Carter is 10!

 Carter,

You are 10. Double digits. An entire decade. Little did I know when I was in that hospital room 10 years ago how full and hard but so fun these 10 years would be. Being the oldest of 4 you have it tough because everything is new for us as parents. You get mad that Brooks and Abby get away with things we would "never have let you done" and son...I'm sure there's going to be a lot more of that in this 2nd decade! You have a strong sense of justice and often hear "I treat you fair but not equal" and are learning to find your role as oldest brother. You are one of the most responsible, intrinsicially motivated people I have ever met and that made virtual school this past year feel like smooth sailing. You have picked up cycling and enjoy long bike rides with Daddy while he runs...you say you equally enjoy the 1-1 attention and conversation as much as the cycling part! I rarely have to remind you to do chores, you bring your kindle downstairs at night like clockwork at 8:15, and you protect the neighborhood kids walking home from school and playing in the street. You feel it's your responsibility to make sure Abby doeesn't turn into a "princess" since the rest of the family treats her like one so you make sure she does her fair share of household tasks. 

You are a great student and love to discuss adult topics and current events. At your parent-teacher conference a few weeks ago Mrs. Porter said you come into the classroom and immediately want her thoughts on the new CDC or the election. You love history and government and said the biggest treat when you are having a hard day is a stack of history books. We planned on you doing a BIG trip with Daddy to celebrate 10. Washington DC was your place of choice and then with covid we tried to think of all new places but it's just not the time to travel right now. Fortunately you understand delayed gratification better than anyone I know and are excited to take your 10 year old trip to DC when restrictions lift. We look forward to celebrating you today with french toast breakfast, pizza for dinner, cookie cake, Harry Potter reading (SO good! we only have 40 pages left in book 6 and we are all obsessed), and a set of flannel sheets on your bed! We have a babysitter coming Saturday so we can have a date night just the 3 of us...to toast YOU and this new decade! I'm not sure what is to come but I'm so glad you made me a Mama 10 years ago and am so proud of the young man you are becoming! You still think it's cool to talk to Mom and pray with me at night and I'll take that for as long as I can! I adore you Carter David Wood and can't wait to see what God has planned for your life...I know if you follow HIM you will do big things!

Love,

Mom

Brooks is 6!

 

Dear My Brooksie Boy,

 

Today you are six. You woke up to streamers on your door, eager to go all by yourself to the donut store with Daddy. You picked out everyone's favorite donut, opened presents (Star Wars Mandalorian is a major theme), and hopped off to Kindergarten. Mommy couldn't bring you lunch because #covid but I packed you a special snack of goldfish with m&ms and a drawing on your baggie. You gave goodie bags to your friends at school and walked home to a yard full of tables and chairs. Your neighbor friends came over to celebrate you with an epic Star Wars cake and ice cream. A few rounds of beyblades and remote control car crashes later we hurried back up to school for Miss Hook's wedding shower on the playground. You wrestled your friends because you could actually touch them since it wasn't school hours! Orange chicken for dinner and Mandalorian with Daddy, your brothers, and a big bowl of popcorn (with baby Yoda in your lap) and your day was full!

 

I could not be more proud you at six B. You are thriving in Kindergarten, a natural leader in teaching all the boys "Who let the dogs out". You do not play favorites but make friends everywhere you go and have a sensitivity that sees someone being left out and invite them in. You have a tenacious spirit that comes out when you are tired and we all love it when you growl at your opponents on the soccer field! You still adore Abby and do anything for her/always look out for her. You love a good snuggle with Mommy and I soak in those moments at the beginning and ending of the day when you say "can we snuggle?" and crawl up on me with your head on my chest. You do not have it easy in our family. Your time at home with Mommy was cut short in March when big brothers went virtual for school and it's hard having 2 big brothers--you try to stay up late and get up early, you often lose in any game, race, wrestling match, and are used to being dragged to their games and activities. However, I've seen both sides this year....the side where it's really tough and you are constantly hoarse because of all your screaming and yelling and you have to go to bed at 6 pm BECAUSE 6 YEAR OLDS NEED SLEEP, but then the other side that has developed a tough shell and can go with your peers and thrive and lead because you get it, you get the underdog, you win the races, and you have equals. You are a social butterfly that comes home and immediately wants to go out and play with friends. You love collecting bugs and being in nature and having unstructured playtime. You love oatmeal and still are iffy on meats but down your veggies for coin flips every night. You love sports and are the first to play frisbee or baseball or soccer or a board game with Daddy. You are a fierce checkers player and legimately beat me most of the  time. You are super creative and love downtime to color and draw and let out your creative outlets. You see figures in the clouds and shapes in your food and I love seeing your creative mind come alive. You are rough and tumble and super tough but if there is blood you cannot function until you have a band aid. You love for me to read to you, are first to remind me if I forget to pray for you, and find ALL the reasons not to go to bed at night. You are our favorite six year old and I absolutely adore watching the little boy you are growing to be. God has gifted you with a strong spirit, a creative mind, and a sensitive heart that loves all people. I am so thankful to be your Mama. Happy birthday to our Bubby, B Bears, Brooksie Boy, B!

Love, 

Mama

Abby is 3!

 My sweet Abigail Ann,

Today you are 3. You are still asleep in your bed at 8:15 am because you are my party at night/play during nap/sleep in because you are not a morning person kind of girl. 

I see little bits of who God is making you to be and I absolutely love watching your little personality emerge. You are the first to see someone else is upset and run and tell me or their Mommy that they “need a band aid”. You have such a tender heart and take care of all of your baby dolls. During nap time you line them up on your top bed (you sleep on the trundle) and feed them bottles, read them stories, and create a “school” for them. You love your Mama and Daddy, your brothers, bunny, chincha, Daniel Tiger, and applesauce pouches. You love to shop and insist on picking out your own clothes. You love school but quarantine made you and Mama both big homebodies—we leave school and you grab my hand to come straight to the car. “No talking”. You are grumpy in the mornings and cry when we tell you “no”. Your favorite color is purple although most things are “blue” because you are still working on your colors. You love your friend Boyd-y and your cousins Brayson and Presley but are terrible at sharing and mostly cry when they come to play with your toys. You get dragged to brothers activities but you don’t really mind...unless it’s at 8 am! You pretty much potty trained yourself after you wanted candy at the store and I bought it telling you if you go in the potty you can have the candy. Well, you did it and basically haven’t had any accidents! I hope you always spell your name “A baby baby y” and grab your chincha with that left thumb and snuggle with Mama. You own being the baby, are not as into family adventures but slowly learning you are in a fun family so adventures are just part of your life. You love your Daddy and piggy back rides, high front yard swings, and soccer. With Mommy we read lots of books (5 Little Monkeys is favorite), you are my biggest cooking helper (“I help you. Let me get my step stool”), and we are still pretty inseparable. . Oh my Abby Ann, I just adore you and soooo thankful God brought you into this world 3 years ago! Today we celebrate YOU. You want a “bunny party”. I learned that means you and bunny—no friends, maybe brothers can have a piece of cake. Did I mention you don’t like sharing?! So in these Covid times we are not forcing a big friends and family gathering on you. You will wake up to presents and streamers on your door, have a bunny cake, and play babies and hide and seek, doctor and the bounce house in the backyard (remember that sharing thing?). Sister, you know what you want and I know that will take you far in life. Every night I put you to bed and we pray (until you say thank you God for poopy head and laugh because #3brothers) and I say your Bible verse “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him”. You finish with Romans 15:17 (although you know it’s 13–this is your way of being silly at night), get your blue cover, pink cover, bunny, chincha and “one last kiss and hug”. I pray big things for you but mostly that You would experience the love of Jesus and how He made you, not this world. In the times of Covid and a very heated election I’m glad you are 3 and innocent and your biggest problem is Mommy telling you no more Daniel Tiger. So enjoy it baby girl. We love you and adore you and are so proud of you.