Letters to Bman

Dear B, You are getting SO BIG little boy! I’ve noticed...

Sat, 26 May 2012 20:50:13 -0400

Dear B,

You are getting SO BIG little boy! I’ve noticed over the past few weeks that you’ve become quite the snuggle bug. I never thought you would be, because you’ve always wanted to go, go, go. But you’ve loved sitting in our laps, snuggling while watching Veggie Tales and rocking in your rocking chair. Those are some of my favorite recent moments.

You want to know something funny… Today as I was moving some albums and scrapbooks to our living room, I came across a scrapbook your Nana made me when I was a little baby. She wrote me a letter that sounded much like one I would write to you in the inside front cover. It made me smile to read her words and KNOW exactly how she feels. Makes me feel very loved too : )

I hope one day you read these letters and know how much your Mommy and
Daddy adore you.

The other thing I’ve noticed lately - and it fills my heart to its BRIM - is how much you ADORE your daddy. You follow him everywhere and want to do EVERYTHING he does. Including use the stud finder like in this little video.

I love you BOTH little man.

Love,
Mommy

Dear B, I can’t wait to see you sweet boy!! Only a few...

Thu, 10 May 2012 10:36:30 -0400

Dear B, I can’t wait to see you sweet boy!! Only a few more hours! Love, Mama

Dear Bubba, Oh sweet boy I MISS YOU!! I am traveling with Aunt...

Fri, 04 May 2012 07:46:29 -0400

Dear Bubba,

Oh sweet boy I MISS YOU!! I am traveling with Aunt Lara and Aunt Gina. The work we do is so much fun little B but it’s so hard to be away from you and your daddy.

When I left you on Monday I tried so hard not to let you see my tears. Ms Kara was holding you and I kissed you goodbye and walked to the door. When I got there I turned around and said “bye bye B” and you smiled from ear to ear and waved as hard as you could. Almost as if to say “Bye bye Mama go ahead and do your work. I’ll see you in ten days!”

You are such a sweet and warm little boy. You’re not a baby anymore. You’re a big boy. You walk and run and have opinions. You love Veggie Tales and your Daddy : ) You laugh and laugh at your daddy. He loves to make you smile.

I will see you in SIX days sweet boy. Be good today and have lots of fun. I can’t wait to see you and kiss your face.

I love you bubba,
Mommy

Dear sweet B, Oh bubba my heart is so sad right now. I hate...

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 23:43:03 -0500

Dear sweet B,

Oh bubba my heart is so sad right now. I hate when you don’t feel well. And this is the very first time. We’ve seen the doctor three times in as many days. And today I had to hold you tight while you wore the nebulizer to get the medicine into your lungs. We cried, you and me, for twelve minutes while the nebulizer did its work.

You were such a big boy and by the third treatment you were doing much better. Daddy had a lot to do with that last one. He makes you happy like no one else.

Get well sweet B. I’ve been spending lots of time with you this week just making sure you’re loved on. Your doctor said were doing everything we can. We have lots of friends who have had RSV so their mamas have been coaching me through it. We have such great friends sweet boy. I love you more than words. Sleep tight sweet B.

Love,
Mommy

Dear Bman, Oh my it has been too long since I wrote last. We...

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:06:41 -0500

Dear Bman,

Oh my it has been too long since I wrote last. We have been so busy. And you have been growing like a weed! You’re doing all kinds of new things! Your favorite is “touchdown!!” where you throw your arms above your head and squeal while we all say “yaaaaay!!”

You’ve got almost four more teeth (for a total of eight!) and are considering standing on your own. You’re still a little nervous about letting go but you can do it! We’ve seen it!

A few things you love right now:
Blueberries
Green beans
Salad (makes mama so happy!)
Elmo (in a big way!)
The alphabet song (when we sing it you crawl over to your alphabet toy and push the button to play the song! Every time!)
Walks in your wagon
FaceTime with Nana and Grandpa
Standing up in the bathtub (uh oh!)
Snuggles while mommy and daddy hold you and walk you around the house
Biting (ouch!)
Mio Mao (oh b this is the funniest little European clay-mation cartoon about two cats that we found on the Baby Channel. Since you were a few months old you’ve SQUEALED in delight everytime they come on!)
Strawberry smoothies
Cupcake frozen yogurt (oops! Who gave you that! : )
Taking your shoes off in the car
Peekaboo around the kitchen island with Briggs
Ms Kara : )
Friday playdates with your friends (well Mama really loves this and all their mommies too!)
Dancing in your crib in the mornings
Crawling away as fast as you can after we get you ready for bath time (a site to see! Haha!)
Magic Carpet Rides with Daddy (daddy’s silly game)

We love you sweet boy. I can’t believe in just two short weeks you’ll be one year old and officially a toddler. It makes me so happy to see what a sweet, curious, kind little boy you’re becoming. I love you more than anything in the whole wild world sweet B. Thank you for making my heart so full.

Love,
Mommy

Dear B, Whenever you just need to laugh at yourself… I...

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 22:47:46 -0500

Dear B,

Whenever you just need to laugh at yourself…

I love you!
Mommy : )

Dear B, Today was your first Christmas. We celebrated at Nana...

Sun, 25 Dec 2011 21:43:59 -0500

Dear B,

Today was your first Christmas. We celebrated at Nana and Grandpas house in Pensacola with lots of yummy food, wonderful gifts, our favorite traditions and our amazing family. You have had so much fun.

Nana has given you a book every night since we got here - and the book she gave you today was your very favorite: Elmo’s “Close At Heart” book. Nana and Grandpa recorded their voices reading to you about how much they love you and miss you when they are far away. It made everyone cry but you. You wanted the pages to turn faster : )

You also got a dinosaur walking toy and to everyone’s surprise walked (wobbly!) all the way across the room for the first time ever! Santa brought you books and your very own remote control with Elmo on it. I think your favorite gift was from Aunt Susu - a wiggly, giggly monkey. You just laughed and crawled in circles around it!!

It has been pure joy for me to show you all of our family traditions - cookies for Santa, a snack dinner by the fire on Christmas Eve, a scavenger hunt for our last Christmas gift, Christmas jammies, and lots of time together.

As you become a big boy (a toddler!) I see your personality really coming out : ) You are curious and sweet. The sweetest boy ever really. Your disposition is happy and kind already. You are also independent. You feed yourself your bottle, prefer to eat finger foods rather than have me feed you and don’t like to snuggle for much more than ten seconds unless you’re sleepy.

Last night, on Christmas Eve, you were having a hard time falling asleep in your little bed at Nana and Grandpas house. I came in and scooped you up. You’d had such a busy day and were exhausted. You laid your head on my shoulder and squeezed my neck. The candles in the windows were the only light in the room and you let me rub your little back while you fell asleep face down on my chest wearing your special Christmas jammies.

It was the best Christmas gift. You haven’t done that in probably six months. I said a Christmas prayer with you and laid you in your crib to rest before Santa came.

I love you more than there are stars in the sky little man. The greatest gifts arent those that come wrapped with ribbons and bows, but the gifts of time and laughter and ten minute snuggles we give. Thank you for the best Christmas ever.

I love you,
Mommy

Dear B, It’s almost Christmas, sweet boy! We’ll be...

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 08:46:40 -0500

Dear B,

It’s almost Christmas, sweet boy! We’ll be spending the holidays with your Nana and Grandpa in Pensacola. Santa’s elves are busy creating lots of special gifts for you since you’ve been SUCH a good boy this year!

We’ve gone to visit him a few times and have been able to spend lots of time with your friends lately. We’re so very lucky to have such good friends. You love our Christmas tree (and especially Mommy’s gold glitter trees on the fireplace) and want to touch EVERYTHING that sparkles and shimmers.

I can’t believe your first birthday is around the corner. Where on earth did ten months go. Just two more and we’re going to have a very special birthday party for you. Your first year has been an amazing one. You love Elmo. He’s your favorite and he makes you LAUGH. Ever since you received your first ‘SO BIG’ Elmo book. You laugh and turn the pages to get to the last pop-up page with the big Elmo. You love to eat too. Your favorite things are blueberries and green beans. Your Daddy and I want to feed you lots of different, healthy foods so you develop a love for things that are good for you. You haven’t disliked any food as of yet!

You also love Briggs, your Dog. You have another puppy, Harley Bogart, who lives in Pensacola with Nana and Grandpa for now. He went to stay for a while because he needed lots of room to run and play and they have a great big yard (plus, Tucker and Petey are there!) Briggs is so big. He’s 150 lbs and he loves you too. When Briggs walks by you or even looks in your direction, you LAUGH. But the one person who makes you laugh the most is your Daddy. He has all kinds of fun games he plays with you and makes up songs about you. His songs are my favorite. They make you AND me laugh.

I can’t wait to experience Christmas, with our family, with you, Bman. So many fun things lie ahead in the next few days. We celebrate each other and God’s love for us. There are no greater things than God and family. I love you, B. Thanks for snuggling with me when I scooped you out of your crib in the middle of the night the other day : ) Those are moments I’ll cherish forever.

Love,

Mommy

Little B, You are one handsome fella. This photo is of you and...

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 23:33:24 -0500

Little B,

You are one handsome fella. This photo is of you and I at the park with Daddy (behind the camera). You LOVE to swing at the park. You laugh and giggle and your daddy and I take turns pushing you so the other can watch you laugh hysterically. Watching you laugh is our new favorite hobby.

You learned how to wave a few days ago and haven’t stopped doing it since. You waved at the entire crowd on Good Morning America on tv today and at a few unexpecting people at the mall : )

Your top two teeth are pushing through so we’ve had a few rough nights but you’ve become a really great sleeper otherwise. Good job B : )

I’m starting to see your real “little boy” personality coming out. Your disposition is so sweet and pure. It’s blissful and full of joy. You barely cry (unless you’re hungry!) and are so well behaved. You laugh A LOT. It’s funny how centered I feel when I’m with you. Like I’m right where I’m supposed to be. That feeling is what I’d use to define the word “home”. I feel like that with you, your daddy and Nana and Grandpa. I hope you always feel that feeling too. It doesn’t matter what’s going on around us… That “home” feeling is just there.

I love you little man! Well… You’re not so little my almost ten month, 27lb “baby”. What a beautiful, beautiful ten months it has been.

I love you,
Mommy

Dear B, Even though it means I get to have a glass of wine and...

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 20:27:00 -0500

Dear B, Even though it means I get to have a glass of wine and watch my favorite tv shows, I miss you when you go to sleep and sometimes want to come wake you up to play with me : ) Love, Mommy

Dear Bman, This is you and your Daddy. He turns you upside down...

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 22:17:56 -0500

Dear Bman,

This is you and your Daddy. He turns you upside down and I kiss your face and you laaaaaaaugh. These are your Christmas jammies. I love you little B. So much.

Last night we read “The Story of Christmas” together. You watched every page as I told you about Who was born on Christmas Day and why we give gifts to celebrate His birthday. It was one of the most special moments of my life… Telling you about Jesus for the first time and watching you learn about His love for us.

I love you more than words little B.

Love,
Mommy

Dear Bman, What a day!! We saw Santa twice in twenty four...

Sat, 26 Nov 2011 23:13:30 -0500

Dear Bman,

What a day!! We saw Santa twice in twenty four hours! First he was at Chick Fil A and then he was at International Mall!! This is a photo of your photo - you loved him!!! After we visited the Ice Palace (where Santa waited for you to come see him) we went to the Build A Bear workshop! You picked out a classic brown teddy bear and we named him Buddy. He has a special beating heart (which we put in his little body together during the “heart” ceremony) and is wearing a blue and white baseball sleeve shirt. You love him!! We even put his birth certificate in your baby book.

Afterwards we had brunch together (you LOVE blueberries!) and played at home. Your daddy’s new favorite game is to turn you upside down so I can kiss your face. You laugh and laugh!!

This week was your first Thanksgiving! Your Grandma and Grandpa on your daddy’s side came over with your aunt, uncle, cousins and friends and we had a great big delicious meal! You tried a little of everything! Like your daddy, you loved the cranberry sauce the most.

On Thanksgiving morning you and I watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade together while your daddy prepared the turkey. You loved watching the floats while you tried to “walk” around our brown leather ottoman. Kermit the Frog was your favorite. When Santa Claus came on tv at the end of the parade, I got all teary eyes and your daddy laughed : ) Christmas is so special to our family, B, and I can’t wait to experience all our traditions with you. The Elf (who your silly daddy named Scooter) came to our house for the first time last night!! He will be in our house during the day so he can fly back to Santa at night and let him know how good you’ve been! (That means no pulling mommys hair and no knocking down Mommys picture frames)… Though I’m steadily losing on the last one - you are into everything little man!

I hear Santa is busy making all kinds of toys for you!! I hope you sleep tight in your Christmas jammies tonight. You’ve become such a great sleeper lately.

I love you more than words sweet boy.

Love,
Mommy

Dear Bman, Your Aunt Lara is about to give birth to Miss Grace...

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 23:26:06 -0500

Dear Bman,

Your Aunt Lara is about to give birth to Miss Grace Austin any day now. We laugh that she is your future wife and doesn’t know it yet. I am so excited for Aunt Lara to experience the joys of motherhood… I wrote her an email last week that made me cry. Just remembering those few moments that a mama replays over and over again for the rest of her life. Wow… those few moments when your first baby is born… You only become a mama for the first time once. Oh my heart is bursting for her.

It made me think about our prayer for the woman who WILL one day be your wife. It may seem silly since you’re only nine months old. But I think about her and pray for her to bring you so much joy one day. I pray she has a faithful heart and loves God and prays with you like I do at night. I pray she loves you with all of her heart and desires a home and family full of joy and tradition. I pray she loves her own family too. I pray she finds joy in the silly things and avoids the small and insignificant things that cloud our vision. I pray she supports your big dreams and has a few of her own. I pray she wants to make you a daddy one day too. : )

I am so proud of you B. You started crawling last week and made everyone SO proud!!!!

I love you!
Mommy

Dear Bman, My oh my. I don’t even know where to begin. In...

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 23:23:48 -0500

Dear Bman,

My oh my. I don’t even know where to begin. In the past two weeks you’ve become… A big boy. Im so excited to see how quickly you’re learning and growing, but I’m a little sad too : ) it’s amazing how quickly you’ve grown from needing me to do everything for you… To crawling, waving bye bye, holding your own bottle, eating pieces of peaches and loving apple juice.

But along with those new developments comes your ability to want and need and recognize your mama : ) You crawl to me and reach up for me. Today you snuggled into my neck with your head on my shoulder when you fell asleep. No better feeling.

This weekend we decorated our home for your very first Christmas!! You were amazed at the lights on the tree and immediately wanted to climb it. The part you loved the most was a silly reindeer who dances and sings Jingle Bells. My grandma (Mumu - yep that’s what everyone called her) gave that to me when I was little. I think she knew youd love it one day. She probably giggled from Heaven watching you laugh at it.

Christmas is a really special time. Not only is it filled with tradition and family, but it’s a celebration of Jesus. One day when you’re a little older, I’ll tell you all about Him.

I love you, Bman and I love watching you grow. Thanksgiving is this week and well be hosting a big dinner at our house for your Dads side of our family. It’s going to be so much fun! When I think about what I’m most thankful for… I’m just so thankful that you are you… That you are healthy and happy and ours.

Soon I’ll write to you about the amazing week you had last week with Nana and Grandpa. Your daddy and I were both traveling for work so you spent the week with them in Pensacola. We missed you dearly but you had a great time being spoiled! This photo makes me smile. Two of my favorite people ever. And a little bump on your head from playing outside : )

I love you,
Mommy

Dear Bman, You have slept in your crib all by yourself all...

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 20:44:50 -0500

Dear Bman,

You have slept in your crib all by yourself all night long EVERY night since since we started teaching you how! Your daddy and I can’t believe what a big boy you are.

This weekend your daddy’s favorite football team, the LSU tigers, won a big game. Your daddy made sure you wore your LSU gear all day long! Nothing makes your daddy prouder than to have his little Tiger by his side. I love watching the two of you together. No one can make you laugh like he can, not even me! We laugh and say he’s your clown.

I’ll never forget when Dr Angels nurse told us you were a boy. We thought you were a girl for five weeks (I even bought you some pink dresses! Ha!) Dr Angel was the doctor who measured and measured you while you were growing (he was worried you’d be very small because some of your bones measured below the fifth percentile. HA! We showed him! You’re 99th percentile now!)

The sweet nurse rolled the ultrasound wand over my belly and said “and you thought your sweet baby was a ……” I smiled because I saw what she saw. I looked at your daddy who didn’t realize it yet… And she said “it’s a boy!”

Your daddy jumped and danced and clapped his hands. I’ve never seen him more excited. He immediately text messages your grandma and said “Brady!!” she didn’t know what that meant but we later told her our sweet baby would be Brady Dennis Ley : )

Your daddy loves you in a way only a daddy can. He tells me he can’t wait to take you to football games, to teach you about Broncos and Jeeps and how cool they are. His favorite game with you is something he made up called Magic Carpet Ride. He lets you sit on his hands then moves you all around in the air like you’re on a magic carpet! You laugh and laugh and laugh!!

I love you so much sweet boy! Your two teeth on the bottom are creeping up with the next two right behind them! Your giant ear to ear and squishy-cheek smile with itty bitty teeth is my favorite thing in the whole world : )

Tuesday we head to Pensacola to see Nana and Grandpa!

I love you,
Mommy

Dear Bman, I am SO proud of you sweet boy! After one rough...

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 22:50:58 -0400

Dear Bman,

I am SO proud of you sweet boy! After one rough night learning to sleep in your crib you slept all the way through the night last night! When I woke you this morning you were FULL of smiles and ready to play!

What a learning experience for both of us. It was hard but we made it! Daddy and I are so proud of you. This weekend we are preparing for our trip to Pensacola Tuesday to see Nana and Grandpa (and Uncle B and Aunt “Lello!”) I am going on a trip for work and you’ll be staying with Nana and Grandpa! I am so sad to leave you but promise to bring you a surprise! We are headed to Pensacola a few days early to see our friends and spend some time with our family.

I love you big boy! Your two teeth are growing in so quickly on the bottom. I just can’t believe you’re already nine months old.

My most favorite time of year is coming up! I can’t wait to make so many memories with you in the coming months!

I love you B!!!

Love,
Mommy

Dear Bman, Tonight is no fun. Today your daddy and I talked to your doctor about how much you...

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:59:38 -0400

Dear Bman,

Tonight is no fun. Today your daddy and I talked to your doctor about how much you don’t like to sleep at night. He told us that it’s very important that you learn to sleep at night no matter what it takes. And he told us we had to start teaching you that everything is okay when you wake in the middle of the night by letting you settle yourself back down when you start crying.

This is so hard for me. When I heard you wake a few minutes ago I wanted to run into your room like I normally do, scoop you up all warm and slobbery and sad, hold you tight and let you lay your sleepy head on my shoulder until you fell back asleep in my arms. But tonight I have to watch you on your monitor and hope you find that comfort in your crib. When you went to sleep tonight we said prayers together that God would hold you tight and calm your little heart when you woke to look for me.

I feel like tonight is the first time I’ve had to let you be a big boy and not a little baby. It’s so hard. You’re still so sad right now.

Just know that at night Mommy and Daddy are watching over you and that we will scoop you up in the morning when you see the sun peek through your window.

I love you more than words sweet boy.

Love,
Mommy

Dear Bman, Happy Halloween handsome! Today was such a fun day....

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 22:11:54 -0400

Dear Bman,

Happy Halloween handsome! Today was such a fun day. I will post some photos for you of your first costume but I love this photo of you at Wee Play today. We had so much fun with your friends!

You were very well behaved even though you stole Beckett Pittmans pacifier a few times : ) Weve been taking an hour or two a few days a week and going to a few fun things with our playgroup friends. Last week we went to story time at the library. You loved the dinosaur popup books!

Last week was tough though. You got sick for the first time ever. Your temperature was 103 one night. After a lot of baths, some cherry flavored medicine that you didn’t like, a trip to the doctor and a lot of love from mommy and daddy you felt much better.

Then the next day, I was giving you a bath and your Daddy said “Does Brady have any teeth pushing up yet?” I said “No…. He’s going to be toothless forever…” and rubbed your bottom gums… And sure enough… Your middle bottom left tooth was poking through! We went straight from sick to teeth and the next day you had ANOTHER tooth making an appearance! You’ll have two bottom center teeth before we know it big man.

Saturday we hosted your first Halloween party. The babies from our group of friends (our playgroup) came over in costume (and some mommies and daddies!) and we had dinner and a
lot of fun. You, your daddy and I dressed up as Toy Story. I was Jessie the Cowgirl, your Daddy was Buzz Lightyear and you were a sock monkey!!

Tonight you sat in the driveway with us until bedtime dressed in your green monster jammies. You guarded the candy from the trick or treaters! Tomorrow is your nine month appointment. It’s a little early (you won’t be none months for two weeks) but I still can’t believe how old you are. Everyday you are doing new things. Your daddy and I love you so much, B!!!

Your first Christmas is around the corner and I’m sooooo excited to experience this with you! It’s our favorite time of year!!

I love you!!
Mommy

Dear Bman, I feel like you’re telling me...

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 09:39:40 -0400

Dear Bman,

I feel like you’re telling me “don’t make me crawl mama! I just want to DANCE!!”

You dance, B!

Love,
Mommy

Dear Bman, Mmmmmmm! Chicken and sweet potatoes! I love you so...

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 22:47:32 -0400

Dear Bman,

Mmmmmmm! Chicken and sweet potatoes!

I love you so much!!!!

Mommy