Happy 5th, my little one

Dear Samuel,

Today is your 5th birthday, and I cannot believe how time has flown by. You are my little, big boy now. You've counted down the number of "sleeps" until your birthday from about 51 days ago, and tonight you wanted to know how many more sleeps until your next one. When Daddy told you 364, you said, "But that's so many!" We all just laughed.

This morning you showed us how "fast" and "slow" you could run because you were now 5, and I remembered all the nights you "ran" in the womb. It was just the beginning.

You LOVE birthdays and celebrations complete with birthday hats, decorations, toys, sprinkles and everything Wii. You and Daddy woke up early for breakfast today while mommy and Allie slept in. You had scrambled eggs with some saved on your elbow that Allie noticed later. We woke up and you and Allie cleaned up the toys while we got all your presents and cake ready. Mommy tried to make you an upright rocket ship, but it fell over, so a new cake was made from old parts, but you didn't notice. You helped put on the letters last night, and this morning you and Allie put on the new sprinkles after Allie pulled off the sprinkles on the counter and we had to vacuum them all up. You were sad but glad after you found out that we had more! Your piece of cake that you chose had the letters "BIRTH" on it. :)

We took you to Toys R Us today to buy a Legos bucket for you. You also got a free Thomas train engine as a present from them, a balloon, and a birthday crown. I don't think you really noticed because you loved zooming around the store on the scooter.

Recently, you and Allie love to buy candy and little toys from the 25cent dispensers when we leave stores, so I always carry quarters now. Daddy took you 2 to get some as I checked out with the toys today. Then we went to the mall across the street and ate some Chik-fil-A and Orange Leaf yogurt, which you and Allie loved. You 2 had so much fun rolling around on the bench seats, but you were tired and asked me,"Can we just go home?"

You and Allie say so many funny things that I wish I could remember them all. You are learning to share with Allie and communicate with her, although it is not always easy for you, but I know you are trying. You are such a good boy, and I know that having a little sister as determined as Allie is not always easy, but I love you so much for trying your best. Mommy and Daddy love you so much and bless you this day with exceeding joy, peace, life and health as you grow in the Lord.

I love you, my little boy.

Mommy

Things you like and say:

Checkers (we taught you to play a few weeks ago and you love to be "kinged")

Spiderman (I don't know why)

Little People Noah's Ark animals (you and Allie role-play in high-pitched voices)

Swiper, no swiping...Oh man! (Dora the Explorer)

Golf (we got you this for your birthday)

Taco meat (because you are bigger now and you like meat now that you are big)

No onions (you say that you like this "a little" and will like it later on "when I get bigger")

Big Brother Samuel

Dear Samuel,

As of November 16, 2007, you are a big brother. It's somewhat bittersweet to think that you are the older one and will somehow have to grow up because of your little sister. Yet it seems that you have stepped into the role without much of a hitch...you are loving to her and not jealous. You are such a special little boy. Part of me wants you to stay my little boy, and I think that is because little boys have a special bond with their mom, or is it the other way around? But I see you growing and learning and singing along with Super Why, Sesame Street and Word World on TV and singing your ABCs when you think no one is listening. Your 'X' is pronounced "eck", Q-R-S is "Queres" and T-U-V is "toov" . I hope to record you singing so that you can hear it one day.
You daily routine consists of Super Why, which is your favorite PBS show now, playing the computer "puter" and falling asleep in your high chair after eating lunch (rice and peanuts today).
Your Dad has been taking you to your sunday school class, and you are learning to defend yourself. "my *fill in the blank*!" I'm glad that he's doing it because I'd want to intervene and defend you.
You just woke from your nap and I had to help you get back to sleep. You ended sleeping on my arm and snoring. You were so cute, I kissed you on your cheek. You giggled and rolled to the other side of the bed. I don't know if you actually woke up or were just dreaming. I am so glad to have these days with you.

Love,
Mommy

Sleepy Times

How time flies! You are now about 28 months old. You love to snuggle in bed right up next to mommy. I don't know what goes through your little head, but it is definitely an adventure! One night you started "running" in your dreams and kicked me repeatedly. Then another night you started laughing and chuckling. I wonder what you dream about...

One night we gave you a snack of Oatmeal Chocolate Cake before bed, and you went to sleep saying "more".

Tonight you woke up and saw me sitting in the bed after your diaper leaked, and you asked, "Mama, whatchoo doing"? I laughed to myself and responded that I was going to sleep. That answer seemed to satisfy you, and you rolled over and went back to sleep. You were, of course, lying with your head at the foot of the bed and giving me about 1 1/2 feet to get back in bed. I pushed you over eventually, and you are now sleeping soundly next to your Daddy.

It is fun to watch you sleep and remember how small you were when you were born. Now you are very long, and it amazes me to see you when you are lying next to your Dad. Sleep tight, little one.

Love,
Mommy

Shhh! ABC...

Samuel,

You never cease to surprise me. You love to play with the buttons on the CD player and the keyboard, but sometimes you can be a little loud. So, the past couple of days I would turn to you and say, "Shh!! Turn it down!" in Chinese to you. You would then turn the volume down on the CD player--and then tonight on the keyboard. I was so surprised. Even the second time I asked you to turn it down, you knew what to do. You are learning so fast.

Even with the alphabet, you can recognize all the letters when we write or type except W, Y, and Z, but I bet you'll learn them in the next few days. You are the funniest kid because wherever we go, you are reading letters on cups, signs, boxes, anything with letters on them! Even at a stop light, you are saying the letters you see. You are so smart. Now, if we could get you to count! :)
Your new favorite songs are the alphabet song ("B-C"), The B-I-B-L-E, and Old MacDonald (E-I-E-I-O). Can you tell that you like letters? We love you so very much! We are very proud of you.

Your molars are coming in now, so Mommy will go back to bed. I love you!

Fun Times

Dear Samuel,

You are growing by leaps and bounds. You are now tall enough to reach the lights in our house (and the elevator at church!)and are so helpful when we ask you to turn the lights on and off. When you get hungry or thirsty, you help yourself and turn the kitchen and dining room lights on...and then proceed to the fridge and drag out whatever you want or whatever is in the way of what you want. Tonight, you brought out the juice and wanted us to pour it into your bath toy cup...the one with holes in the bottom. Thankfully, you haven't developed the dexterity to twist open the juice and pour! Yet...

At your mealtime before bed, Daddy gave you yogurt, and you fed yourself with a spoon. You slurped it up, making noises after each mouthful. When we would feed you yogurt by the spoon, you would place 1 or 2 Cheerios (or the Wal-Mart equivalent) on each spoonful and then eat it. Tonight Daddy decided to put them in your bowl for you to spoon and eat. You took one mouthful and furrowed your brow...something didn't taste right. Now, you hate to get anything on your fingers, like yogurt. So you tentatively pushed at the O's in the bowl, trying not to get the yogurt on your fingers while you picked up and pushed the O's to the side of the bowl. Daddy finally removed them (ate them), and then you decided that you wanted to put them in yourself. We had a good laugh.

You also like to help us make smoothies and things with ice in the Vitamix. You sure drank a lot of Daddy's smoothie tonight! You'll take us to the fridge and point to the freezer until we understand what you want, and then you'll take some ice and put it in the Vitamix. Sometimes we'll just make a slushy of sorts, but you don't mind. It's cold, and you like it. Then you'll say "cold" in Chinese!

You are such a fun little boy. You love to bounce on your bed, hang upside down, have Daddy throw you on our bed, and generally use up all your energy. You love to dance and jump from the step stool we bought for you. Tonight you jumped from the step stool, making a loud thud. We finally muted the noise for our neighbors downstairs by placing 2 puffy pillows down on the floor. You loved this even more.
I am just thankful you are growing up healthy and strong--even though sometimes you wear me out! I love you, little boy. Sometimes I wish you could stay this age forever...

Mommy

Help!!!

Dear Samuel,

By now, your Mommy is becoming very pregnant with your first little sibling, but you have very little clue about her growing belly right now. Occassionally you still like to powerslam into her belly, which causes her alot of discomfort, and I imagine, makes the little child inside wonder what awaits him/her when they arrive into the world!

The several nights ago as it often happens with pregnancy, Mommy was laying on the bed and having some difficulty finding the energy to get up. So she stuck her hand up to me and said, "Help". As expected, I reached out and helped her up. I guess this made a significant impression on you. Only 30 minutes later, Mommy had you in her arms taking you to get a diaper change. You don't particularly enjoy getting your diaper changed because that means taking a precious 5 minutes out of your busy play schedule. So as the 2 of you went by, you saw me, reached out your arm, and said "Help!!!". Mommy and I were both very tickled of how quickly you learn important phrases such as, "Cake", "I-Qing", and "Help".

My prayer is that you learn to ask the Lord for help as quickly as you turn to your earthly parents for help at 2 years old.

Love,
Daddy

New developments

Hi Samuel,

Mommy is going out to buy a whip for your Daddy today. Last night he ate too many cookies and got a sugar crash/headache. We were already in bed and had already read Goodnight Moon together. Daddy got up and drank some water to help with it. He had to go to the potty later on and forgot to put up a block so that you wouldn't roll off the bed. He ended up playing video games until he heard a crash and cries from you. When we were all in bed, Mommy said to him that he was going to get horse-whipped and that we were going to buy a whip today. But I think I'll forgive him...even though I haven't been able to go back to sleep. I had to change your diaper as well later on because I bet the fall made you so scared that you pooped.

Well, I'll just sleep later on today. :)

Last night Daddy put back together the crib so that we could start working on getting you to sleep in it. You are sleeping more on your own through the night (except when you roll off), and Mommy is thankful. You love the crib and helped Daddy put it together by throwing screwdrivers through the bars, saying uh-oh and climbing on the bars. You love to bounce, bounce, bounce! The mattress is the bounciest thing in the house and you get your exercise by bouncing. You laid down on the pillow and pretended to snore. Then you told us you wanted out but then kept playing (bouncing) and pretending to snore. You are so funny! You can also climb out of the crib by using the bed through the bars as a step, but that's ok because you can come and cuddle with us if you need to.

I don't know exactly how you will adjust to this, but we will see!

Love,
Mommy

Happy 2nd!

Dear Sammy-Boy,

You, dear little one, are now officially 2! Your vocabulary is exploding! Please (peas), Thank you (achoo and sheh sheh), ice cream (i-ching), i don't know (i-know, with a pause), Yes sir! (from the Lord's army song), etc...
For your birthday we bought you a Baskin Robbins ice cream cake that was mint chocolate ice cream and chocolate cake. This solidified the word "cake" in your vocabulary.

You have found a new love. Dancing and music. We borrowed Elmopalooza and The Tigger Movie from the library, and you love to dance to Elmo. I think you actually prefer the Ska Count Song with the letter Z. You dance to pretty much any music with a beat and then ask for "more" as soon as the song is done. This brings us so much joy to see you enjoy music and see the freedom you have in dance. I pray you will never be self-conscious and be afraid to express yourself before the Lord.

Happy 2nd, Little One. When you have the time, watch the video of your birthday song.
Love,
Mommy

Cleaning up the Apartment

Dear Samuel,

You are always surprising us and amazing us! Tonight you were drinking some water from a glass. Somehow the water flowed out of the glass and went down your shirt and onto the carpet. You automatically said, "Uh-oh!" Then you walked into the kitchen and started pulling at the fridge door using the towels we hang on the handle. I followed you into the kitchen thinking that you wanted some soymilk because you like to get out the carton. But when I opened the door, you held onto the towel and it dawned on Daddy that you wanted the towel to wipe up the water on the floor. So we gave you the towel and, with your little feet, toddled over to the spill and wiped it up--and you did a good job! We were so proud! You are such a helpful little boy!

A few days ago, you and Daddy were at church (which you love to say now) in the lobby running back and forth and up and down the ramp like you like to do. Then Daddy and you start to hop up and down. You've never left the ground with both feet before--unless we were holding you. This brought you so much delight! You were ecstatic and kept jumping up and down. It was such a growing up moment. We love to watch you learn and grow and explore...we love you, little man.

Mommy