3 Going on 16

Dear Leah and Logan,

Fall weather started this week, so that means falling leaves and warmer clothes. Now that the heat is gone, you two have been soaking up more outdoor time...which is good for us because we like you to run until you're ready to fall asleep :)

Leah, this week I posted a picture of you on my Facebook wall. Wow, the crowd loved it! It got a record number of 'likes' and it reaffirmed my thought that I'm going to dread having to deal with boys coming around. So if you could slow down growing and just stay 3 forever- that'd be great. Just stay 3 and be my little toddler model forever...Always Daddy's Princess.

Logan, you're in a phase right now. You'll go into the kitchen and find whatever container of food you can....jar...baggie....spice bottle...and then you open it and spread it all over the kitchen. The key to these actions are that you only need about a 45 second window to make a complete disaster. If it wasn't our kitchen, I'd almost label it as 'impressive'. So far you've knocked out 1/3 of our spice rack, 3 gallons of milk, a bottle of peanuts, and a couple boxes of cereal. And all that doesn't even include an additional 3 bottles of baby powder. Yes, you're all boy.

Tonight we're going to Ian and Tiffany's for a bonfire...more great fall activities, and you get to see baby Cadence.

Love,

Daddy
9/26/14

Butterfly Nets and Houses

Dear Leah and Logan,

So I bought you a butterfly house, and WOW, it's a big hit. Grandma bought you guys some butterfly nets not too long ago, so now you have something to keep your work.  We walk in the woods behind our Muirwood home and we have a teamwork approach. I spot the butterflies, we all run after them, and hopefully one of us can manage to get it in the net and then into the butterfly house. By looks of this picture, I think we got 3 of them!

As your daddy, it's an amazing experience (and sometimes aggravating) to watch you 2 interact. You have so many moments where you will sit for hours right next to each other and watch cartoons together....or look at bugs...or jump in the trampoline. The other moments- well, you're not so nice:)  Logan likes to pull hair and pinch, and Leah you just like to prove you're bigger and stronger. My only hope is that you stay best friends forever.

Leah, Logan looks up to you right now. He wants to do the same things you do, play with the the same toys, attempt the same adventures...and he's willing to jump on anything or even hurt himself to prove he can do it. We played a little bit of catch today with the Dora beach ball...it's my way of grooming you into perfect athletes. Leah, every time you make a great catch, I throw it just a little bit higher. Logan, I'm still working on you keeping your eyes open when you catch.

Love you both,
Daddy
9/13/14

Despicable Us

Dear Leah and Logan,

Last night we watched Despicable Me 2 for the 35th time this summer. Comcast Streampix had one free movie worth watching the last few months, and we milked it.

Our famous line is always, My name is Silas Ramsbottom.... Minions: 'Bottom...hahahaha', which both of you see coming a mile away. But you, Logan, have pretty much memorized the entire movie.

Lipstick Taaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazer!!

Our movie nights are something that I'll always remember about 2014, even if it was mostly the same movie :) We put our pallets in front of the tv, or crash in Mommy and Daddy's bed...and for 90 minutes, just be at peace with the humor of the movie.

I can't believe how fast this summer went by. You've both grown so much and have been absorbing the world around you every single day. Leah, you're inquisitive nature wants answers to EVERYTHING! I love it. I hope that trait stays with you forever- if you want the answer- ask!! And Logan, you pick up a new sound or new word every single day. Two nights ago you wanted to lie next to me because you were scared of the 'Tun-der' and 'ighting'. With each flash you were amazed, but still kind of embraced my arm. Thank you for letting me be the comforting figure for 20 minutes.

Leah, your high maintenance back-scratching as to be addressed. :) You may be the only 3 y/o on the planet with an EXACT plan to have your back scratched. It was either too fast, too slow, etc etc. Then you gave up and said, "just scratch my belly." Then five minutes later you wanted your back scratched again. Goodness, child. We'll see if this is foreshadowing of the future you.

Logan, you've endured 1,000 spankings in the last month for pulling Leah's hair, pinching, and pushing. The problem is that not a single one of them did any good whatsoever. Your bottom is red, but you don't seem to be learning.

Leah, you came in this morning and just wanted to talk about gymnastics and doing flips..but your dialogue is like a 10 y/o. So smart and so defined for your age.

Love,
Daddy
9/4/2014

Back from Dropping the Ball

Dear Leah and Logan,

I had originally started this blog to keep track of Leah growing up. A lot has happened since then. But I'm back! And now I'm writing to both of you, Leah Ryanne and Logan Jacob.

It's Labor Day weekend 2014, so I'm challenging myself to revisit this blog at least once a week, and if it all works out...maybe one day give it to you the link when you're in high school or something.

The previous post was about Leah from 2011 and I had just discovered how she liked Granny Smith apples. Well, I was excited because anyone who knows me, knows that I love apples. Fast forward to 2014 and Leah, you pretty much ate fruit, and Logan eats any fruit that's put in front of him. The tables turned.

Logan, you're 2 1/2 years old and you're an absolute terror. It's like your look around every room you walk into and ask yourself- what is the most destructive thing I can do or what is the most expensive thing I can break. Your best work (to date) has been flooding the entire Muirwood kitchen in a matter of 5 minutes. It was truly impressive since I have no idea how you got water into the cabinets while sitting in the sink.  Oh and did I mention you're a climber? You have rock climber written all over you...all you need is tiny ledge or a cabinet handle, and it's good enough for you to ascend. I have a video of you scaling the dresser!!

The event you 2 enjoy most together

Leah, you're the smartest 3 year old (almost 4!) that i know. I cherish eating breakfast with you or just sitting around because our conversations are real. You learn words and put them together so quickly! Your brain is like a little sponge!  squeeeeeeeeze hug!

Events this summer have included several adventures to the farm with your Mommy and several days in our mini plastic pool in the backyard. I also just bought you a butterfly house- and you both LOVE it. We walk through the back yard trails and catch butterflies, and then you just watch them flutter around. I used to do that with your Uncle Justin...the nets are a lot nicer these days!  Oh, and you two LOVE your trampoline...you'll jump and jump and jump and jump...most days, Logan gets 1 good hair-pull in on you Leah, but I'm convinced the trampoline is the foundation for your future athletic careers- you both already have stocky, muscular legs!

Love you both,

Daddy
8/31/14

Being 2nd Place...and the hammock.

Ok, ok, ok, it's been a few weeks! That doesn't mean I can't give a thorough update :) Start with current events? 30 minutes ago, Leah stood up by herself for 20 seconds. She was holding onto Julia- and...just let go. Then she stood there smiling so proud of her accomplishment. Self-realization at age 10 months. Love it.

Watching her scoot around the house crawling is a joy. She has a 1st and 2nd gear. 1st is cruising mode. It's the gear used to enjoy the scenery. 2nd gear is movement towards an intended target with a purpose. Vroooooom. Then, of course, there's the joy of seeing little tiny handprints on the bottom edge of my television. It's a foreshadowing of things to come.

Honestly, I can't believe it's almost 10 months. Mid-September. Summer coming to an end. And Leah is rapidly approaching 1 year. I now realize how some people look back and wonder where life went- with each new milestone comes a new degree of time acceleration. SLOW DOWN!!!!!!!!!

I feel it's necessary to discuss a huge aspect of being a father. One you can't comprehend and fully understand until you're living it everyday. The concept of being the silver medal: 2nd place. :) To clarify: Momma is favorite...always has been...so deal with it. Because it makes perfect sense. The baby pops out of the womb, she goes right in momma's arms. Momma is the number 1 source of food for the first few months...and the bond just blossoms from there.


Leah loves her mommy. Adores her really. She can be completely happy in my lap and when Lori walks in the house- the level of smiles triples. It's actually amazing to watch- the amazing mother/daughter bond, that is. If mommy is out of the house, Leah knows it. If Leah is in a grumpy mood, she cries when mom leaves the room and in a good mood she releases a saddened whimper. She does play with the rest of us for something to do, but it's more of a content presence until Mommy's return. Eh, I'll accept these people for a short period of time. Then, of course, there are the moments where she's in a raging, crying spell, and daddy tries every funny voice, impression, and method to get her to stop- only to fail. Then the microsecond mommy picks her up- happy baby. It's the same microsecond of father realization.

And that's when a father understands. The silver medal is all yours. Congrats, buddy.

I remember James telling me that I was going to feel like chopped liver the first couple months- just kind of like the servant who gets stuff done. I get it now...and to be honest- the moments are so precious, I can live with 2nd place.

She has two little tiny teeth now, in the front and bottom. One slowly grew in, and then the 2nd just kind of sprang up. But the best part is that she uses those 2 little guys to gnaw on anything she can with conviction. Baby cheetos (which I had no idea existed) are her absolute favorite, but I'm not sure there's anything she wouldnt at least try. I guess if you eat sour apples at 8 months, food doesnt have many boundaries.

Despite being 2nd place, I have found a happy place with Leah. Really the only place that she will contently lay around, chill, and play with me (Without the desire to go find mommy)....on the hammock. It's great...I usually take her out there between 8 and 9pm, and we're joined by Ralphie. It's a joy to watch her head on swivel, soaking up the world...the dogs next door, the trees, Ralphie running, sirens, and the wind. She tries to figure everything out. And when she's done with that, she'll just sit there and babble in front of me. Baby talk is the best. Even if it's just ba, ba, ba, ba, ba. To me its a conversation that I could have all day.


-JRS

Green Sour Apples

I'm not really sure why I haven't started this sooner. I documented my life through high school when I barely had anything to say. Then through college when I'd write just to escape the stresses of university survival. Then my beautiful daughter comes along and I forget my passion for writing- so now I'm back.

I guess you could say I was inspired tonight. I took Leah on the front porch so we could relax and wait for Lori to come home from a bike ride. I brought a Granny Smith apple to munch on, and before long- Leah was sharing it with me. She was wanting her chance at a bite every time I was chewing mine. And with that one tooth, she went to town. So it hit me: how many 8 month-old babies in the world were enjoying the evening munching on a sour green apple? Probably just one: My Leah.

I can't believe it's been 8 months. I'm starting to understand how middle-aged people wake-up one day and wonder where all the time went. Leah was born and the accelerator was instantly tied to the ground. I can still remember November 19, 2010, like it was yesterday, though. Waking up early. The waiting. The more waiting. Dr. Moore not being available when Leah was telling Lori she was coming. The replacement Doctor. and Poof!! There she was....a little bit crusty and a lot-a-bit pink. Hair was matted to her head and it appeared red and curly. She was beautiful, and as soon as the cord was cut, she was placed on Lori's chest and embraced her mama's body warmth as if it was always meant to be. And just like that, the whole world changed in a split second. I was a father. Mom was a grandmother. Justin, Stro, and Caleb were all uncles.


As it turns out, I had my first protective father instincts kick in within the 1st hour when I arrived with Leah to the nursery. When the nurse pricked Leah's foot with a needle as she was laying in the incubator, part of me wanted to kick her ass. Leah was 45 minutes old and didn't deserve to be made to cry. I forgave the nurse, and to be honest- all of the staff was amazing. Even Lori had an anxious mother moment as her wheelchair raced to get Leah back...not even letting the nurses wash her off.

After that, the milestones have just piled up. Everything she has accomplished has been amazing. Mommy and Daddy may have accelerated a few of them, especially when it comes to her taste buds :) We may or may not have started providing teeny-tiny adult food tastes months before we should have...but, ultimately, we knew she was born to love ice cream- especially blizzards. And pretty much everything we have put in front of her, she has gobbled down: fruits, veggies, mixes, milkshakes, and, of course, green apples.



Recent accomplishments have never ceased to impress all of us: pulling herself up like she's born to be a gymnast. Ambidextrous acts of juggling and balance. Crawling her way to any mischief she can find, and through all of it, there is one big commonality every day that reminds me how lucky I am: She is constantly just happy. You say her name: she smiles. You walk into a room: she smiles. She wakes up and sees you: she smiles. And seeing that smile once is enough to brighten my entire week. If the average person smiled 10% as much as Leah, the world would be a 100x happier place....and I'm blessed to have that in my life.

So at 11:55pm, 8 months and 9 days past her birth, I'm finishing up a summary of the 2011 fatherhood whirlwind that I call life. A few paragraphs won't do it enough justice, but it's a start. I'm glad she enjoyed that green apple with me tonight.

~JRS