Dear Gibson,

You woke me up this morning by nudging me and saying, "Mom, I have our camping list!  Read it!"

Here is the list, I admit it took me a minute on some of the words, but I got it - and it's a pretty great list!  I wanted to put it here, just in case the original ever gets lost.

Tent
Food
Wood
Camp Light
Poison Mosquito
Blankets
Supplies
Swimming Suit
Plates & Cups
Pillows
Stove
Cooking Supplies
Fire Starter
Fishing Supplies
Shoes

Very well done, son!  Our first camping trip of the season is in two weeks - we'll make sure to pack all of the things on your list.  And you are getting very good at phonetic spelling, by the way!  

Love,

Mom

Dear Gibson,

Today you had your first swimming lesson.  You've been very nervous about it, since you haven't really had a lot of success in years past.  This year, you're doing private lessons at a pool near Grandpa Gary's house with one of their neighbors.  Grandma Arloa got you a special swimming suit to wear to your lessons, and this morning we were at the pool at 8:30.  Early for us!! 

To sum up, you were amazing!  You were so focused and attentive, and did everything she told you to.  By the end of the 30 minutes, you were kicking across the pool with a kickboard!  She said that you have a natural talent, and that your body is built for swimming, and that in a year or so you would be able to join the Junior Swim Team.  You lit up!  I hope you find joy in swimming, even if you don't decide to join the swim team.  At the very least you'll possess a valuable life skill!

I'm so happy that you overcame your fears and discovered that you really can do hard things.

Love,
Proud Mom

Dear Gibson,

Today you said the sweetest thing to me, and I have to write it down before I forget.  We were talking about how I go to school, and you asked me what I was going to school for.  I told you I'm getting a degree in Family Life.  "What does that do?" you asked.  I said, "Well, it teaches me all sorts of ways to be a better mommy."  Then you said, "Well, you should stop going then, because you're already a great mom."

Sigh.  That's what makes it ALL worth it.  Thanks for making my day.

Love,
Mom

Dear Gibson,

Today was your last day of Kindergarten.  You are now officially a 1st grader!  Woohoo!!!  I want to take some time to write down some of your accomplishments from this school year, because there are many.  

First of all, you are now a reader.  A pretty good reader, if I do say so myself.  You have brought home your take-home book and read it every night without fail, and with no lost or damaged books!  You have brought home library books each week, all about dinosaurs.  You comprehend well, you read with inflection in your voice, and you are pretty good at reading to your sister.  I love to read, and am so happy that this is finally something that we enjoy to do together.

You are a math whiz.  Kindergarten math is mostly estimates, patterns, comparisons, and simple arithmetic.  But you are good at all of it.  You say your favorite subject is math, which is amazing to me because I NEVER liked math.  I still don't!  I really hope you're good at math, it will be so valuable to you!

You have learned to make friends.  You are a nice guy.  Kids like to be around you, and that is awesome.

Your handwriting is getting much better!

You always smiled and waved to me when I was working at the school (I love that).

You always showed me everything in your backpack.  SO important!!!

You learned to sleep in on Saturdays and value the precious weekend.  Thank you.

You learned to wake up with an alarm clock so I could sleep longer.  Thank you, again.

You have grown up a lot this year, and I know how excited you are for first grade.  It's going to be an exciting summer, and pretty soon you're going to be in school all day!  I am so proud of you and everything that you are becoming.  You make me very proud. 

Love,

Mom

You on your first day of Kindergarten.  Such a big boy!

You and your teacher, Mrs. Walker at Shelley Elementary.

Holding your Kindergarten diploma!  You did it!

Dear Gibson,

Sometimes you talk in your sleep.  Sometimes you walk around in your sleep.  Sometimes you do both.  Last night around midnight, I heard you talking upstairs.  I got up to the kitchen, and you were standing there with no pants or underwear on - just a T-shirt, and saying, "tell them I don't want to take off my tie."

"Your tie?"  I asked.
"Yeah - I don't want to take it off."
"Which tie?"
"The red one.  Tell them, mom!"
(To the people who were taunting you) "Gibson doesn't want to take off his tie."
"Thanks, mom."

After that, we walked to your room, you put on some new underwear, and went right back to sleep.  Of course, you have no recollection of this event, but it was really funny.

Love,
Your tired mom

Dear Gibson,

Today was your end-of-school-year Dance Festival.  It's been totally funny to watch you practice your dance to "It's a Small World."  I love you, but you are one of the funniest dancers I've ever seen.  And I mean that in a good way!  Let's just say that your dancing skills are a little less Mexican and a little more Gringo.  That being said, you did a great job in the dance.  You do have great rhythm, which is why you'll make a great drummer someday.  You can't see yourself very well in the video, but it's proof that I was there and sometimes that is the only parenting points you get in a day.  Showing up points.  The crazy thing is, that in one week you'll be done with Kindergarten and on to First Grade!  I remember that time of my life very well, and it's hard to believe that now its my own son moving into grade school.  Ahhh, well.  I'll try not to get too emotional about it.

You're the one in the red shirt and Hawaiian lei, by the way.

Love,
Mom

Garbage.  I can't upload the video.  It's too long.  I'm so good at taking video!  Sorry about that, bud.  Just know that it was very, very cute and that you did a great job.  Love you!

Dear Gibson,

Today you lost your first tooth!!  It was only loose for a day, but you really wanted it out.  We tried before church, and I learned that Daddy has a very weird way of pulling teeth.  He doesn't pull; he flicks.  Needless to say, it kind of hurt you.  Part of the problem is that your adult tooth has already grown in behind the baby tooth.  You look like a shark!  So there wasn't really any traction on the baby tooth.  Anyway, you fiddled with it all through church, and when we got home it was ready.  You told Daddy he had one more try and then you were going to have Grandpa pull it.  Daddy flicked it one last time, and sure enough it popped right out!  You were excited, but a little freaked out at the same time.  You cried.  It was so adorable!  So here we go into the next phase of your childhood.  I'm not ready!  Now your smile has a little hole in it.  We had pictures after that, and you made sure to put your lip down just a little so your tooth hole showed. 

Good job, buddy.  Now you can wait for the tooth fairy to come!

Love,
Mom

Dear Gibson,

I think you might be a baseball player!  You've been playing catch with your dad lately, and you have quite the arm!  Today I asked if you are going to be a pitcher, and you said no - you're going to be a baseball thrower and hitter.  Ok, then!  Sounds good to me!  But you still have to learn to play the piano.  And play percussion in the band.  Deal?

Love,
Mom

Dear Gibson,

My goodness, it's been a long time since I've made the time to write you.  I'm ashamed!  You can see now why New Year's Resolutions are difficult to keep.  There's just not enough time in the day sometimes!  OK, there is, but lately your dad and I have been hooked on a show called "Bones" and that has taken a bit of a priority.  We're so obsessed that we've made you kids sit and watch episodes with us.  Probably not the best material for kids your age, but hey - I've never claimed to be mother of the year.  We're justifying it by saying that maybe it will inspire you to someday be a forensic anthropologist.  Anyway, a lot has been going on that someday we'll be able to talk about but in the meantime, there are a lot of things that I can't wait to write down for you.

Lately, you've been really beasty.  Almost as beasty as Georgia, which is really saying something for my mild-mannered little boy.  What's the deal?!  Let's just hope it's a phase and it passes quickly.  No matter what goes on during the day, though, you are always my sweet boy and I love you more than words can express.  More than air.  As you grow and change, I hope you always remember who you are and the powerful example that you are to our family.  You have the ability to soften hearts, and that is the most amazing gift I can think of.  You soften me every day.

I love you very much.

Love,
Mommy

Dear Gibson,


I have to first apologize to you.  I am a distracted mommy.  I have lots going on, and sometimes most of the time I end up spending too much time on other things and not enough time playing with you and Gibson and being a good mom.  Today I got home from work a little bit early and needed to go to the store to pick up a few things.  You and Georgia were fighting in the car, no surprise there.  I was feeling overwhelmed, and then I saw a playground.  I promptly pulled the car over and said, "Who wants to play on the playground?"  You went crazy.  It's not that you've never played on a playground before, but this was out of the blue - a special surprise.  We played for almost an hour.  I took off my shoes and we went down the slide together, we climbed the tree, we took pictures, we played tag.  It was a really wonderful hour.  I didn't make it to the store, but I got everything I needed from you and your brother.  I needed to spend some time with you.  No distractions, no email, no phone - just me and my kids having fun together.  I promise I will try harder to be the kind of mommy that I really want to be and know that I should be.  I watch how fast you are growing and can't figure out where the time has gone!  Spring is almost here in full force, so I hope we have lots of opportunities to just play together.

Love,
Mommy

Dear Gibson,

Over the weekend, we went swimming.  Call it mid-winter blues, call it get-the-heck-outta-dodge syndrome...we needed a break.  So we got a hotel and spent hours and hours and hours at the pool.  I'm pretty sure it's the longest you've ever been in the water.  And you loved it!  You got over your fear and actually learned to swim underwater!  I was (and am!) so proud of you!  We will have to do that again, soon.  It really was so fun!

A split second of control...

and then the fight breaks out.  Typical.

Big fish.

Love, Mommy

Dear Gibson,

I have been a neglectful mother.  The past couple of weeks have been particulary challenging for me personally, and I have not cared for you like I should.  The hardest part of being a mom lately is stepping out of myself and my own trials and showing you the happy mommy that you deserve.  I owe you a sincere apology.  Let me tell you about some of the things that have been weighing on my mind, in hopes that someday these lessons will help you understand me a little bit better.

I have a calling in the church that I love.  But with this calling has come a lot of contention and hurt feelings.  Someone said some very hurtful things to me in a public situation, and my heart was broken.  I have never been so humiliated and broken in all of my life.  My confidence was shaken, I was filled with anger and hurt.  I was consumed with the ins and outs of this situation, and spent more time in hot baths than with you and your sister.  Throughout all of this, I have learned several things. 

1.) We are all human, and all make mistakes.  That being said, we need to be careful in how we speak to people and use constraint, especially when we are angry. 
2.)  Being the bigger person can sometimes make you feel very small.  Doing the right thing is almost always harder than following your first instincts (like telling someone they can just take their you-know-what and shove it)! 
3.)  Forgiveness is easy - forgetting is much more difficult. 
4.)  Your world doesn't have to end just because I felt like mine did.
5.)  The only opinions that matter are mine, my family's, and the Lord's.
6.)  Apologizing when you were the one that was hurt can be very difficult.  But sometimes you have to grease the skids.

The list could go on, but I want you to know that I have been prayerful and humbled.  I hope I can take the lessons I've learned and be a better mother, friend, daughter, sister, and church member.

Thank you for being patient with me.  Thank you for making me smile in spite of myself.  Thank you for being amazing, as you are every day.

I love you.

-Mommy

Dear Gibson,

Today you went to a friends house to play.  It is a friend from school, and I don't know his family very well.  I was okay with you going, but as soon as you drove away, I wanted to go and get you and bring you home.  I don't think I'm ready for you to have school friends.  Too much unknown; too much could go wrong.  Next time you want to have a playdate, it will be at our house where I can have you as close to me as possible.  I'm trying not to be one of those moms.  But deep down, I kind of am.  I'm sorry.  I am overprotective and want to shelter you from the world for as long as possible.  You will be exposed eventually, but until then...you're my baby.  And, dangit...I am going to keep it that way!

We are off to a Utah Flash basketball game tonight.  You got tickets at school and even though we wouldn't normally go to something like that, your enthusiasm is contagious and so off we go.  I love nights out as a family, and it doesn't matter what we do - we always have fun together. 

So here's to a fun evening!

Love,
Mom

Dear Gibson,

You are officially 6 years old.  Man, time has flown!  Since it's your birthday (ok, it was yesterday, but we're celebrating it today!), I want to share with you the story of when you were born...It all began...

On Thursday, January 13, 2005.  I went to the doctor's office to see how things were going, and they gave me terrible news.  It was going to be at least a week before you were ready, they said.  I left the office crushed, and tired.  I was huge, uncomfortable, and really sick of being pregnant!  You were due on Saturday, and I knew that that day was going to come and go with no baby.  Bummed is a total understatement!  The next day, I went to work and planned to be there all day.  But at lunch time, I started feeling really tired.  I asked my boss if I could go home and take a nap, and he said no problem!  See you Monday!  I walked across the street to our apartment, and laid down.  When your dad got home from work, I asked him if he wanted to get the carseat installed in the car, since he was going to have a busy week at school.  He put it in, and for the first time, we felt like this was real!  We're going to have a baby in a week!  It was very exciting.  After my nap, we went to Salt Lake for a concert that Uncle Dillon was playing in.  He had just started playing the drums, and was playing a 'gig' with the members of his class.  We were in the basement of a strip mall, in a dark room with loud music and VERY hard chairs.  Halfway through, I just wasn't feeling right.  I had to stand up and walk around a little bit.  We drove home, and I watched TV for a little while before I went to be around midnight.  Daddy was going to stay up for a while and work on the computer.  Around 2am, he came into bed.  Not long after that, I woke up to (ew, gross) go to the bathroom.  At that point, I realized that (ew, double gross) I was bleeding a little bit.  I called the hospital just to make sure that that was normal, and they said it would be a good idea for me to come in as soon as possible, just to check things out.  I went in and woke up daddy, who wasn't very happy with me since he had just gotten to sleep.  Nevertheless, we gathered up a few things and drove to the hospital.  We checked in, and they put me in triage and hooked me up to all sorts of monitors.  I was 2 centimeters when we got there around 3:30 on Saturday morning, January 15th.  They said they would check me in an hour to see if there was any progress.  At 4:30, they checked and I was still a 2.  The nurse said, "well, let's give it another hour before we send you home."  So I sat there a little bit longer.  When she came back, I was a 4!  She said, "it looks like you're going to have a baby today!"  We called grandpa and grandma and told them to come whenever they could.  They were there about 1/2 hour later, just as we were getting settled in our birthing room.  I had the epidural just before 7, and it all went very smoothly.  After the epidural, I fell right to sleep.  It was the first time I was comfortable in 6 months!  I slept for a few hours, and only woke up every now and then when the nurse came to check on me.  I was making steady progress, and pretty soon you were ready!  The midwife was busy with a few other moms for a while, and so I just kept getting pushed to the bottom of the list which made grandma and Auntie very upset!  It was finally my turn, and the midwife came in and woke me up to start pushing.  It was around 11:00 in the morning.  I pushed on and off, because I kept falling asleep between contractions.  The midwife was really laid back, and actually ate her lunch while I was in the middle of pushing!  Jenell asked her if it grossed her out to eat a taco while she was delivering a baby, but she said no.  It was pretty funny!  I pushed and pushed, but you just wouldn't come out.  I think it was because I was a little too relaxed and just wasn't pushing very well.  It's very hard to push out a baby!  But after a while, you were finally coming!  My mom was in front of me, watching everything, and I noticed that she started crying.  I started crying too, and seconds later, at 12:50pm, out you came.  I remember telling the midwife that I didn't want her to lay you on me until you were all cleaned up, but your umbilical cord was very short, only about 14 inches, so there was nowhere for you to go but on me!  You were born with crud in your lungs, so I got just that brief glimpse of you while daddy cut the cord and then you were rushed by the respiratory therapists to the NICU to be monitored to make sure you were breathing correctly.  I didn't see you again until I was settled into the recovery room.  I'll never forget the first time the nurse wheeled you in in that tiny bassinet.  You were so swollen and pink.  I could tell right away that you looked like your daddy.  But there was a little bit of me in there, too.  I was completely in love.  You were like a little piece of heaven, right there in my arms.  You were perfect. 

Every day since then, you have blessed my life.  Watching you grow and being a part of your life has truly changed me.  Thank you for being my baby.

I love you,
Mommy

5 Things, Part 5

Dear Gibson,

Here is the conclusion of the 5 Things that have made me proud this year. 

Proud Moment #5
You discovered your "style."  There's nothing like when your kids are little, and you can buy whatever you want for them to wear, decorate their room however you want.  But then there's the day when you realize that you little one has opinions of their own!  It's shocking, and very hard to swallow.  With Georgia, she's had her own opinions from the time she was 6 months old.  But you always let me have my way.  Until this year!  You wanted certain clothes for school, you want certain kinds of food prepared certain ways, you want your stuff arranged the way you like it.  It's been really fun to see what kinds of things are important to you.  But don't be misled - you won't get your way in everything!  You like to collect junk (garbage, I like to call it).  I don't let you.  You like to go to school with no gel in your hair.  I always put gel in it.  There are many more things like that.  But I promise this...the future will bring a lot more opportunities for us to disagree.  Always share your opinions with me - it is important for you to have a voice.  But do understand that I'm still the mom, and I have a right to override any aforementioned opinion that you might have.  But have fun being yourself.  Be creative.  Be spontaneous.  Be organized.  Be proactive.  All of those things will help make your life more fun!  This year will be a big one for you...losing teeth, starting full-day school, and lots of other things.  You will become a little bit more Gibson, and I'm excited to watch you continue to grow and change. 

Happy Birthday!

Love,
Mom

5 Things, Part 4

Dear Gibson,

Proud Moment #4:
You learned to make the best of a less-than-perfect situation! 

Exhibit A:  Since I work a few days a week, you and Georgia go to daycare after school each day.  For the longest time, you would cry and throw a fit whenever you found it was a daycare day.  It was everything I could do to even get you out of bed on those days.  You dreaded it.  I'm still not quite sure why!  But, towards the end of the summer, I had a very serious chat with you about the reasons that you went to daycare, and the importance of my job for our family.  I explained that you needed to be an example for your sister, and try and have a positive attitude.  I shared some experiences about how sometimes it's hard for me to go to work - I really don't want to, but I have to!  It's my responsibility.  And being nice at daycare was your responsibility.  After that, on daycare days, I could tell that you still weren't that happy about it but you tried very hard to be a big boy.  You make a great improvement, and it made our mornings go much more smoothly. 

Exhibit B:  You really hate the fact that daddy and I stay up later than you.  Every night, it was a battle to get you to bed without crying.  Sarcastically, you would say, "Have fun staying up, mom."  Like I was doing it to punish you and got some kind of satisfaction from your misery.  When I'd had enough, I sat you down for another big-boy chat.  I told you a story about how when daddy and I first got married, we got to spend a lot of time together.  When you were born, we still spent time together, but we were a family so most of our time was spent taking care of you.  Now that we have 2 kids and jobs and school, it is really important that we get to spend time just the 2 of us.  And sometimes, I just need time to be Brittney.  Not a mommy, or a wife, or an employee.  Just...Brittney.  You finally understood!  Now, if I ask you why it's important that you go to bed on time, you say, "So you can just be Brittney and not Mommy."  I love it.

It is so nice that you are getting old enough to understand more "grown-up" ideas.  I forget sometimes that you are capable of understanding and I still talk to you like you're a baby.  But I promise that this year, when you're six, I will try really hard to treat you like that mature little baby big boy that you are.

Only one more day! 

Love you,
Mommy

5 Things, Part 3

Dear Gibson,

Here is Proud Moment #3:
You learned the value of giving!  Last fall, a member of our ward came around collecting donations for "Pennies by the Inch," a fundraiser for the children's hospital.  He came into the living room, and waited while we went downstairs to the change jar and filled a plastic baggie with pennies.  You watched as I handed him the baggie, and he gave me a pamphlet outlining where the money was going.  I briefly explained to you as he was leaving that the money was going to help kids that are very sick.  I said goodbye to him, and closed the door.  Suddenly, you said, "Wait mom, I want to give some money, too."  I asked if you're sure, and you said yes.  I called the man back to the door, and told him that you wanted to donate some of your money.  You came out of your room, and poured two hanfuls of your pennies into an envelope.  As he left again, you had a big smile on your face and asked me if I thought that your pennies would help the sick kids.  I said yes, and you gave me a big hug.  You never mentioned the pennies again, but every now and then you mention that you felt really good when you helped the sick kids.

Giving service, in whatever form it may be in, is something that will bring you joy throughout your life.  There are times that it will be very hard, and you will have to make hard choices in order to make time for serving.  But, just like with the pennies, you will never look back and remember the sacrifices - you will only remember the blessings that came from them.  Always listen to the promptings that will lead you to those who need help.  And just like with the pennies, act on those feelings...as quickly as you can!  You will be an instrument of our Heavenly Father.  Every single "penny" that you give will make a difference in someones life.  And never forget that every day you make a difference in mine.  

Love,
Mommy

5 Things, Part 2

Dear Gibson,

Proud Moment #2

You started kindergarten!  After 2 years of preschool, it was finally time for you to head to big-boy school.  We talked about it all summer, and you couldn't wait!  About a week before school started, daddy and I took you out on a "date" and bought all of your school supplies and took you to dinner.  It was just the three of us, and we had so much fun.  You were so excited, especially to learn how to read.  Your first day of school was so fun.  You picked out your outfit the night before, woke up really early, and came down to our room completely dressed with your backpack on and you were ready to go!  It was hard to keep you busy for the entire hour before you had to actually go to school.  You are in a carpool with the Dean's, and even though I really wanted to take you to school on your first day, you wanted them to pick you up.  I have to admit that I was more than a little bit bummed out, but I wanted you to feel like a big boy so off you went, driving down the road.  You waved to me from the window, though, and I'll never forget the look of sheer joy on your face.  I did get to pick you up, and you were smiling so big!  You had finally arrived!  Even now, I'll pick you up from school and you will be smiling from ear to ear.  Sometimes you just had a really good day!  In any event, it is a big moment when your first child begins going to school.  It seems like just a moment ago I was holding you in my arms...now you're reading!  It flies by, and I'm grateful for every single minute that you've been part of me. 

I'm so proud of you and the smart little boy that you are!

Love,

Mom

5 Things, Part 1

Dear Gibson,

Today is the start of the 5-day countdown to your birthday!!  I'm so excited that you are going to be turning 6!  I can't even believe it.  Six years ago today, I was probably at work, miserable, and waiting for you to make your move.  I really wish I had kept a better journal back then!  But, alas, we will just have to live on memories.

To make the countdown more fun and meaningful, I'm going to use the next 5 days to write about 5 things that you have done this year that have made me proud.  Not in any particular order, and most definitely not an all-inclusive list, but these 5 things really stand out.  So here goes!

Proud Moment #1
You said your part in the Primary Program.  For three years now you've been in primary.  Each fall, you are given a part to say into the microphone.  Each year you have gotten nervous and not done your part.  You have never even walked with your class to the pulpit.  You just stay in your seat.  I was always a little disappointed, because you would work so hard on your little part!  But this year, YOU DID IT!  Maybe it was because I was leading the music and standing 5 rows in front of you.  Maybe it's because we got you a new suit to wear for the "Big" day.  Maybe it was because you are just a little bit older and wiser.  I don't know, but when you got up there and confidently said, "Jesus wants us to serve others," I thought my heart was just going to melt into mush.  That was the only moment during the program that I got teary.  I realized then that that was just the first of many opportunities you will have to bear testimony from pulpits just like that one.  You have a very tender testimony, Gibson, and such a quiet confidence that Heavenly Father loves you.  And that makes me so happy - I want you to always be able to have the confidence to stand for truth and righteousness.  Whether it's into a microphone, on a bus in a foreign country, or just in conversation with your friends, always be willing to share the gospel.  You will never regret it.  I promise.

Love,
Mommy

Dear Gibson,

You don't really get along with Georgia most of the time.  You especially don't like it when she goes into your room.  This is not foreign to me, I used to hate it when my sister touched my stuff, too.  In fact, I remember several times when we were sharing a room that a line of masking tape was stuck to the ground and we weren't allowed to cross it.  It never worked, but it made us feel better at the time.  Today, you closed your door and when I came to see what was up I saw this sign taped to your door:

No Jerja in Gibson Rom

Well played, little man.  I get it.  But here's the deal - if she does happen to come into your room, try not to hit her.  It hurts, and will only get you in trouble.  Like it did right after I saw the sign and Georgia walked in.  You got angry ("can't she read the sign?!") and smacked her, which landed you a hair-pull.  Don't hit, buddy.  And while we will all try to respect your privacy and your space, you need to exercise a little bit of restraint.  OK?

Patiently,
Your mother

P.S.  Now it is later in the evening and I just went to check on you before bed.  The sign now says:

No Jerja in Gibson Rom

No momy itr

No mommy either?  Point taken.

Dear Gibson,

You got in trouble at church today.  You are finally in a class with all of your friends, and you're excited about it.  I get that.  But you just wouldn't calm down during opening exercises!  I even glared at you.  Then, your teacher asked you to switch places with the "quiet boy."  The quiet boy!  You spent the rest of singing time sitting next to your teacher.  But honestly, it was cute to see you being the funny rowdy boy.  I gave you a little lecture on the way home from church - you know the one - be a good example, always listen to your teacher.  You felt bad about it, so we'll see if you remember it at all by next Sunday.

We had a BBQ in the garage today, then took a family nap (my favorite part of the day).  We had a picnic in the basement for dinner, then watched a movie together.  It was a really great day.  When it was time to go to bed, you got on your jammies, brushed your teeth, and crawled into bed to wait for me while I tucked in Georgia.  When I got to your room, you were sitting there with your blue blankie and looking at the picture of me and you and daddy.  Big alligator tears were coming down your cheeks, and you said, "no one loves me as much as you do."  You were very sincere, and I could tell your little heart was very soft.  I took the opportunity to remind you that there is one person that loves you even more than me and daddy, and that is our Heavenly Father.  I love when those little teaching moments come up, and I hope I always take the time to listen to the promptings of the spirit and share little parts of my testimony with you. 

I love you very much.  Thank you for reminding me of your tremendous capacity to feel love.  I am very blessed to have a son that loves me like you do.

Sweet dreams,

Love,
Mommy

Dear Gibson,

Today has been very low-key, just us hanging out at home for the most part.  We went to Grandpa Gary's house last night and you and Georgia got to stay there while I went grocery shopping.  I had to get a break from you two!  When I got there to pick you up, Grandma 'Loa had made sandwiches so we ate dinner there.  After dinner, Grandpa asked what you were going to do for the rest of the night, and you told him that you wanted to sit on his lap and watch football.  It was so cute.  It made me even more grateful for the relationship you have with him.  While we were there, you asked Grandma to tell you about the first time she met you.  We didn't really dwell on the subject, but I thought I would use this letter to tell you that story, even though it is rather short.

You were born on January 15th, 2005.  At that time, Grandma and Grandpa were finishing a mission in the Bahamas.  I had gone there to visit them when I was just a few weeks pregnant with you; other than that visit, they were gone for my pregnancy and your birth.  When you were 2-1/2 weeks old, they were going to be flying home to Oregon.  They didn't have any plans to visit Utah for a couple of months, and so they weren't going to see you for a while.  At the last minute (literally the night before), I decided to buy a plane ticket and travel with my parents to be there when they arrived home.  It was a big surprise!  We got there a day early and cleaned the house, got some groceries, and a few other things to get ready.  Mom & Dad went to the airport, and I stayed home with you.  When I heard the garage door open, I rushed to the upstairs bedroom.  I heard them come in, my dad was hauling all of the luggage.  I could tell they were both really tired.  My mom said something along the lines that the kids really wished they could be here.  Then grandma said that would have been really nice.  Then, taking the hint, I walked down the stairs with you in my arms.  Surprise!  Oh, Gibson, it was priceless!  They were, indeed, surprised.  We spent a long time hugging and they both wanted to hold their newest great-grandson.  We spent a few days with them, until it was time to get back home and settle into the permanent routine.  It was a really nice break, and your first vacation!  As I recall, you traveled really well.  On that trip, we put you on rice cereal, and you started sleeping 5 hours straight.  I felt like a new woman!  And yes, for the record, two week old is very young to start cereal - but you loved it and so did I. 

So that's the story, short and sweet, but ever since then you've always had a soft spot especially for Grandpa Gary.  You refer to him as your "best buddy" and jump at any chance you have to be with him.  I remember feeling the same way when I was little, and I still do.  I hope you make a lot of memories with him that will sustain you throughout your whole life, and that you never forget how special it is to have a great-grandpa that loves you as much as he does.  It is truly a unique blessing to have that kind of friendship.  Now we won't see them for a few days, since they're on their way to Arizona for the National Championship football game - Oregon vs. Auburn.  We'll hear about nothing else for...well, ever.  Go Ducks! Right?!

Love,
Mom

Dear Gibson,

Today was what we call a "Daddy Day."  It was Daddy's day off, and so he picked you up from school and you guys spent the day together.  It's always something you get excited about, mostly because it ends up being a total party.

You came to pick me up from work and we went to lunch as a family, which is always a favorite thing to do.  After lunch, you went to Cabela's and spent the afternoon walking around (I'm so glad you do this when I'm not there...BORING!).  When I got home from work, I pulled into the driveway to see the garage door halfway open.  I peered inside, and saw something that completely made my day.  You, Georgia, and Daddy were in the garage sitting around a fire making s'mores!  It was so cute.  I love to see you spending time doing fun things with our dad, since he's at work during most of the waking hours.  Of course, I came into the house and saw evidence of each thing you did during the day, which I'll clean up tomorrow, but it was still a neat thing to see. 

But the fun didn't stop there!  We all piled on your bed while you read us a few books, and you were so proud for Daddy to hear you read.  You could hardly talk you were smiling so big!  We went to Home Depot to buy a light bulb and started playing a game we often play where you have to answer weird questions.  Your question to Daddy was, "If you could have a hundred dollars or never see your wife, son, or daughter again, what would you choose?"  "I'd take the money," Daddy said.  It was a funny game, I wish I could remember more of the questions.  I'll pay closer attention next time. 

As I'm writing this, you are sitting with Daddy and Georgia on the floor in our bedroom playing with the RC racetrack.  You guys bond over toys and electronics - and boy, did you have fun today.  The one thing I want to express to you today is that you have been blessed to have a dad that loves you very much.  He works extremely hard to provide for our family and to make sure we have many opportunites to have adventures and experience the good things in life.  He wants you to be happy, and he wants you to be a good boy that grows up to be a good man.  Enjoy the times you have with him.  He is your friend.

I was interrupted just now because you had a bloody nose.  Like a faucet.  Something you got from your dad!

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed your "Daddy Day."  I know that your dad did :)

Love,
Mommy

Dear Gibson,

Today is one of those days as a mom where you want to drop your kids off at grandma's house, go home, and take a long hot bath.  For three days.

You and your sister have been fighting all day.  It's funny - sometimes you are such buddies, and then days like today it's all tattling, hitting, hitting, tattling.  Grrrrr. 

But, every cloud has a silver lining and there were a few good things worth mentioning.  We got a new game for the Wii, called Just Dance 2.  In a nutshell, it's hilarious.  You wanted to dance, so I put on the game and you danced a few songs and really tried hard to follow the moves.  But then you gave up and just started dancing.  You tend to be pretty uptight sometimes, and have trouble letting loose so it was nice to see you have fun.  On that note, I want to tell you a little story...

When I was little, according to everyone in the family, I was a hoot.  I was funny, made people laugh...had a big personality.  But then, somewhere along the line, I got shy.  Not a debilitating kind of shy, just the kind of shy that made it so I didn't have a lot of fun.  I was afraid of what other people would think.  And sadly, sometimes I still feel that way.  But further down the same line, I realized that I was missing out on a lot of great experience because I wasn't letting myself be...myself!  I started having fun, regardless of what other people thought.  But the funny thing is this - do you know what people thought?  They thought I was fun!  I know it will take a long time for you to be comfortable enough with yourself that you can just do what feels right...and I will be here all along the way to remind you to let loose.  But know that it is worth it. 

Plus, it completely makes my day each time I see you laughing in spite of yourself.  See?  Silver lining!  But seriously, stop bugging your sister.  It drives me crazy.

Love,
Mommy

Dear Gibson,

Today I am very proud of you.  Each Tuesday morning, I go to your school and volunteer in the library, switching out the books you take home to read each night.  When I got to your folder, Mrs. Walker had written a note that said, "Please move to 1b."  You skipped two levels!  Over the Christmas break, the reading thing finally clicked with you, and you started trying to read everything you saw.  Sounding out words, trying to write words down...it was fun to see.  And now, all of your hard work is paying off! 

I hope you always love to read, and that it will always be something that is important to you.  Reading has always been something that I love, and it's funny but I have a little image in my mind of sitting on my bed with my kids and my dog and we're all quietly reading books, all snuggled up together, but each lost in our own story.  Of course, the dog isn't reading...hehe!  Reading is a powerful tool for learning, imagining, and escaping.  And the more you read, the better you get at it.  Even when you're old, like me.  So we'll keep reading together until you can read on your own, ok?

On a different note, here is something that made me smile today.  This morning, you couldn't find your white hamster (guinea pig, sorry).  You were mad, and wanted me to come upstairs and help you find it.  You yelled through the vent, "Mom, come up here and help me find it NOW!"  Oops.  Bad idea.  I was about to get mad at you, but you yelled again - "Sorry mom.  Let me try again.  Can you PLEASE come up and help me find my guinea pig?"  Aaaahhh.  I love it when things click.

But that's not the end of that story.  When I was tucking you in, you whispered the same question you whisper every night about me making you a bed next to mine for you to come down to in the night.  Then you hugged me and said, "Thanks mom for helping me find my white guinea pig."

You're welcome, baby.  Good night.

Dear Gibson,

For a long time now, I have had the nagging feeling (persistent impression) that I needed to write down, each day, all of the reasons and ways you bring me joy.  And, like a faithful resolution-maker, I am making this goal for this new year.  I hope this blog will be something that I can reflect on as you grow, and remind me of things that are so simple the mind lets them slip away, underneath the more complicated things that inevitably fill our lives.  So, let me begin.

I want, first and foremost, to tell you that I love you.  You and your sister are the sum of my creation, the best gifts I have ever received.  You are my special boy; my baby.  You have such special gifts - a tender heart, a desire to do good, a great love for music and reading, a contagious laugh, a twinkly smile...I could go on and on.  You make me laugh.  You make me angry.  You make me happy.  You bring me joy.

Today, you were concerned about having a tardy on your report card, and so I took you to school before the carpool arrived to pick you up.  When you got out of the car, you said, "I love you," three times, just to make sure I heard you before you shut the door.  I was so proud of you, crossing the street and going into school.  I hope you heard me say that I love you, too.

After school, you had to clean your room, which you did without complaining, for once.  Once everything was clean, you played with your zhu zhu pets which you keep in the dollhouse Georgia got for Christmas last year.  It's pink, but you told my it isn't a dollhouse, it's a guinea pig house.  Your toys are hamsters, but I let you say guinea pig because it's way cuter.  I went downstairs, and pretty soon you called me upstairs to follow the "clues."  You had hidden 5 of your toys around your room and you wanted me to find them.  I looked behind the door, under the bed, and you just laughed.  "Follow the clue, mom."  you said.  "Look inside the backpack."  You gave them all away, you were so excited.  You hid them all several times today, and it was really cute.  It is fun to see you create your own fun and let me share in some of it with you.

I was a bad mom today and sent you to bed with only cereal for dinner.  You're probably starving right now.  But you did brush your teeth before bed (another resolution of mine), so that was a step in the right direction.  You asked me to make you a bed in my room, so if you get scared in the night you can come and sleep by me.  I didn't make a bed for you, because I know you'll be fine.  Plus, you're tired!  And the alarms will be going off sooner than later, so until tomorrow...

Love,
Mommy