Letters For Lucas

Wonders, Mishaps, Blunders and Joy.. commentary on my life as a mom in the form of letters to my son

Heart Sweater

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At first sight I had to have it.

A darling navy blue sweater with a big red heart, sized for a 3-6 month old.

I didn’t have children yet, was no where near ready to have children, nor was I married, but something drew me to it.

It symbolized so much; marriage, family, everlasting love, my future. It represented everything that I wanted in life.

Had I not found it hanging in the back of Lucas’s closet last week, I would have been beside myself. He never wore it. I didn’t even try it on him. It’s as though somewhere deep within my soul, I knew it was meant for a daughter. My daughter.

Carefully I slipped it over Lola’s head and was surprised to find that it fit perfectly. She’s 15 months old today and my long legged little girl is already wearing clothes for an 18 month old or larger. Clearly it had been mis-tagged and I am so grateful.

I paired it with a pair of jeans because babies and jeans are the best and took a ton of photos.

Of course.

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Thanks to our schizophrenic Southern California weather lately, it was a chilly day, but Lola was warm and cozy and so was my heart.

I have written about the heart sweater twice before. The most recent was in 2011 and can be found here: Hopes, Dreams & Wishes.

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A Video, Cookies & Winners

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I’m sorry I haven’t posted in a few days, but like you I’ve been immersed in holiday goodness: baking, socializing, wrapping and enjoying the sights and sounds of this special time of year.

I’ve fallen so behind on reading my favorite blogs and e-mails, that I may just delete and start fresh January 1. That’s allowed, right?

Lucas and I are about to head to the Bay Area to spend Christmas with my husband’s family, but before we go, I just had to share this.

Lucas’ preschool class performed Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer last week and while he may have froze during the actual program, he knew every word and there has been a lot of practicing at home.

Here he is belting out the favorite holiday classic while enjoying a delicious chocolate chip cookie made by Jackie of With Just a Bit of Magic as part of Katie’s cookie swap.

For all of you that linked up your Santa photos, thank you! There were some darling photos this year.

Thank you also to Natalie (of Mommy of a Monster) for co-hosting this link up with me and to each one of our awesome sponsors!

Via random.org, here are our winners (hopefully you were each notified via Twitter):

Huggerz Kid Koozie
Amy of BabyBaby Lemon

Kimberly of Something Something

$20 Santa.com Gift Card
Jessica of My Time As Mom

$25 Raleigh Cake Pops
Sherri of Old Tweener

$50 Gift Card to One Hope Wine
Jamie of Roubinek Reality

Congratulations, everyone!!

Letters For You posts will resume on Wednesday, December 28.

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a safe holiday.

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My Day In Numbers

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12 days until Christmas and like you, my holiday ‘To Do’ list is out of control!

Today was a very productive day….

I addressed, stamped and mailed 100 holiday cards,

visited 6 stores, including Starbucks for a much needed extra dose of liquid energy,

baked 7 dozen cookies (sugar, chocolate chip oatmeal and peanut butter) with the help of a pint-sized sous chef,

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did 5 loads of laundry (sadly, underwear still needs to be washed  even though it’s the holiday season),

managed to find an hour to walk 4 miles,

listened to 3 hours of Christmas music,

savored 2 glasses of well-deserved wine,

gave 1 time out,

and ate countless cookies.

Turns out the problem with baking seven dozen cookies is that Lucas had two and was over it. I’m still eating them!

Good thing I am giving the rest away as gifts.

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I hope your holiday prep is going well and that the sous chef in your life makes you smile as much as mine. 

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A Hundred Hearts

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Lucas is 2 1/2 years old today and they were right. I was warned. Everyone that said it goes by fast. By it, of course, I mean childhood…. mine, yours and especially our children’s.

One minute it was just Todd and I and the next we became a family by bringing home our newborn son. Fast forward in lightening speed time, we began celebrating all of his amazing milestones and he soon turned one and then two and now attends preschool, sleeps in a twin bed, lives on macaroni ‘n cheese and has begun asking us all sorts of inquisitive questions about the world around him.

Right before our eyes Lucas has turned into a little person… a wonderful, thoughtful, strong-willed, energetic little person.

I constantly search for the pause button and desperately try my best to stay present so that I don’t miss a moment of his childhood.

I want to remember these days of sweet innocence and discovery forever.

A hundred hearts would be too few
To carry all my love for you.
– Author Unknown

Linking up with Galit (These Little Waves) and Alison’s (Mama Wants This) Memories Captured.


The photo above was created using picnik.

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Crush

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It’s inevitable.

Bound to happen, as it does to all of us.

For some, it happens sooner rather than later. Much later.

I was in the second grade.

His name was (and is, we are now Facebook friends) Scott Brewer.

Lucas has been in preschool since August and has adjusted very well. He attends three days a week for three hours each day.

He’s braved the last 10 days without a lovey. This is HUGE!

He loves his teacher and has made friends. I have to smile when upon arriving each day how many of classmates greet him.

I have a roster of all the children in his class and we review it daily.

There are 24 boys and girls in Room 2, but only one that makes him light up like a Christmas tree.

Her name is Sophia.

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My Heart

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We only have one bathtub in our house and it’s in the master bathroom.

After Lucas has a bath, his favorite thing to do is rush out of the bathroom completely naked and dripping wet and jump and “wrestle in bed”, as he calls it with his dad.

The roughhousing turns into a game of struggling to get Lucas’ pajamas on.

It’s good physical fun for Lucas and great bonding time for both of them, so I usually stay away.

They twist and turn and roll all over the big king-sized bed, pillows are tossed on the floor and laughter can be heard throughout the house. It’s one of my favorite times of the day.

Having no fear or concept of how much his propelling onto his dad’s back may hurt, Todd recently tried to explain to Lucas that he is just a person; a body, made up of water, blood, tissue and bones. Overhearing this from the bathroom, I popped out and asked Lucas what he thought was in his body.

His reply without skipping a beat: “my heart”.

I may have cried a little.

Lucas and his friend, Jackson on Saturday night. Isn't the turquoise water so fun? Thanks to Jackson's mommy, we've discovered Sesame Street Fizzy Tub Color Tablets!

 

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Simple Things

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  1. a little me time
  2. a lot of us time
  3. a vase full of bright cherry sunflowers
  4. a book I can’t put down
  5. a full moon
  6. a colorful garden
  7. a round trip ticket
  8. a wink
  9. a front porch light
  10. a letter in the mailbox
  11. a promise kept
  12. a secret shared
  13. a child’s contagious laughter
  14. a perfect souffle
  15. a wishing well
  16. a meaningful kiss
  17. a quiet moment
  18. a kind gesture
  19. a new friend
  20. a car wash
  21. a door being held open
  22. a discount
  23. a green light
  24. a brilliant sunset
  25. a warm welcome
  26. a pair of worn in slippers
  27. a smaller size
  28. a new episode
  29. a great opportunity
  30. a hotdog at a baseball game
  31. a catchy tune
  32. a clean set of sheets
  33. a walk along the beach
  34. a ladybug
  35. a brighter shade
  36. a chance encounter
  37. a change for the better
  38. a hand to hold
  39. a view from the top
  40. a wagging tail on a puppy
  41. a Ferris wheel
  42. a fresh perspective 
  43. a full-bodied Cabernet
  44. a familiar touch
  45. a pile of leaves
  46. a second chance
  47. along hot shower
  48. a fresh manicure
  49. a visit to the zoo
  50. a smile 
 This post was written for Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop, Prompt 1.) The simple things…

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The Fun Has Just Begun

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In the beginning, it was diapers, sleepless nights, onesies, bottles and burp cloths, but in just a few short months, Lucas started crawling and then soon after that, walking and is now talking and communicating with me like I never thought he would and I realize that the fun has only just begun.

I am blowing bubbles and playing chase in the backyard, squishing Play-Doh between my fingers and picking up puzzle pieces from all over the house.
I am taking more photos than I ever have before and making memories to last a lifetime on trips to grandma and grandpa’s, the zoo, beach and amusement parks.

I am drawing with sidewalk chalk, crayons and finger paints, playing on park swings, slides and monkey bars, getting drenched at water fountains at the mall and during bath time.

I am planning play dates, packing lunches, snacks and sippy cups and making sure my iPhone is fully charged and is loaded with plenty of kid friendly material.

I’m laughing through family dinners because I’m getting covered in spaghetti sauce, apple juice and yogurt. I’m squishing grapes and pretending to feed choo choo trains.
I am teaching letters, numbers, colors, body parts, manners, patience and more.

I am revisiting the simple joy of Disney movies, Dr. Seuss at story time, pretend and hide-and-seek.

I am kissing boo-boos better, nursing colds, attempting time outs and trying to keep my own temper tantrums in check.

I’m learning to slow down, follow bugs, stop and smell the flowers and delight in the wind.

I’m looking at world in a whole new way….

…through the eyes of my son.

 This post was featured on Natalie’s blog, Mommy of a Monster, in her weekly feature, Monster Likes #8 on Saturday, February 26, 2011.

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Hopes, Dreams & Wishes – Redux

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I wrote this piece last year when I had all of three followers and I immediately thought of it when I read this week’s Red Writing Hood’s writing prompt: Write a piece about finding a forgotten item of clothing in the back of a drawer or closet. Let us know how the item was found, what it is, and why it’s so meaningful to you or your character.

With some editing, here is Hope, Dreams & Wishes:

Long before I ever thought I’d have children and certainly long before I had Lucas, I bought this little sweater. I found it at Old Navy, of all places. It was originally $16.50 and had been marked down to $3.99. The tag is still on it.

From the moment I saw it, I thought it was precious.

Navy blue is my favorite color and I loved the adorable red heart with the arrow going through it and something came over me and I just had to have it. I remember thinking at the time while standing in the check out line, I’m nowhere near ready to have children, why on earth am I buying this?!? I don’t even have a boyfriend.

It took me a while to realize that this tiny little sweater represented something stupendous and wonderful. Something bigger than myself. Something that was yet to be. It represented where my life was going to be someday. Where my life, if I was lucky enough, was heading…

True love, romance, marriage, children, cuddles, giggles, and a lifetime of memorable firsts and happy moments.

A childhood, not unlike my own.

The sweater stayed safely wrapped in tissue paper in the bottom of my pajama drawer for years, but each February when Valentine’s Day rolls around, I remember the sweater.

Just last week, ironically the week before Valentine’s Day, I was organizing Lucas’ closet and I came across this tiny sweater. I was about to add it to the donation pile until I realized what it was.

Maybe someday we’ll have a little sister for Lucas, as the sweater is far too feminine for him to wear and at size 3-6 months, far too small for him anyway.

I gingerly put the sweater back on the hanger, returned it to the closet and there it will stay as a peaceful reminder that so many of my hopes, dreams and wishes have already come true.

Click here to read the original piece posted February 12, 2010: Hopes, Dreams & Wishes.

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