A Christmas List - 2010

Remember last year's Christmas List? That was a harsh one. Things were not so good this time last year. Wow, we have come a long way! Babies are home with us for their first real Christmas; I can't tell you how much that means to us! In the spirit of last year, let's try an updated list for 2010. This year Rio gets included.


My lovely children,

Considering you're all in my sight pretty much 24/7, I figure you haven't made it out shopping this year either. And considering your dad's Christmas shopping took a grand total of about 90 minutes, I'm guessing you didn't send him out to be your errand boy either. Well good thing you're cute, I'll forgive you, but like last year I have a couple of specific requests. Nothing quite so difficult as "BOYS - BREATHE ON YOUR OWN DAMNIT!" but I might test you a little bit.

Nolan:

• Sit up. Seriously. SIT.UP. Just because you have a giant cloth diaper and an even more giant belly, that is no excuse. Do you know how old you are? SIT. You are so close and it doesn't even faze you to topple over because your enormous head breaks the fall. I promise you, sitting is way more fun that just lying there. Really, it is.
• Crawl on all fours. The commando crawling is cute, but I'm getting a bit tired of the dragging opening your diaper and covering you in pee. Not so cool.
• Learn that "dada" actually means daddy. I think you might know that, but somehow you also think it means Mommy, food, Rio and pretty much anything else you want.

Asher:

• See the above memo about sitting. Your brother is chubby and lazy and we know he can do it, but you we worry about more. Your not sitting has my mind racing through all sorts of scenarios, like "If he can't sit, he can't walk....", you know, that kind of crazy thinking. If you'd just sit you'll set my mind at ease that you're going to do all those other things you're supposed to do.
• Crawl. I don't care how, just do it. I know it is entirely possible that one day you might just get up and walk, having skipped crawling all together, but somehow crawling would make me feel a lot better. See the point above about crazy worrying.
• Don't give up on the hard stuff. I know the arms and legs sometimes don't work as easily as you'd like them to, but you need to stay interested in trying. You are such a hard worker, please don't get frustrated and throw in the towel now. 2011 is going to be a big year and you're going to show lots of progress, I can feel it.

Rio:

• Continue to tell me every day that I am your best friend. More importantly, continue to believe it. All too soon you are going to think I am the worst person on the planet, so I will take your unconditional frienship for as long as I can.
• Lose the attitude. Often, you are sweet and kind and your manners and tone impress me. But sometimes, the way you talk to me leaves me literally speechless. I know it's just because you're four years old and asserting your independence, but wowsa, do your words pack a punch sometimes.
• Keep learning and amazing us with your brains. Your dad and I surely have a secret war going on inside our heads, trying to take credit for who gave you yours smarts. This one I will not chalk up to you just being a four year old - child you are SMART. The questions you ask and the facts you rattle off absolutely blow my mind. Keep up the good work!

Rio, Asher and Nolan, we love you more than you will ever know. Boys, at this time last year you were barely out of the woods (and not yet 4 lbs!) and Rio, you were a patient 3 year old, staring at your brothers in their "cages". Now you are all thriving and beautiful and you all amaze us every single day. All of you have come through this horrible ordeal strong and brave and overflowing with resilience. I am so incredibly proud to be your mom and could not possibly be blessed with better kids.

The past few days I have found myself getting teary for no reason, and I know it is because this Christmas has really shown me how unbelievably lucky this family is to have each other. Happy, mostly healthy, and very, very loved. Considering where we were a year ago (or even two years ago), my Christmas wishes have definitely come true.

xoxo

Luckiest mama in the world!