Those Special Moments

Dear My Little Guy,

  I love you more than words can express.  As I lay here watching you sleep, I came to realization that things are going to soon change, but I want you to know that my love for you will never change.  You will always be my little boy, my first born.  There will always be that unique bond between us....that bond that formed the moment I realized I was pregnant with you...then that even stronger bond that formed the moment I kissed your little forehead the day you were born...and now a bond that cannot be broken as I put you to sleep each night and get to snuggle with you almost every day as you fall asleep at nap.  I know these little moments will someday end, but I want you to know I will always, always cherish these little moments...these moments you will probably never remember, but I will.  Those moments you sit on my lap and want me to read a book over and over again...those moments you say, "huggy" and wrap those small arms around me...those moments you learn something new and repeat it over and over again wanting me to know you know it...those moments you laugh and giggle and never stop talking...our car rides with you when it is just us talking back and forth! These are just a few of the moments I will never forget.  There are so many more that  I cannot list them all,but I can tell you I write almost every moment down because I never want to forget them...these little moments with my first born child that will forever be special between just me and you.  No one will ever replace those moments! And although, I have been super tired lately carrying your new little sibling and even sick at times, I want you to know each evening I fall asleep before you and don't get to put you asleep, and each little moment I don't spend with you, it kills me.  I want those moments back so bad and regret knowing that I only have so many moments such as these before you grow up and stop needing your mommy as much and moments that will soon lessen even more as your younger sibling continues to grow in my tummy and even after he or she arrives.  I know things are going to change.  I know things will not be the same.  And although you have been learning the importance of sharing your mommy with your friends, you will soon realize you will always have to share your mommy with another sibling who is here all the time and doesn't leave.  And although you may not remember these moments when it was just us, I want you to know I will remember them.  I will remember all those little lessons, play ideas, and so much more that I did with just you.  I will remember sitting on the floor, no matter how tired I was watching you play and pretending to play along when you would say, "Mommy pay (play)" or "Mommy read this." I will remember those moments.  Those are the moments I will forever cherish.

 So here I am watching you sleep....watching you hold onto your little mickey...watching you breathe...and you have left me speechless knowing that these moments won 't always be here.  So while I am thinking about all these little moments, I wanted to take time to thank you for teaching me how strong God's love really is...thank you for showing me how to love like God loves.  Thank you for being you and relying on me as much as you do.  Please know no matter how old you get, how independent you get, how busy I get with your friends and other siblings that you can always come to me...you can always share a hug with your mommy. You can always snuggle next to me, sit on my lap, reach for my hair and tell me you love me.  Because these are the moments I want to never forget.  These are the moments I want you to know that I will forever hold close to my heart.  These are the moments that I will always rememberwe and hope that you someday will also get to experience these same type of moments with children of your own.

And although things will change with another sibling, I know you will enjoy growing up having that extra sidekick, that special someone to play with close to your age.  I know you will love that little baby so much.  I know you already do.  I love those moments you realize mommy has a baby in her tummy and you give it (mommy's tummy) kisses and hugs and say, "Hi baby!"  That little baby growing inside mommy's tummy is already starting to love and cherish you also!  Thanks for already being such a great big brother! (You learned from the best!)  Soon you will get to see what it's like being the big brother! And although you may at times get upset or irritated with that younger sibling, I know you you will love that little baby with all your heart!  I know you will because mommy has four younger siblings and two older siblings, and although we may not always see eye to eye, I love them with all my heart and am so glad I had them to share my life with, someone always to play with, someone to spoil, someone to talk to, someone to lean on when things got rough, someone to hang out with on holidays as we got older and had families of our own...Those are moments I enjoy(ed) most with my siblings! And although you may never remember being my first born and all those special moments with mommy...that mean so much to her.... I know future moments with your siblings will be the moments you remember and cherish!


Remember, my little man, I love you and cherish each and every moment I have with you!  They are special and will always have a special place in my heart! Because every moment with you is a moment I will forever cherish and not take for granted!  I love you, my sweet little boy! Never Ever Forget That!

Love,
Mommy

Favorite Toddler Activities and Toys

1. Felt Boards (I have discovered that my little guy loves felt pieces.  My brother's girlfriend bought him a beach theme one when she was out of town, and he's finally old enough to play with it, and it fits in the diaper bag so we can take it to church and restaurants.  I even got creative and made several of my own.  I stick them in individual baggies and we only get one set out at a time.  I did mine according to Bible stories,, but have also made some for my nephew for each month of the year:decorate the jack-o-lantern's face, decorate the tree, add accessories to the potato head, etc.  Look up quiet books or busy books and you will find all kinds of ideas.)He's playing with the Armor of God set right here.
2. Coloring with crayons and markers (My little guy is constantly asking to "color".  He will even get specific when he wants markers.  He asks us every time we go into a restaurant if he can color so be sure to keep a coloring book and crayons in your diaper bag.)
3. Painting: watercolors, finger-painting, painting their hands and feet, water painting books for on the go, etc. (Edible paint, baby food, and water painting are great ideas when they're younger than 1).
4. Magic marker books (These are like coloring books but only comes with one clear marker.  When he colors it shows up on the book, but no where else.  It is amazing and great for on the go!)
5. Lego's, Mega Blocks, etc. (He loves to build! When he was younger he loved to knock over what we built.  Now, he actually tries to build his own towers.)
6. Foam blocks, cardboard blocks (Melissa and Doug sells really nice ones that were passed down to my little guy from his cousins.)
7. Books, books, and more books! (Toddler love when you read to them! My little guy will sit for well over twenty minutes now listening to stories he loves. His favorites are the ones you flip open pockets and look inside or the ones that you press the buttons and they play sounds or songs.)
8. Sensory play with all sorts of objects such as formula, play dough, flour, sugar, Easter grass, snow, water, ice, socks, cards, baby food for the younger ones, etc.
9. Putting things into something else such as: pennies in a piggy bank, pom pom balls in a water bottle, pipe cleaners in a container with holes, etc. (def. need adult supervision with these ideas).
10. Little figurines (We have all sorts but his favorite ones are his cowboys and Sesame Street characters. He also enjoys Little People characters and animals.)
11. Stickers (Let them stick them everywhere on them.  We stick them on our face, clothes, feet, hands, etc.  He loves sticking stickers on himself and others! And honestly stickers work great as rewards for folding their hands when we pray, cleaning up their own messes, picking up their toys, etc.  We use them often!)
12. Magnets (We have magnets that look like the picture below called Magformers.  The toddlers love them!) 
13. Puzzles (Puzzles with pegs are perfect for little hands.  The ones with matching pictures on the board along with the piece are even better.)
14. Outdoor toys for both inside and out such as riding toys, slides, swings, basketball goal, sandboxes with shovels and buckets, etc.  (These are wonderful for their gross motor skills and fine motor skills, and toddlers love these type of things!)
15. Mr. Potato Head (My little guy loves Mr. Potato Head! He's learned several body parts by playing with his.  We also have a small version for his diaper bag.  Great play toys for restaurants!)

Most of these toys and activities were bought for him as Christmas presents, from yard sales, or bought for his older brother in the past that don't get played with by him anymore. We try to think outside the box when trying out new toys and ideas.  You never know what a toddler will fall in love doing!

What are some of your toddler favorite toys and activities?  I would love to hear of new ideas to try my little guy.  He loves learning and trying  new things!