"I don't need to know where I'm going, just where I've been." Tow Mater

In 4th grade, my class was given an assignment to make a "Who Are You?" poem. I still have it and it brings me joy to look back at what kind of person I was at ten years old. I did another poem for my senior project that mirrored the 4th grade poem with very different answers. Poems are not my favorite style of writing, so my boys you will be getting a "Who Are You?" letter. My half-pints bring so much joy to the hearts of Poppa, Granny Bug, Great Grandma Jean, Dadya and Mommie.  The letter will stop these quick days from fading from our memory and capture your personalities while God develops you into men of character. May they provide for you grounding in who you are as you are finding yourself in remembering where you have been.

Braeden Timothy  4 years 5 months

Poppa says this is one to save for date blackmail.

Your mind astounds us daily.  Your ability to spell, read, memorize and comprehend is beyond your years. You delight your grandparents with your constant e-mails of the 100 words you know and that are important to you. Many of those words have to do with the movie Cars 2. You have Great Grandma Jean's phone number memorized. It took you two times of dialing to commit it to memory. You also have our phone number and Poppa and Granny Bug's phone number memorized.  iphones are second nature to you. You've hacked Dadya's work phone password three times without the phone locking you out. I do mean hack, you've never seen the password typed in when you break the code. It is amusing to see the videos and pictures you take on the phone from your vantage point. Matchbox car crashes are your favorite to photograph, next your brother. You are learning geography trying to keep up with all of Poppa's world travels, all our pre-field & vacation travels, where Aunt Meg and Uncle Chris live  (London), where Great Grandma Jean lives (Florida) and where the World Grand Prix takes place (Tokyo, London, & Italy).

You are one responsible little dude. I can trust you to do exactly what I've told you to do in the mornings before Ian and I are awake. You protect your little brother. You teach your little brother. You love your little brother. You have patience with your little brother. You share well with your little brother. You are kindhearted, gentle, compassionate, loving, encouraging, understanding, honest, imaginative, playful, eager to learn and do well.

You love music. You love to sing. You love to dance. Music makes you happy.  You control the radio station in the car.  Control is something you desire. Control in how your trains and cars are lined up and played with. Having a brother nicknamed the Destroyer may be God's way of shaping this part of your personality to be more relaxed.  Control over when and how you use the computer. Your momma sure puts a cramp in your style here. I'm certain we have the most fights over computer and phone use.

You are learning how to swim. We are delighted to see you take this so seriously. You've improved in your skill and confidence.  When you started your lessons, you were in your own world sitting on the ledge of the pool. You made whirlpools with your arms, played air drums, splashed the water with your legs, and counted the fish on the walls.  You were always eager to try what the teachers asked you to do, but rarely had a clue what is was because you didn't watch the presentation. I kept joking that it's a good thing you don't start kindergarten until you are six because you need the time to mature in your ability to sit still and pay attention. Now you sit still and watch the teachers.  You are practicing your skills in our swimming pool bathtub. You are excited for Saturday lessons and miss your teachers during the week.

Ian Rylan    27 months

When you are happy, you bring such joy to our lives! When you are unhappy, watch out for the wrath of Ian. Your world is mostly happy, but those tantrums are passionate. Fortunately, they are short lived and you are back to your joyful self. Don't beat yourself up about it, you're two and I expect you to deal with your emotions like this until you're four.  You have a passion, rather a hunger for food. I'm convinced the majority of your waking time is spent eating and snacking. You gained 3 1/2 lbs in the last month. The food bill is already frightening and you're not in junior high yet when I'm supposed to be shocked by your food consumption.

You are one tall boy. You are four inches shorter than your big brother. Every time we leave the house, I'm asked if we have twins. Until this week, I just didn't get it. Looking at you in your car seat I realized that your height makes  you look much older than you really are, not to mention you boys have very similar coloring and features. Your brother has ten pounds on you, but you'll catch him if you keep gaining weight at this quick rate.

You are mesmerized by the moon. You ask to see it when you get up in the morning, wake from your nap, and check for it multiple times a night even though clouds cover our skies the majority of the time. You point out every moon you see in books, on your overnight diapers, on tv, in the sky. You give me a hard time about wearing diapers, but if I ask to put the moon diaper on you will wear it proudly. You prefer nakedness to clothes. But since you are not potty trained, it causes a lot of mess to clean up. 

You love to point out doggies. You like animals, but particularly doggies. You're love for doggies didn't come from your mommie, dadya, brother, Poppa, or Granny Bug. We all strongly dislike doggies. Perhaps this will endear you to your Aunt Meg who also grew up surrounded by a family of doggie haters.

You love airplanes. You find them in the sky before the rest of us. I find myself jumping to point them out during your nap time and get disappointed you missed it. Your favorite song is about airplanes. Oh, we are flying in airplane... by Barney. I am bursting with anticipation for you to get old enough to remember when we take you to an airplane museum. 

You love jumping beans and playing chase around the couch. You've got some killer calves from your jumping. You spend a solid 45 minutes jumping in your crib before you sleep at night and at nap time. Keep it up, kiddo, it gives me more time to get things done since it extends your sleep time.  

You say "No" to everything. You started this in September and I put writing this letter off in hopes that I could overlook this because you added "Yes" back in your vocabulary, but no such luck. It's been five months. You have many different tones of No and if you actually mean Yes, you say No and jump. You have added "sure" to your vernacular, but it is used sparingly. 

You adore your brother. You wake him up first thing if you beat him out of bed. You love your brother. You love to wrestle your brother. You are generous with your hugs and sparing with your kisses. To your credit, your kisses have always been closed mouth which not many babies can claim. You are eager to share your food. You are gentle, quick to giggle, curious, playful, loyal (you sit with your brother while he's in time out), generous, loving, tough, and energetic. You are still most happy in my arms, but you and your dadya are coming to an understanding of how you communicate your needs. He's listening to you little one and learning who YOU are.  And I must mention that you gave up your pacifier without much of a fight. Thank you for that consideration for my heartstrings.

You boys bring such joy to our lives. We only hope that we can love you to the fullest and give you complete lives.