Growing up Grotegut

Dear Keaton,

Oh wait, just a second, before I start this I need to grab some tissues. Okay, here we go!

Today you turn 6 years old. I vividly remember writing on this blog the day I got out of the hospital with you. So vividly infact I wonder how on earth its been six years. As exciting as it is for you to finally approach another birthday, to watch you learn and grow, I can’t help but wish time moved slower. I feel like it was just yesterday you were toddling along with your blonde curls and your giant blue eyes trying desperately to climb my leg so I’d hold you. How I long for those days. Life was so simple when you were that small. I felt like I could always protect you from all of the worlds evil.

Time is moving too quickly though. I haven’t bottled up your little quirks or your little mannerisms that I love so much. I don’t want to forget how you love webkinz. How at six life revolves around mindcraft. I never want to forget what a skilled liar you are. Albeit an awful trait, and often it drives me crazy, I do think it shows just how intelligent you are. I love everything about you at this age. I wish I could bottle your smile and your innocence and have your small hands wrapped in my arms forever. I’m not ready for this growing up thing.

Six is cool though, don’t get me wrong, but it means that when Summer is over you’ll be in First Grade and I won’t have you like I do now. In a blink, you won’t be there. You’ll have more of the day that I don’t know about, then I do. Before long you’ll be all grown up, the thought of this makes the back of my throat burn. How can I pause time and fill my well with all these great memories? I try every day to soak you up but its never enough. When they say it goes by too fast, they really mean it.

This past year has seen so much excitement. You started Kindergarten and have been loving it. You are one of the best readers in your class because you work really hard. I am so proud of you! You’ve made so many new friends in your class and always have someone you want to invite over. I’m so happy you enjoy school, every day when I come to pick you up you have big smile on your face.

This year you got your hair cut short which made you suddenly look a lot older. Some days I miss your floppy blonde hair. The way you’d always be moving it out of your eyes. Your hair is getting darker and I am in denial. I’m not sure what I will do when you aren’t my token blondie. You also tried your hand at sports. You played soccer and you decided you didn’t like it. But you looked so cute in your uniform.

The one thing over all I want to remember about you at six is how much you loved your little brother Oliver. I know when you are 12 he will be your annoying little brother so I want to soak it up now while I have a chance. Your relationship with your little brother is one that constantly astonishes me. I love watching your bond grow with him. You love him and care for him in a way that I wouldn’t have expected from a small child. It’s the unrequested hugs and kisses you give him. The fact that you play with him without being asked. That you look out for him and are always interested in whatever he does. You were born right in the middle so you could always been a great brother to Gavin and Ollie. I am so in love with the way that you love Keaton. Your heart is so big.

You are such a sweetheart that grown women literally swoon over you. You are a great friend to everyone. I constantly see you sacrifice your happiness for others. What an amazing trait to have at only six years old. You are just mild and so easy going. I have to say that as of lately you’ve been dipping your toe into the pool of obstinance. While I know its all about testing the limits, can you please not make it a trend? I like you just the way you are.

Keaton you are so many things wrapped up in a 45 pound, 45 inch package. You are day and night, the sun and the moon, the stars in the night sky and the wispy clouds on a sun filled day. You are laughter and tears, joy and pain, challenge and sacrifice. You are one of the defining moments of my life, my heart beating in your chest. Your daddy and I love each other more for having you in our lives. You give purpose to our each and every day.

Happy Birthday Keater B’s, I love you in a way that every person on earth should get to experience. Here is to everything you are and all that you have yet to be.

Love,
Mama

Happy birthday! You are one year old today, and it’s been the most joyful, exhausting, funniest and fullest year of my life. It seems a little surreal to me that as I write this letter to you that a year has already passed since the first time we saw your little face. After the months of anticipation you finally arrived in our lives and things have never been the same.

In the beginning things were rough. Don’t get me wrong I loved you from the minute I laid eyes on you. Just ask everyone who had to hear me dribble on and on during my drug induced love fest. You were just a tough newborn. You liked to use your lungs to make your point be known. In fact, high-pitched outrage was your default setting. Most of that wasn’t your fault since we later found out you had reflux, and after the right dose of medicine your volume was turned down a little. Although the medicine did nothing for your demands that we hold you at all times. I do mean all times, naps, bedtime, while using the bathroom. Literally, ALL THE TIME. You were so attached to us that I worried I might have to carry you in a sling till kindergarten.

But then, gradually, almost unnoticeably, you began to change. You started to smile, then laugh. You sat up, you rolled, and then you began to crawl! With crawling came your independence. You now spend hours crawling around, exploring. Most of that crawling time is spent crawling into troublesome situations. If I had a nickel for every time I said “NO! stay out of the trash!” or “No! Stay out of the cat water” or my favorite “NO! Don’t put your mouth on the toilet” , I’d have enough nickels to hire a nanny. I swear anytime you hear a door open I can see you speed crawling over to investigate what portal it has opened. Especially the door to the backyard. You love going outside. If one of your brothers goes out the door you sit by the door and cry or call out their names. You’ve escaped many times when the door is left open for longer than 4 seconds. The other day I went to the bathroom. When I came back I found you outside eating rocks covered in dirt with a big smile on your face. You’re such an adorable and naughty baby.

I’d have to say the real turning point in both our levels of happiness came when you were just a tad over 10 months old. That’s the magical month when you began to sleep through the night! And it’s a good thing, because I was seriously beginning to lose my will to live. I almost considered donating you to the Duggar family to make them an even 20. I kid, I kid! Though I really can’t exaggerate how much your sleeping ten straight hours at night endeared you to us. It also seemed to make you a happier baby, so we all win.

You’re a big talker. You babble all day and yell what can only be described as obscene gibberish at me when you aren’t getting your way. You’ve got a dozen words you use on a daily basis. My favorite would have to be when you say Nom Nom Nom when you are hungry, or if you’ve found something to eat. I always know you’ve found a crumb of some kind because you will announce it with a loud “Nom, Nom, Nom”. Then I know to get up and check to make sure it’s actually food and not a rock. You’re by far our most verbally advanced child. I can’t wait to hear you express yourself even more in the coming months.

These days, you are a jolly, laid back, silly, energetic, busy baby. You love to eat paper, crayons, and legos. You adore emptying out cabinets and your toy box. You, just like your brothers, LOVE the cat, and a little more than he loves you. Mister Kitty runs from you and you chase him as fast as you can until you catch him and pull his tail or whiskers. Well and Mister Kitty just lays there and takes it because he was raised with two wolf like boys who did the same thing to him just a few years back.

I love you so much Oliver! I can hardly remember what our family was like prior to you coming in to complete it. I feel so lucky to be your Mama. I’m grateful for you every day. Although sometimes it seems like time is speeding by way too fast, it’s been so much fun to watch you grow and change over the past year. You are such a joyful boy. I love getting to know you and watching you get to know yourself. Before you arrived we never knew what our lives were missing. You have brought our family together in ways you’ll never fully realize. You’ve made the last year of all of our lives so incredible.
Happy Birthday Ollie Mikes! I hope your day is filled with love, laughter, cupcakes, and maybe I’ll even let you splash in a little kitty water today.

All my love,

Mama