A Letter to Xander Who is 3

Xander,

You are three today! You are such an amazing little person. Very strong willed and sweet at the same time. It’s exasperating how strong willed you are. You definitely know what you want and it’s not food. I really don’t know how you have so much energy with what little food you will eat. Your favorite things to eat are a bowl of peanut butter and honey, apple sauce and yogurt drinks. Most of the time you will eat sweet potatoes and yogurt but not always. Sometimes you will eat cheese or peanut butter toast. And rarely you will eat macaroni and cheese- but not very often. You will always eat candy or cookies if given the opportunity. This year was the first year you would even try your own birthday cake.

At bedtime after your have been read stories and the lights are all off. It’s time to sing a song before you lay down. You usually want Bunny Foo Foo or Hotel California or a new song Daddy decides to sing- but what you really like lately is counting to 100. You love to count together. Sometimes I can hear you practicing by yourself as fast as you can. You love numbers more than anything. You also love to count backwards. You know all your ABC’s, your colors, and your shapes but you are way more interested in anything to do with numbers. You have made Grandma Ginger sit with you many many times just so that you could watch the clock as it changed minutes and with each minute change you call out the new time or the number it changed to. It it all very exciting for you when it changes.

I can’t imagine life without you. You have the best smile! When I see that smile it makes me smile. You love music and dancing to it. Lost of music with a fast pace or defined beat is what seems to attract you. It really gets you moving. For a three year old you can be very opinionated about music. You have a great sense of humor and like to try and fool us and both of your grandmothers. I think you will be telling jokes like you dad very soon.

You absolutely love sports. Right now your favorite sports are baseball and golf. I think you could hit a golf ball around the yard for hours.

I can’t wait to see what this year will bring as you start to talk more and tell us more things. I love you so much!

Love,

Mom

A Letter to Peyton who is 6

Peyton,

I can’t believe you are 6 years old and at the same time I feel like you have always been with me. I am so amazed by your intelligence and personality. You are so smart and you come up with the funniest stuff. As a kindergartner you just tested into the gifted program at your school. No one in your family was surprised by the outcome. We all expected it because we know how smart you are. You are very interested in science and the weather. You have said that when you grow up you want to be a meteorologist. I have tried to foster your interest in science. You ask so many questions about science related things! I wish I had paid more attention in science class- it was never something I was interested in. Although, I am finding a new love for it through your eyes. For your birthday you asked for a “make your own” volcano kit. It wasn’t very interesting. I think we will have to find something that is a little more interesting than the kit. You also asked for a microscope and a science kit. I think we will wait a little while on the microscope!

You love books. Together you and I mostly read chapter books (at bedtime) We are currently reading The Secret Garden. And we just finished the 1st book in the Kingdom Keepers series. I’m trying to convince you to read Harry Potter. You are worried that it will be scary. I think Kingdom Keepers was scarier.

You lost your first two front bottom teeth in March this year and you are about to lose your two front top teeth.

You are such a beautiful girl. Sometimes I look at you and think how on earth did I carry that little person for 9 months! You are so amazing for all that you are.

You get more and more amazing everyday.

Love,
Mom

Now we start with the questions

Peyton seriously just asked me "Mom at what temperature do we melt?" I had to clarify- "We meaning humans?" Peyton- "Yeah what temperature do humans melt?" ((sigh))

Quotes by Peyton

Peyton taking a bath with Xander and putting her butt under a stream water "Xander you'd better call an astronomer because this butt washer is out of this world!"

Xander's 1st official Sentence

"Where'd the two go Momma?"

He has a puzzle that has the numbers 1-10 and we temporarily lost the number two. it has since been found but I think Xander likes playing the game and making us look for the numbers. I wouldn't be surprised if he hides them himself.

Quotes by Peyton

2-4-11
Peyton just informed me that she has a photographic memory but she doesn't use it. When I asked why she replied "Because the battery is dead"

2-17-11
Peyton's observation on Smart Cars: "Mom I think Smart Cars are dumb because they can only hold two people. Our car can hold 7"

Letter to Xander who is two

1-20-11

Xander,

You are such an amazing sweet little boy! I can’t believe you are two already. You have such a temper sometimes because you know what you want and you can’t quite figure out how to communicate that to us. You don’t like to eat unless it’s junk food. You love candy and spicy potato chips. We can get you to eat yogurt, yogurt drinks, peanut butter toast, rice, and apple sauce. That’s about it. It’s definitely a challenge to get you fed and help you grow!

Your temper can be a little frustrating at times but most of the time you are so sweet and happy. You are very good for both of your Grandmothers who adore you. You love music and you are also very opinionated about that. Your sister loves classical and you prefer harder rock. Some of your favorite songs have been Dragonforce- Through the Fire & Flames, 30 Seconds to Mars- Kings and Queens, and Lady Gaga- Just Dance.

You know all of your numbers. You can’t say them yet but you can point to any one of them when asked, you know all your shapes, most of your colors, and a lot of your letters. It’s just a matter of time before you are fully speaking.

You have been calling me Mimi, and your Grandmothers are Moma. (Sounds like the end of Grandma not Momma) Although, now sometimes you switch back and fourth between calling me Mimi or Momma.

You love the movie Cars and you love anything with wheels. You call a car a “go go”. So when you ask to watch the movie Cars you point to the t.v. and say “Go Go!” You love your big sister and follow her around everywhere. You want to do everything that she does.

Probably your most favorite thing to do is play outside and run around. It doesn’t matter how hot it is you still love to be outside. You also love to play inside our cars. You pretend to drive, push all the buttons- it gets so hot in Florida inside a parked car but you get so mad if we don’t let you get in and play around.

I love you so much. I can’t wait to see how you will grow and change in this next year!

Love,

Mom