seen it before you were 2. There was a stretch you were serving time out once or twice a day. You still cry often if you don’t get your way, but we’re working on ignoring you and walking away. You have frustrated me lately when you throw your fits and sometimes after I walk away, you give in and decide to follow. Sometimes you don’t. You also love your Tag Jr books Nana gave you for your bday, you still love to read and you are obsessed again with YGG, although you had your run with SuperWhy. You are getting more interested in Thomas (whom we got to ride on a few weeks back). You love to go to the park and play outside with Alyssa and Jessica. You still love music with all your being and have to listen to YGG in the car every day on the way to and from school.

You still are not the best eater, but have branched out a little in the last few months. Mealtime isn’t the struggle it used to be since I’ve given up trying to make you eat. You do love going to Cracker Barrel though and getting grilled cheese, bacon and chocolate milk…yum, what a combination! Just in the last month or so you have been interested in the potty and just in the last week have started going in school. You would pee occasionally if we would put you on the potty here, but always refused to go at school, so we’re making some progress. Speaking of school, you’ve been in your new class with Ms. Angie for about 2 months now. I still don’t love it and there are TONS of kids. It’s definitely my least favorite class you’ve been in but I think that you’re adjusting ok. You’re just one of many now. You have become so much more independent and are walking up and down stairs all alone and want to do many things ‘by myself’. In fact, looking back on this time in your life, I wish I had written you letters a little more frequently, because the last 6 months have definitely been momentous.

In the last few months you have enjoyed another Christmas that thrilled you like crazy. You were in love with the lights of course. You had a very snowless winter and only got to play once in the snow. You enjoyed your 1st egg hunt and another trip to the beach. You also had your 1st overnight without Mommy and Daddy while you stayed with Nana and Grandiddy and it was a success. You slept in a ‘big boy’ bed at the beach house for the 1st time and were so proud of yourself. However, the biggest news in your world right now is the fact that in just 4 months, you are going to be a big brother! Your new little brother is due in September and although you cried when you found out it was going to be a boy, I think you will be an awesome big brother and you guys will be best buddies. We will most likely move to you a ‘big boy’ room in the process and we have a few other things hopefully to prepare you for your new role.

These letters never capture everything that you are at the moment, but are just a small snapshot into what I can recall are the most prominent parts of your personality at the present. I always fear I’m going to leave something huge out but at least I have the blog also to back me up. I do wish I had the time to write you these letters more often, but I have a feeling life is about to get really busy, really quickly. I do look forward to spending these last few months with you as my only child. I hope I feel good enough this summer to give you all the time you deserve. I can’t wait to do our Mommy and me things and go to the pool and just hang out together as we prepare for the coming of a new part of our family and our lives. Gage Paxton, you will always be my baby and can never ever be replaced. Sometimes I think about cuddling with you and how I’ll have less time, but I know we can still make it work and that you will be an awesome big brother. Your Daddy and I love you soo soo much and are thankful for you every day. We couldn’t ask for anything more. We love you, bug!

Love
Mommy