A Look Back.

Dear Landen,

As I am cooking you dinner, I was thinking that I haven't wrote in your blog in FOREVER!  Then I looked and saw it has been since your 3rd birthday! Wow, I really need to step up my game for you. 

Then the next post was about your big boy under wear. On October 3rd, you went on your first outing with them on and haven't looked back! Just standing here I am thinking that those 2 months have really been a tremendous for you and I haven't realized it. It was because of this blog that I realize how much you have accomplished in such a short time. You are now fully potty trained. Going by your self and you can hold it for nap time. Such an achievement! Very proud of you. 

You are a very good boy. You are hyper and have a hard time focusing. But you are 3. You get so excited about the smallest things. Never a dull moment in your eyes. I love that about you, I learn many lessons of 'just letting go' from you. Most of the time you do not want to listen to me or your daddy because you think your idea is better. But we are working on that. 

On November 29th, your Papa was in a horrible accident, but praise be to God for saving his life. When we went to see Papa in the hospital, you were scared of how he looked. He had on a neck and back brace. With a head bandage on and one of his eyes was swollen. You slowly loosened up to the fact that it is the same Papa, he just looks different. That broke my heart. You love your Papa so much and your Papa loves you so much. Now Papa is at home and doing better. It is a long road a head of him, but he is alive!

You love Jesus! We celebrated his birthday with lot of family! You got more than enough presents. You got a new puppy! Zebb, a 3 month boxer. A remote control helicopter (most wanted gift from Santa!!), a train table, a race car game (second most wanted gift) and a Innotab2 are some of your gifts. 

Zebb is a play mate! Some one to run with and make adventures with! I cant wait for you to start them! 

I love you so much sweet boy! 2013 will a great year for us!!

Love, 

Mommy!

Happy 3rd Birthday!!

Dear Landen,

Three years ago today at 5:58pm you changed our lives! (Weighing in at 9 pounds 12 ounces and 22.5 inches long.)

Today we celebrated your third birthday. As usual we had a Halloween party. I was a pirate and you were my parrot. (Your picking!)

Your family and friends came to celebrate with you. We had games and a huge angry bird piñata! You hit it like a pro!! You really enjoyed the cupcakes, you ate two of them!

But best of all, you love your new bike from Papa and Nana! It is a big boy bike!! It just about breaks my heart hen you ride it. You didn't even need practice or lessons. You just knew how to do it. It is a awesome T-Rex bike with a cool storage compartment on it! You also love the t-ball set Aunt T got you. Over all, your party was so fun!! You and your friends had a blast!

Landen, momma and daddy love you more than anything in this world (except Jesus and each other).

Every day I will strive harder than the one before to be the best mommy I can be for you and the best wife I can be for daddy.

Thank you for your unconditional love.

I love you to the moon and back

-Mom

You helped dad make breakfast this morning!

Big Boy Underwear

Dear Landen,

Today was the first day that you went on an outing in your big boy underwear! Dad took you first to Lowe's. I was at Nana's house and was honestly shocked he did that but he had faith in you! You did great!!

After that you and I went to Walmart! I dared to take you in your big boy underwear too! You were excited about it, it is a big step. The Walmart trip went great!

Then we all went and had lunch! And you used the potty there. You enjoy being a big boy but you won't tell us when you have to go potty. So I am constantly taking you!

After lunch we went to the park, where out good streak ended. But that's ok! One step at a time.

I think I have just gotten up the nerve to take you out in big boys more often. It is part of you learning. So we will do it! What am I waiting for?!

Love you sweet boy!
-Mom

Your Imagination!

Dear Landen,

 

In the past 2 weeks, I have noticed that your imagination has really started to take off! The stories that you come up with are so funny and creative. The things that you talk about have become more made up. You are not telling us lies, it is when you are playing. When you and I are playing, you are making up things.

 

Such as using the shop vac to "pump gas", driving your tractor to the "milk store" and just yesterday you told me that your leg was broken and it needed to be wrapped in a hand towel!

 

I love to see your mind grow! It is such a blessing to be home with you, to be a part of your day and to see these amazing changes take place in you.

 

You are a funny and very smart little man. Don't every stop being who God created you to be, because you are perfect! 

 

I love you so much.

 

Mom

Sink Bath

Dear Landen,

Today after you had an ice cream cone in the car, you got a sink bath for a quick clean up. You are slightly to big for it but you had a great time!

Love you to the moon and back baby!

Airplane

Dear Landen,

Today was a great day to be an airplane!

Miller's 4th birthday party!

Dear Landen,

Your good friend Miller Grace Turned 4 this past weekend and had a spiderman party!!

It was cloudy and a cold front came though so we couldn't swim but we had fun any ways!

Her spiderman bike is awesome but still a little to big for you. You liked to ring the bell.

You didn't like being sprayed with the 'spider web' but loved spraying people!

You had lots of friends to play with! We are very blessed!

And you hit the piñata like a pro!!

It was a great day! Happy birthday Miller!!

My Dogs!

Dear Landen,

You love these orange welding goggles. You just had to try them on Dexter (so I took a picture) and then you thought it was funny and wanted to put them on Mazzie (so I took a picture)! Hahaha!

You love to act like a dog, so it works out perfectly. :-)

Dexter didn't care but Mazzie kinda freaked out!

First day of 'school'!

Dear Landen,

Here are a few pictures from your first day of your school. (I am almost a week late posting these, and I apologize.)

Your first week went well. You like your teachers and can't wait to go back.

I love you baby boy.

-Mom!!

Your new preschool!

Dear Landen,

Today you and I went to your Open House for Parent's Day out at New Horizon Preschool!! We met your teachers, Miss Amy and Miss Kristy.

You have eleven friends in your class! You and both your dad and I are very excited about this new journey that God has lead us too for you.

You will go two days a week. You will have a music class, where you sing and learn songs and get to act silly (right up your ally). Chapel time, where they will teach you a bible story and continue to show you how to pray. You will get to preform two programs a year and also go on field trips!! Many other exciting things too!! It is a great school.

Here are a few pictures that I took. Dad wasn't able to attend, he had to go to work, it was scheduled for 10 am. But he wanted to be there! (And it's common that people spell your name 'Landon', but we kindly got it fixed.

We love you so much!!

Your New Dart Gun!!

Dear Landen,

Today you and I went and ungraded your dart gun. I wanted a smaller one, but insisted on this one. Once I consulted with dad, we had the new gun!

Teach them the way they should go...

Dear Landen,

I am honored to be your mother. Honored to be chosen by god to teach you his word, of his glory, his way. The journey we are on is just starting, it's not easy but when we pray, when we talk to Jesus it makes it much easier. May we always go to Him for our answers.

Leeland's 2nd birthday party!

Dear Landen,

This morning we went to Leeland's 2nd birthday party. He has chocolate milk and donuts! A perfect idea! The weather was beautiful and lots of friends were there! Here are a few pictures of you before everyone showed up!

Your Big Boy Bed!

Dear Landen,

You are now in a big boy bed!! You have been for about two weeks now. We took the side off your crib because you became a little ninja! Jumping in and out of your crib with such ease; spelt danger!! Honestly, I was nervous. But you were so excited.

The only night we had to fight you was the first day, during nap time! You love it very much. It gives you a sense of freedom. We thought that it would be a much harder transition, but you have proven us wrong!

It definitely is a pivotal point for you, and mom and dad. Our baby is almost gone. I enjoy seeing you in that bed! The start of your life's journey.

Today you and I went and got your own pillow and case! You picked Lightening McQueen (choices were limited)! It's soft and it's your first!

I love you so very much! So blessed that I get to spend my life with you.

Potty Mishap

Dear Landen,

While I was cooking, you told me you had to go peepee. So you went by yourself! Such a big boy.

After a minute, I decided to check on you.

I went in and you had your nap pull-up off and poop all over your hands!!! You looked at me and said "poop in potty" so proudly!

Surely there it was, poop in the potty but it didn't get there the way it was suppose to!!!

Sweet boy, you've got this all wrong. Potty training will take some more time and effort!

Love you to the moon and back
-Mom

July!!

Dear Landen,

I cannot believe that the month of July has just passed us by!! I find my self apologizing for not writing you more often, I am sorry sweet boy.

We have been doing many things. It has been brought to my attention a lot lately by some of my friends that we do a lot of things through out the week. They will tell me that "you guys are always doing something".

Mostly it is because if we sit at home, you will go stir crazy, or maybe I will!  But here lately, I am starting to think, that is what we need. We need to slow down a bit.

Life can wait.

You are a very busy boy. Always on the move. The heat makes it hard to do anything for long periods of time outdoors without water play. But I am sure we can come up with something!

I see a challenge! :) I will get right on that!

*Day by day. Moment by moment.*

I love you sweet boy!

Fun in the sun!!

We went to Leeland's house to swim with him and London! You had a great time and I had a great time with their moms!! Wonderful friends!

Water baby!

Just a few pictures of you swimming today. :-)

Kicked Out

Today I got that call! The call that I never dreamt I would get....ok well, at least not for a while! The call from the "principle" saying "Mrs. Allbright, we have your son in the office and he is still misbehaving, please come pick him up."

For a while now, Landen has been getting bad reports from his teachers. He hasn't been listening, been in time out chair and in the office. I was told on Tuesday that if he didn't start acting better, then he wouldn't be able to come back. Last night I told Mrs. Janet that if that happened, this wasn't the place for him. *this is my crystal clear sign*

He was placed in the 3 year old room because of his size, compared to the other kids. Looking at them, they all look like they are about to turn 4....but lets not forget Landen has the mind of a 2 year old, and I think his teachers have done just that.

He has a short attention span, he is hyper and is everywhere all of the time....HE IS 2. His teachers get mad at him and give bad reports because he doesn't sit in his time out chair. That time out chair in against the wall....facing all the kids.....who would sit there!? Not a rambunctious 2 year old! His teacher gets mad when he doesn't tell her what he did wrong....he is 2. He gets distracted and plays with items around him, they don't like that.

Wait a minute, did we forget, he is 2!

My child is fine! He minds when I am around because I make him. That place isn't the right spot for Landen at this time.

They want him to behave a certain way but have not shown the skill, effort or compassion in order for Landen to succeed.

Now we wont miss all those play dates that are scheduled for Tuesday and Thursdays!! :)

When we got home I told Landen that we would be going back to that school, he looked at me and said "teachers mean".

I gave him a big bear hug and thanked the Lord for this blessing.

Thank you Lord.

Park Visit

Dear Landen,

Today you and I went to the park with Taisha! We had a great time! Here are a few pictures from our visit.

- Love you sweet boy.

Power Outage Memory!

Dear Landen,

This morning your daddy and I woke to no power! You have never been in the house early morning or late night with no electricity before. So dad got the flash lights out, while I hurried through my mind to think of how breakfast would work! We weren't quit prepared. Unfortunatly, the one thing that kept coming to mind was that "I can't have coffee without electricity!"

You woke up, and thought it was really cool that the house was dark and Jesus was making it thunder! We got dressed with our flash lights (that you loved to play with). I made your lunch with the lighting that resembled a strobe light!

We got in the car and headed to chick fil a!! We were off to eat a warm breakfast, mom was going to get her hot coffee and you could play!

When we pulled up to our usual chick fil a, there electricity was out.....you proceeded to flip out!! "EAT, EAT EAT!!" I calmly told you that we couldn't because they didn't have a way to feed us, and we would try the other one! You were ok with that!

Luckily, the other restaurant was open for business! But sad for you, it was 7 o'clock and you were the only child awake that early! The older men drinking their coffee thought you were cute thought!

We had a great time. We relaxed, ate, and I watched while you played. Just me and you. A mommy/son breakfast date.

Something that was suppose to be just for "saving" us from the burden of not having electricity turned into a very special moment for us!

When we left I asked you if you had a good time with mom this morning, you said yes, and I quote "I liked it".....awwww, love those words and I love you baby boo!!

We left and took dad his medicine that he left at home and then dropped you off at school.

A memory that I will never forget, and now.....you wont either.

Love you to the moon and back,

Mom

A catch up

Dear Landen,

I apologize for not wrote you in a while, we have been busy!

We have been to the zoo, which you loved!!! We have play dates, park visits, and the days just get away from me where I don't think about blogging.

You have been moved up into the 3 year old room at Mother's Day Out. Your dad and I have noticed a change in you. You don't whine as much, and when you do, when we tell you to stop.....you do. Your teacher says that you are very smart. That you try really hard to learn the charts, you respond really well to her and obey her request.

We got you a swimming pool! It is small for us, but big for you! You are in love with it! You have been in it every day (except today because of rain) since we got it. I love watching you or splashing with you and seeing you happy. Seeing what makes you happy. Seeing you grow.

The summer had approached us and there are many things for us to explore.

I am privileged  to be able to do spend this time with you!!! 

Let the fun begin, my son!!

Love you to the Moon and Back

- Mom

Playground Prayer

Dear Landen,

(I want you to remember this faithful moment.)

This morning I asked you if you wanted to go the playground. You enthusiasticly asked me in return "kids?". I replied with "I don't know baby, most of the time when we go early in the morning, we are the only ones there. but I bet you can ask Jesus for kids to play with."

You looked at me, closed your hands together and closed your eyes. You began to pray for "kids at the playground, thank you Jesus."

So I hugged you and said, Jesus hears our prayers, and if He wants you to have kids to play with, then He will provide them.

We left for the park and on the way, you mentioned kids a couple of times, each time I told you that it was up to Jesus but I hoped there were kids there.

When we pulled up and rounded that corner.... THERE WERE LIKE 5 CARS THERE!!! 

 I shouted "Landen, Jesus answered your prayer baby!!!"

You clapped and told Jesus thank you!

Come to find out, He not only answered your prayer for you, but He answered it with me in mind too. One of the moms there was your Sunday School teacher, Mrs. Emily, and her friend, which became a new friend to mommy! It was a super great park morning, great weather, great company and an answered prayer!

I am so thankful for your willingness to ask Jesus for what you want.

I love you sweet boy,

To the moon and back

- Mommy

The Begining

Dear Landen,

 

A dear friend gave me the idea of making a blog for you. A place where we can come and look at all the memories, we have had over the years. A place where you can come and read the hopes, dreams that I have for you. A place where I can write you letters. I love with the idea of writing my thoughts to you. If something were to ever happen to me, you will have these letters to help trigger your memories.

Landen, you are a gift from God. The best thing that I ever did was marry your dad. The best thing that he and I ever did was decide to have a child. God made that child you! He took the best parts of your dad and I and knitted you in my womb. He knew you were to be our child before we were born. I think that is amazing. God knows who your children will be and I know they will be amazing, just like you.

Right now you are 2 and a half years old. A thriving toddler! People cannot believe that you are only 2. When they look at you, they think you are at least 3 if not 4! Very tall for your age and a healthy 43 pounds!

Sometimes you are screaming, crying, a little dramatic and tender hearted. Other times you are a laughing, super silly, strong willed little man. But what we can count on is that you are always loved. You love to make people laugh. You love bugs, monsters, guns, airplanes and trains.

You are testing our patience right now because you don't want to listen to instruction. Something that is natural for a 2 year old. I don't want you to get out of this stage with an impression you don't have to listen to your parents, so we are sometimes stick with you. I always remind you that "you are the child, I am your mother, you respect me and obey." I give you direction because I love you too much to let you stay the same. The same way God does! He loves you more than I do. He loves you more than your dad. An amazing and never changing love.

I pray for you everyday - in this season, they consist of patience, peace and the will to obey us and love the Lord. When you get mad or impatient, we stop and pray together for Jesus to calm the storm within. I love your faith, it is remarkable! You know that Jesus can save you from anything. Even save you from a wrestling match with me! The way your little hands clinch tightly and your eyes squint shut during a prayer, melts my heart. Right now you want to pray for fire, fish and moon. Not real sure why but we pray for fire fish and moon!

Sweet boy, never give that up! Keep praying, anywhere, for any reason! God listens and will answer!

Until Next Time:
I love you to the moon and back.

Momma