a letter to my moose

[amos 3.5]

 

this. where daddy goes, mosie goes (... even off the roof on the dock)

 my sweet, sweet 'mos! you're so big. like SO big. you're smart and handsome and have just recently shown us your funny (not silly...not the same) side. you're so much like me in who you are it's sometimes frustrating. you're stubborn & sassy - something we're both working on. tame this & learn to use it wisely. these aren't "bad" qualities or traits, just ones that have a time and place for being used. you're also bossy. i think this comes with the territory of being the oldest, but you do not get to boss mama around. something else we're working on. (haha) you're a leader - solly looks to you like you hung the moon. remember this. he will always have your back - he's your built in very best friend (just like ezra - how lucky you are to have two built in very best friends!) and looks up to you in ways you can't even imagine. he's watching you and learning from you. be kind and gentle with him. his spirit is much like daddy's - gentler and softer around the edges than yours and mine. he'll guide you in ways you didn't know you needed guiding, he'll teach you things you didn't know you needed to learn. he's strong where you're weak (and vise versa). use each other to be stronger. love him always. ez too. i'm not sure how he fits in to the #martinbandofbrothers yet, other than knowing he'll think you and solly hung the moon. i can't wait to see you three take on this world together. i pray nightly for you three that you'll be warriors for The unseen Kingdom. that you'll stand strong together against the enemy...that you'll all know Jesus and live in a brotherhood that's stronger than flesh & blood. we're praying that y'all will be bent towards Jesus, never knowing life without Him. it makes our hearts smile big and wide when you guys ask for church music and proceed to sing along in the sweetest little voices.

you are a lover of learning - something i hope sticks with you as you start school in a couple of years. i hope you're always exploring and figuring things out. you're athletic and have a strong little body. your daddy and i have enjoyed watching you LOVE the water this summer. you're strong in the water - you just need a little courage and you'll be swimming in no time! you're hands down a daddy's boy & his shadow when he's not out making doll-hairs. you can't get enough of him. keep watching him and learning from him so you can grow up to be just like him.

moose, i love you little buddy. you'll always be my first little guy. i love being your mama, even on the hard days. one of my very favorite things to do is to climb into your bed after you're sleeping soundly and stroke your head, rub your back and hands, and to kiss your sweet cheeks. to tell you that i love you and that tomorrow is a new day. to pray that you'll sleep soundly and rest care free. thank you for being patient with me as i'm still (always) learning with you. mama and daddy are working on things that we see in ourselves that we don't like that are coming out in you (i.e. tone of voice, quick temper, etc). be gracious with us. keep helping us to be better.

you're growing so big & strong. know that mama & daddy are always on your team rooting for you!

a letter to my Solly Sol

*disclaimer: written a couple of days before BM3 aka Ezra was born*

Sweet Solly Sol! You are my littlest bud (even if only for a few more days). This photo says it all. You RUN everywhere, you're almost always clothed in big brothers hand me downs, and you're never ever far from his side. You love to be outside (all the hallelujahs from mama for it finally being warm enough to be outside with you two!), chase bubbles (and try to blow them yourself) & bees, and throw the ball. You've started to communicate pretty well - your current favorite thing to say is "uh-uh" while shaking your head no to anything and everything you're asked...even if you mean "yes." We are working on "yes" though. Unlike Amos, you still take a nap at this age & have even recently asked for "sleep" or to go "night night." Keep it up, kiddo. You do a great job snuggling your sleepy dog and putting yourself to sleep too. And (unlike Amos) you're an early riser. Most mornings you're our alarm clock - you and daddy hang out for a short bit before Mama & Moose get up.

I cannot wait to see you as a big brother to BM3. You currently like to ride on top of the baby bump & point to my belly button & say "baby." When asked where your baby is you proudly pull up your shirt & give the sweetest grin as you point to your belly. I can't wait to see a baby look up to you like you look up to Amos. Our prayer is that the three of you (and any other Martin babies) will be best buds like you and Amos!

You're still a fabulous eater - even though you're a super dinky kiddo. At your last appointment you were only in the 8th percentile for weight! I tell everyone that you eat like a McCraw with the Martin metabolism. I love squeezing that dinky little body in a bear hug! There's not much that you don't eat - except sweet potatoes, apples with skin and some tougher meats (still waiting on those teeth to come in---you only have 7 right now).

You love: Little Einsteins ("ein-teins"), Curious George ("monk monk") and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse ("minnie"), to read the Dinosaur book ("dine-saur"), chicken nuggets & fries, baths, dumping copious amounts of water on to the floor (sorry daddy-o) and brushing your teeth, you prefer apple juice over anything else and definitely do not like milk of any kind. You do not like: being told "no," being still for very long, or being cooped up in the house.

You're also a HUGE mama's boy (: (be still my heart). It's a (partial) joke around here that you're going to be the one who takes care of me when I'm old and gray one day. If that's the case, I know I'll be in good hands.

Littlest boy, I love you to the big silver moon and back. I'm loving watching you grow and develop into such a sweet, brave (crazy?) little boy! You're a blast. You and big brother are constantly teaching me, keeping me on my toes and pointing me to Jesus. Keep growing big and strong dude!