I come from a big family. Six kids, four girls and two boys, of which I am the second. I honestly don’t know how my Mom did it and still kept her sanity. Growing up my parents never ever played favorites. If one child got something they all got it. To this day my Mom still holds that philosophy and it has carried onto the Grandchildren. If one grandchild gets something they all do (well, for the most part). I never felt growing up that one of my sisters or brothers problems were more important than mine or that they had something I didn’t. I hope that I can raise my kids with that same idea. I never want one of them to think that the other was favored in any way, shape, or form.

When I write posts I always include a picture of Shenzie and one of Heaten. When I write their monthly letters I make sure they have equal pictures posted (I know, a little overboard). When I buy something for one of them the other gets something too. So anyway, long story short….I wrote Shenzie Bugs a post three months ago and intended to do Heaten’s right after and then crazy life caught me and I never got around to it…so here you are baby boy. Your letter, only a little late.

My Little Heaten Bear,

I’m actually glad I didn’t write this letter back when I intended to. Since then you have literally exploded with personality. My quiet, sweet, loving boy has turned into a whirlwind of delight, defiance, and drama. You have always been the emotional baby, crying a lot when you were little. Whining a lot when you got older, and having crazy tantrums over the past few months. You have never lashed out or hit me, Dada, or your Sissy……until now. These past two weeks you have learned that you want things and heaven forbid something get in your way. You start with crying or yelling and then progress to hitting. Luckily you aren’t as aggressive as Shenzie so your hits are more like love pats.

You now tell me no and do things that you know you’re not supposed to do. It goes like this:

Mama: Heaten don’t *insert mischievous behavior here*
Heaten: Looking right at me does it again.
Mama: Heaten, look at Mama….Don’t *insert mischievous behavior here*
Heaten: Looking right at me does it again with a gleam in his eye.
Mama: Heaten, come over here and play with the blocks.
Heaten: Comes over and “love pats” Mama and runs back to doing whatever it was that he wasn’t supposed to be doing.

I can’t help but laugh sometimes when you are testing your limits so obviously. You are so cute when you run over and hit me that I have to hold the giggles in.

You still love to cuddle with me or Dada and are still my sweet little boy. Your laugh is so infectious, it lights up your whole face. You run like frankenstein, clomping along after Sissy. You love to copy your sister. If she crawls you crawl. If she throws something down the stairs you throw something down the stairs. And on and on and on.

You don’t like the water. We’ve taken you swimming two times and two times you hated it. We have a little pool outside that is perfect for you, but most days you won’t even get in. When we go to the park I have to run you through the water for you to get wet and cool off.

You are talking up a storm. Your favorite game is pointing to an object and I name what it is. You repeat it almost everytime. You LOVE the vacuum and ask for it daily. Hopefully with all of your new words your yelling and crying will taper off, but I’m not holding my breath.

Little boy, I love you so much. I could never imagine my life without you in it.

I love you,
Love Mama.