Dear Little Man,
Well, it's been quite the few weeks with you. It's kind of funny, that I wrote about your sister on day 49 of knowing her. And here I am on day 149, writing about you. I didn't wait this long on purpose. I just can't write about things until they strike me in the right way. So here we are.
We are over 2 months in on our wait to find out what will happen with you and your sister and I'm getting a bit impatient. You two fit in so well with us that I often have to remind myself there is a small chance you might not stay here and that you aren't ours...yet. I hate those moments of reality.
When you first moved in, you attached to Brad like glue. Anytime I asked you to do something, especially something you didn't like, you clung to him. I just kept trying to win you over, but didn't lose my firmness with you. Lately, I don't know what changed, but wow. I wouldn't change it for the world.
You used to want to snuggle up to daddy all the time. You were rarely interested in me. You would give me hugs, but not really. Every time we did something, you wanted to know where Daddy Braddy was. Although I know this could be something rooted in your past, or nothing at all, it really hurt. Alot.
We changed your daycare soon after one of our court dates because your daycare was mentioned in court. I just didn't want to chance it. Besides, our in home provider does a great job and we knew she would teach you great things. And your daycare was quite chaotic and I was hoping to get you some quiet down time there. This of course means you are ready to run a marathon when you get home at night. What will we do when it's -30 outside?! You have done so well there. She is so good for you.
As much as I hate poop & pee, I love your adventures in potty training. You struggled for a bit and we talk about having "no more accidents", but when you say it, it comes out "NO MORE ACKIDINTS!" and you laugh and jump and grin so big. Sometimes when I ask you if you had any accidents at day care, you yell this and give high fives. When you are sitting on the potty to go poop, you sing Old McDonald. "Old McDonald had a farm E-I-O. With a moo moo here and moo moo there moo moo eveewhere." Can you be any cuter? I love how we practiced what to do if you have to go potty and you are at a certain place. I know, I'm a dork. But if we don't practice, I don't think I can expect you to remember what to do in the moment.
Me: What do you do if you have to go potty while we are in the car?
You: *raising & waving hand* I half a go potty, please!
Me: What do you do if you have to go potty while we are in the grocery store?
You: *raising & waving hand* I half a go potty, please!
Me: What do you do if you have to go potty while you are at day care?
You: *raising & waving hand* I half a go potty, please!
Me: What do you do if you have to go potty while Grandma is here?
You: *raising & waving hand* I half a go potty, please!
I love how you and your sister dropped our names at some point and just started calling us Mommy and Daddy. I love how when you went to visit your foster family, you told me they were your foster family because *Mom's Name* couldn't take care of you. I love how you said we were your forever family, even though we really haven't talked with you about it at all.
I love how you call my mom "Grandma Vicky" and my dad "Papa" and Brad's dad "Papa Ron". I love how you know that Jessica and Tiffany are my sisters and that "Unca Curt" is a fireman and "Papa is a police man". You remind us literally every day when we drive nearly anywhere that there is "GRANDMA VICKY'S WORK AT THE HIGH TOWER". Why I don't have a video of this yet, it beyond me. I guess it's because I'm driving 90% of the time you belt this out. We could and sometimes do, drive by 5 times a day and you tell us every time.
And the music. Oh my, the music. If you ever read this, you will know that I really dislike children's music. Not that I want to deprive you from it; some of it's good for you. But just getting you to love music is all I really want. You and your sister love it. LOVE it. We first started listening to I Gotta Feeling by The Black Eyed Peas and you call it the Good Night song. And you totally sing it while you are on the pot. "It's gun be good good night Oooooo". You also love a much less famous song On Display by Melissa Gorga. I thought you might like it because it's repetitive with the On Display part. During the song, she sings "I'm a fighter, I'm a tiger" and so you call it The Tiger Song. And The Beatles...Oh The Beatles. I put this cover on my phone this summer and your sister asked who it was. I told her John Lennon of The Beatles, who sings Yellow Submarine, a song you both love. She asked a question about him that I can't remember now, but my answer was that he died. So now, when I ask you who is on my phone, you matter-of-factly report: "John L-L-L-L-Lennon of da Beatles and he died. And when I ask what song The Beatles sing, you say Yellow Submamine. And then your sister says All You Need Is Love and you both break out in "All you need is love, love, love is all you need".
And there is the Call Me Maybe song. We were in Kohl's one day and it came on the overhead speaker and you started singing it right in the car. Adorable. Your favorite right now is Dirt Road Anthem, which you call The Dirt Road Song. I really need to get videos of you singing these songs. It's too precious to not capture.
The last couple of weeks, you have been running up to me when I come home and giving me the biggest hugs. The kind where you jump into my arms and hug me, literally, with your whole self. And you laugh and jump and are so excited to see me. And you say "Mommy, mommy!" which you never did before. You don't duck away from me, and you seek me out for hugs and snuggles.
And then last night..You curled up next to me as we watched Elf. You asked if you could sit by me. And then put your head on my shoulder.
And tonight. From the living room I heard you ask Daddy if I was coming in. You gave me a huge hug and asked me to sing to you. We sang the *Your Name* Is Safe song. You love that one and *Your Name Is Loved". Then I said I love you so much. And you said "I love you so much. You get big hugs" When I asked you why. You said "because you're awesome and you get big hugs".
No buddy, you're awesome.
