So big so fast

Isaiah, you are such a big boy! You are too heavy for me to hold anymore. I can’t believe you’ll soon be four. You have just a few hints of little-boy-ness left and I love still being able to see what’s left of your former baby self. You still have the cutest dimples in your hands (although they are fading fast) and your skin is still baby soft. All of the chub has disappeared along with your toddler years, but you still have a sweet round chin- not yet pointy and rugged… little hints of the baby boy are still there… I see it in your elbows and shoulders and your soft feet. I see it in your dimples and your baby hairs at the top of your forehead. You speak so well for your age that sometimes I forget that you are still 3 and I treat you like you are 5 or 6. I love you at 3 and need to remember that these are the last of the little years. My boy, I love you so- I love how you laugh so much at bedtime and love to be tickled by me. I love how you want to hide from Daddy every time he comes home. I love how you cling to me when something scary comes on even the most innocent of cartoon shows. I love how you dance to every intro to your favorite shows! You are always showing us your “new moves”. You love to pretend you are a baby animal and I am the mama animal. We play baby bird all the time. I love how you walk on the curb one foot after the other whenever possible. You wake up every day completely ready to go! You make me “play food” breakfast almost every day. I love how you want to sit on my lap when I volunteer at your preschool. I love that it takes 2 hands and all your might to shut the car door. I love the sweet sweaty dirty dog smell of you after playing hard. We went to Legoland the other day on a “date” and you LOVED the roller coasters! You’re finally tall enough to ride almost all of the rides! You are such a thrill seeker! You screamed and laughed and put your hands up in the air even on the scary parts! It was so much fun! After the rides were over you begged to go again! You got so big so fast- I loved every phase of watching you grow and learn throughout your life. I love your warm hugs so early in the morning.

Lilianna, oh my goodness- you’re turning into a toddler. You are so so sweet, I can’t stand it. I wish I could freeze you right now. You are my little sidekick. Your new walker waddle is almost gone- the teeter is almost steady now. You just had your checkup and you are almost in the 50th percentile in height and weight and in the 60th for head circumference. No evidence at all of being a preemie! You are all head, butt and gut and we love it! You’re so round and cuddly- it’s hard not to squeeze you! You don’t say much, but you sure know how to communicate. You nod your head yes, or shake your head no very purposefully- it’s so funny and cute! You love your “Bubba”. You have Big-brother-it-is- you want to do everything like him. When Bubba goes to school and it’s time to pick him up, you get so excited. You say “Bubba” and get my keys and wave “bye bye”. Your lambie lovie is your favorite comfort toy. You can’t sleep without it and you like to hug, kiss and bite her! You also LOVE dolls. You love carrying them around and showing people how you can kiss them and pat them on the back. When we go to the store you find them and show them to me. It’s hard not to buy them all for you! The pet store is one of your favorite places! You sign fish and bird and dog and are always so excited to see the animals. The birds are your favorite! I love how you shriek with joy and emphatically sign bird when we see them! You also love Elmo “Amow” and Cookie Monster (you make the funniest sign for Cookie Monster- you put your hand up to your mouth and crunch and make sounds like you’re eating a cookie). Girls just wanna have fun is our song! When it comes on you can’t help but dance (me too)! The other night I heard you talking in your sleep- you were saying “Mama” in the sweetest raspy voice- I melted. You are on the cusp of becoming a toddler- you are on the edge of talking and running. Everywhere we go people say how cute you are and can’t help but chuckle. You are very hammy. When someone says how pretty your dress is, you hold it and turn a little. You love waving to people and smiling at them like you’re on parade! You love nothing more than walking through stores! You are becoming less of a baby and more of a little girl.

Wow, having this little family is amazing. Seeing brother and sister together- playing, holding hands, and laughing together fills my heart more than I ever expected! I love you both so much and cherish this time with you when you’re both still little. The other day a lady stopped to compliment me on you both (you were holding hands walking to the car after picking Isaiah up from preschool), and she said, “I swear it was yesterday!” Confused I asked, “What was yesterday?” And she said, “I swear it was yesterday when my kids were that little! Now here I am planning my daughter’s 16th birthday.” I suspect that’s how it’s going to be. I’m going to blink and you’ll be teenagers. So big so fast. Life is funny like that. Moments stand still… days crawl by… time flies!

Isaiah says

with over-emphasized enthusiasm today, "Mmmmm, Lily's foot smells yummy!" I look over and he's holding Lily's chubby little foot up in his hand. "Really, what does it smell like?" I ask. A few seconds pass and he says, "Asparagus!" I'm still laughing!