Y.E.S.

Dear Ty,

Seven years ago, I was living across the country from Daddy.  He was in Seattle, and I was in Parma.  I missed him terribly.

Seven years ago, I called Daddy crying and told him I was going to buy a plane ticket to see him.  He told me that if I bought a plane ticket, I would miss him because he had planned on coming home to surprise me. I was elated.  He told me not to be disappointed, though, if it was just a normal visit.  I knew what he meant.  The visit was enough.

Seven years ago, everyone else thought I was surprised to see him on the Friday night at Outback when I walked in to find him sitting with my parents.  I wasn't, but that didn't make it any less wonderful.

Seven years ago, I woke up on a Saturday morning to spend a glorious day with Daddy making Christmas cookies, singing, dancing, laughing, and being silly.  My heart was so happy.

Seven years ago, Daddy took me to dinner at my favorite restaurant, the English Inn.  We had great dinner, great conversation, and great love.

Seven years ago, your Daddy asked me to walk out back with him to look at the garden area.  I thought he was nuts.  It was freezing, and I was in heels carrying a box of leftovers.  No, I did not want to walk in the snow.  What was there to see?  A bunch of snow?  I went anyway.

Seven years ago today, your Dad asked me the most important question of my life.  Well, we think he did.  It was all such a blur that neither one of us really know what happened, and presumably I said yes.  Before we knew it, we were at home making phone calls and drinking corky wine (that's a whole other story) with Grandma and Grandpa.

Seven years ago today set me on my way to a life that far exceeds my big dreams and makes me believe I can realize even bigger ones.  I say yes to your Dad every day and make a choice to be best buds forever and yes to you and yes to everything that comes along with this crazy wonderful life of ours.

Seven years ago today, Daddy liked it and put a ring on it.  Seven years later, I still thank God for that every day.

Love you,

Mom   

Fortune Cookie

Dear Bubba,

I had a late task force meeting tonight, so your Daddy and I decided to take you out to dinner afterward.  We decided Chinese was in order, packed you up, and set off on our merry way.  It has been a long, busy, tiring week for all of us.  On top of that, you are teething, and we're not getting quite as much sleep as we're used to.  I'm not saying any of this to complain at all.  In fact, I want to say the opposite.

You know what makes a dinner date with you and Daddy even that much better?  A dinner date with you and Daddy that ends with the entire wait staff and the people sitting next to us telling us what a good boy you are.  Everyone who came by our table remarked how cute and well-behaved you are.  More than once.  Our waitress mentioned it each time she came by and kept shooting you smiles from across the room.  Before we left, the mom of the family next to us said, "Seriously, what a good boy!  When our little girl was that age, we could not even go out to eat."  Gosh, Bubba.  You're not quite six months old yet, and you already make us incredibly proud to be your parents.  I really just wanted to let you know that.

Your dad and I talked on the way home about your poor future siblings.  You are setting the standard really high.  All babies can't possibly be as great as you.  Or, maybe it's really poor you instead.  Your siblings are going to roll their eyes at you and get really sick of hearing about what an awesome little man you are.  In any case, we'll take care of that.  You feel free to keep on being wonderful you.  We love you exactly the way you are.

It's time I close this out because you're in your booth, ready to DJ another Ferri dance party and giggle at how embarrassing our moves are.  Chalk that up to another one of the many, many reasons why we love you and think you are such a perfect addition to this family.

Love you!

Mom    

Chief Bubba Eats a Lot

Dear Bubba,

It's about time I tell you about all the new things you do that crack us up.  I'm sure you'll have a million new things for us to giggle about within two weeks, and I want to document all your cuteness as much as possible.  I am a hoarder of memories. :)

• You are completely and totally fascinated by EVERYTHING.  You like anything that lights up or moves or has colors on it or is living or is not living or is a thing at all.  We catch you all the time holding your hand up in front of your face and staring at it in absolute wonderment.  I can't help but laugh.  Daddy likes it when you do the open mouth stare at the stickers on his computer.  You even talk to them.
• You are NOT, I repeat NOT, a fan of socks or coats.  You often have only one sock on, and we have to wander around trying to find where and when you decided to get rid of the other one.  Sometimes, the search is a little easier, and we don't have to look any further than your mouth.  You look very cute with coats and socks on, though.  See?

• You are still a big eater just like both of your parents.  We were asked to give you a special name for your Thanksgiving party at school this week.  Here you are as Chief Bubba Eats a Lot.

• You are fascinated by your own reflection.  This leads to lots of smiles in the mirror and a real appreciation for the reverse camera functions on our phones.  A guy who likes looking at himself in the mirror?  Where did you get that from?  Hmm...
• You went to your first football and basketball games this fall.  They were both games my students were playing in.  The football game in September was a little too bright and sunny for your liking, so you spent most of the time napping in your stroller.  We'll work on that.  Maybe a trip to the Big House will do the trick.  The basketball games we went to this week were a whole different story!  You were fascinated by all of the action, the shiny pom poms, and the lights.  I was a proud mama as my students stopped by to gush at you and equally as proud when many of them continued to gush about how cute you were when I saw them at school the next day.
• Lately, when we read books, you really want to be involved.  You genuinely seem interested and even want to hold the book and try to turn the pages.  I think this may be partly due to the fact that you'd like the book to end up in your mouth (like everything else), but I also hope that we can teach you to love books and reading.

I'm sure that as soon as I finish this, I'll think of a bunch more things that I wish I had added.  That's why there's next time, right?  For now, I need to go get dinner started so we can take you to your first play tonight.  We're going to see one of my former students star in a local version of The Giver.  You be good, Bubba!  Until next time...

Love you,

Mom

Early Morning Sleep

Dear Ty,

You inspire me.  I don't even like poetry very much (shh, don't tell my students).

Holding You

Holding you
charges my batteries
and all the lists slip away.
I have to, I want to, I can't

All that matters is that my arms
are strong enough
to hold you up.

We melt together,
inhaling your sweet scent
as your breath rises and falls softly,
two back to being just one again.

All that matters is that my heart
beats steadily
to the rhythm of your name.



Love you, sweet boy.

Mom

Moos and Boos (Not Booze!)

Dear Ty,

I have been looking forward to buying a baby Halloween costume since before I was even ready to have a baby.  When it came time to actually find one for you, I scoured website after website (and a few stores in person) to try to find the perfect cross section between cuteness, price, and you not hating us in the future for what we did to you. :)  The Pottery Barn spicy tuna roll made me laugh out loud, but the price was not right. I loved the meaning of the dinosaur costumes we saw, since you have always been our little dinosaur, but they just weren't all that cute.  The pea in the pod that I had often imagined seemed too babyish.  You are not a baby.  You are a miniature man.

We decided on a classic that was cute, comfy for you (okay, as comfy as possible), and easy on the wallet.  You could make anything adorable.  You totally did.

Your costumed cuteness started on your first trip to Michigan.  You had to show Grandma and Grandpa!

We didn't get any pictures at your first Halloween party, but you had a good time, I promise.  You giggled a lot at Angie the Hippie's hair.  This is on Halloween morning as you sent me off to school.  You still weren't all that sure about the costume.  You had a nice little party with your friends at school and made some precious pictures with your feet.

Moooooo!  Mooooo!  How cute are you? :)

It took many attempts to get you to smile in the costume.  We felt so bad for you because you were sick and just getting over a fever and into a cold.  The only way I finally figured out to get you to smile in the costume was for Daddy and I to bounce all over in front of you like crazy people, chanting, "Who dat?  Who dat?  Who dat say de gonna beat dem Saints?!"  Apparently, you are a New Orleans Saints fan.  Who knew?  We were just glad to see your little charmer smile.

We had a wonderful, typical Halloween night.  I watched "Hocus Pocus" with you while we handed out candy to our couple of trick or treaters.  Daddy acted surprised when we had a lot of his favorite candy left over for the fourth year in a row.  I hope he shares with you a bit next year. :)

We found once again that things that were already fun before are even more fun with you around!  I'm glad that we get another year or two to plan your cuteness before you start to pick your own costumes.  I'm not sure I'm ready to argue about fake blood just yet... with your or with your dad after he buys it for you ;).

Love you,

Mom