A Big Step

My sweet boy,

It's so hard for me to believe that you're already four. You've been four for 2.5 months now. I feel like I blinked and you've grown up over night.

You're an incredibly sweet little boy. From the way you grab onto me and get really close when you need an extra bit of reassurance to the way you declare your life goals to a total stranger, you never fail to amaze me.

Your baby sister looks up to you more than any younger sibling I have ever seen. She can't lay down for a nap or to go to sleep without "Tuckeeeee kiss?? Luh you Tuckee. Kiss? Luh you Tuckeeeee." When you aren't here, she wonders from room to room looking for you. And you giggle and tell her you love it when she calls you Tuckeeee. She is your biggest fan and you hers.

Tomorrow is a big day for you. Besides an occasional day with your Bapa, you've never been away from Mommy. You start preschool tomorrow. You were suppose to start last week but it snowed and schools were closed, and you were crushed. You're so excited to meet new friends and be a big boy.

You can't start kindergarten until you're 5, nearly 6. You already know all your ABCs, can identify and write them all. You can spell and write your name. You can count to 20. You know everyone's full names and that we live in Etowah, North Carolina. And boy, do you say Etowah like a true country boy!

But boy, you can not sit still to save your life! Going to preschool is just for fun now, but I know it'll help you grow and learn new things. You're going to love meeting new friends and all the fun activities you're going to be learning.

I hope that you adjust so easily that every school day, you'll be excited to go. I hope you keep your kind heart and stay confident.

But I also hope you still need your mama and will want to hug and kiss me and Rylie bye every day.

I'm so insanely proud of you. You're the sweetest, funniest, kindest little rascal ever. You say you're such a big boy and can do anything you want to. And I know that one day, you will. But for now, my heart swells when you curl up with me on the couch and tell me you just need some mommy snuggles. Just slow down on growing up so fast, please?

I can't wait to see you succeed in all your hopes and dreams. I know you will. Mommy and Daddy will be behind you every step of the way. I love you so insanely much Tucker.

Love,
Mommy

It's the little things

It's the little things that make my mama heart so happy and full.

 

Like Tucker teaching his baby sister the joys of belly flying on the swingset.

Enjoying puzzles before and after storytime at the local library

The way Rylie giggles with her whole body when you nuzzle her and kiss her neck.

The way RyBug gets super attached to a balloon.

The way Tucker sees a puzzle another child left half finished and he HAS to complete it before we can leave.

The way Tucker cuddles up when he starts getting sleepy..and smiles with his entire face!

Like the way Tucker gets super excited to write and learn.

A close friend gave Rylie some nail polish for Christmas. She delighted in painting her Papa's fingernails. (And I think he secretly like it too.)

A boy's best friend..needs a bath too ;)

Rylie has been so sick on and off the last 3 months..but her snuggles have made the long days and nights wonderful.

The way she sleeps with wild abandon.

One of my closest friends and her family came to stay with us for a few days after Christmas. Her son is absolutely adorable and Rylie was beyond thrilled to give him lots of loving. She didn't care that he was nearly her size, she loved snuggling him.

Our neighbors made an awesome ice cave adventure for the kids and their adorable little girl.

The way Tucker loves to play outside. He can play for hours with just a tiny digger and a dump truck.

Like his utter delight in the neighbors effort with the ice.

Being a mama isn't easy..but it is so so worth it. The little things may not seem like a big deal, but sometimes, they're the ones that mean the most. My mama heart is happy and full.

Tucker's 4th Birthday!

Its so hard to believe that my baby is already four years old. The past 5 years have absolutely flown by. I feel like I was just announcing my pregnancy and the next thing I knew, we're planning his fourth birthday party. Rylie has made time fly by even faster!

Not only was Saturday Tucker's birthday, it was also my bestie's birthday and her baby shower. So we spent the morning just the four of us, spending some extra special time with Tucker and playing games, along with playing on the swing set. Then when Zeke had to go to Asheville for work, the kids and I headed to the baby shower. I'm SO EXCITED for her!! Baby girl, Lily-Mae, will be making her appearance mid-February!! We had to leave the shower a little early to have time to set up for his party. He was BEYOND excited and ready for it! After the party, we came home for an hour or so for some downtime, then took birthday boy out to eat and for an ice cream sundae. It was a super busy day, but definitely the best!!

These are all out of order and I can't get them to rearrange, so bare with me..

 

I found these awesome little gems the week before the party. Rylie was obsessed and didn't want to take it off!!

The entire day went off without a hitch..until the birthday boy took a fall. I'm still not sure how it happened (I was on the other side of the truck..making sure no kids fell out...) but when he went to get out, somehow Tucker fell about 3-4 feet out of a fire truck, onto concrete, on his elbow. It swelled up and started bruising immediately and the poor fellow was just sobbing his eyes out. A good friend helped out and took the rest of the party guests back upstairs to play some while some of the firefighters looked at his elbow for us. Shockingly, no break! Its still bruised and a bit sore, but thankfully, that's it!

Showing his swollen elbow off..



He got a ton of toys. Baby sister rarely left his side.

Sweet girl didn't wanna be far from mama.

He was so thrilled!!

This was a few minutes before the fall. All the kids LOVED climbing all over this truck.

Again..all out of order, I'm sorry. After all the party guests left, one of my brother's closest friends showed up and gave Tucker what he quickly deemed "the best present ever!" A ride in the big fire truck! The smile never left Tucker's face the entire drive. It was awesome!

The birthday boy himself!

Sweet girl didn't get a nap the whole day..but she handled it like a champ!!

Part of the party was decorating pirate cookies. They decorated all kinds of sugar cookies. Sharks, dolphins, "gold" coins, sea horses, star fishes and crocodiles. (Sorry to the parents that had sugar high kids after the party!) The kids had a blast!

Tons of M&Ms

Some of the kiddos on a fire truck!

Ice on the elbow after The Fall. He loved being sung too.

Minus the fall, the day was amazing and problem free!!

So thankful for everyone that helped us celebrate/sent a birthday message to Tucker.
And SO thankful for my sweet, sweet little boy. He is such a blessing.