Aaron and His First Tooth

Dearest Aaron,
Today you got your very first tooth!!! I knew it was coming because you were not liking it one bit.  You are like every other child out there...teething hurts!  I promise, promise, promise to try my best not to compare you and your brother, but Andrew didn't have pain with teething (I have no idea why) so it was hard to tell when he was getting one.  I went back and read the entry I made about his first tooth and I found this to be OH so true with you as well:
"You know what your favorite game is now??? Never, ever, ever, ever, ever show Mommy your teeth. Getting a picture of your new chompers? Fugetaboutit! Hehe!"
You are the exact same way!  You will not let Mommy see that cute little tooth.  I did finally get one of Andrew's, but you must have a little more of Mommy's blood running through those veins, because you will not give in! Haha!  You are my sweet little buddy all the same!  And I just love, love, love your new tooth!!!  Love you little guy!

Aaron Is Sitting Tall!

Dearest Aaron,
Today you sat up! :) I looked over and there you were!  Sitting up all proud of yourself! :D It was so cute and I was SO proud of you! You have been trying for awhile and I was so happy to see you accomplish your goal! :) You are also trying so hard to crawl, but you are not quite there yet.  I know it's coming any day though! When Daddy got home, I made sure to show him how you could sit up all by yourself.  He was of course super proud as well!  You are growing up too fast my little guy! It's hard on Mommy since you are the last one.  I would be fine and dandy if this baby stage would slow down.  I love cuddling you, watching how you get excited over a new toy, rocking you to sleep, etc.  These are things that will not last forever.  I sure love you my little pal!  All the way up to the moon and back! <3

Aaron and His First Solid Food

Dearest Aaron,
Well today you finally tried your first solid food, rice cereal.  You loved it! It was also your first time to sit in the high chair and you couldn't quit smiling! :) You kicked those little legs (that's what you do when you get excited) and opened your mouth wide for each bite.  You actually managed to keep a good amount in your mouth.  Very impressive little man! :)
Okay, okay, so really do you want the truth?  This is an "Dearest Andrew and Aaron" exclusive.  Your first "official" solid food was rice cereal.  That's what I put on Facebook.  That is what will go in your baby book and Mommy's planner. :D But really, your first taste of food was vanilla pudding.  Hehe. Oops!  It wasn't much, but you seemed over the moon for it!  Mommy was holding you during lunch one day (that's a whole 'nother story! :P ) and I was enjoying a little cup of pudding.  You kept looking at me like I was a traitor.  You watched every single bite go into my mouth and even grabbed for my spoon.  So when I was done and there was a little left over, I let you taste it.  Then I freaked out and googled "Can you give an infant vanilla pudding?".  Haha,  You were fine.  It was fine.  Not recommended, but fine.  And I imagine it will be a very long time until you have it again.  Sorry buddy.  But I got all kinds of pureed goodness coming atcha in the next few months.  You'll love it though, I promise! :)
I sure love you little buddy!  More than you could ever, ever know!

Andrew and the Ambulance

Dearest Andrew,
We ate dinner at Firehouse Subs tonight and while we were there, a couple of EMTs walked in.  I quietly told you that they drove and worked on an ambulance and that they helped save people's lives.  You were so excited and started talking about how you loved ambulances!  One of them heard you and said, "Well what about firetrucks?" since we were at a firetruck themed restaurant.  I told them you loved them all.  You kept excitedly talking about firetrucks, ambulances, and police cars and the other EMT asked if you would like to go outside and see the ambulance.  You were SO excited!  Of course you wanted to go! :) So he took your hand (aaaaawwww!!! <3 ) and led you out there, turned on the lights (you thought the siren would come on as well, so you plugged your ears, hehe), showed you the inside and told you what everything was.  Before you guys went back inside, he asked if you wanted to honk the horn.  You told him, "No, I'm hungry!" Hahahaha! :) When you got back inside you told me all about your adventure (I had stayed inside with Aaron since it was lightly raining) as we ate our dinner.  I thanked the EMTs and just couldn't quit smiling. You see, they made your night, but they made my week!  Watching someone show such kindness to you and make you so happy melted my heart into a big ol' puddle!  Seeing my boys happy is the best gift ever!!! Boy being a mommy changes things! :)  And that change is certainly for the better! <3  I love you little man!
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Merry Christmas From Andrew and Aaron!

Dearest Andrew and Aaron,
Merry Christmas to my two favorite guys (Shhhh, don't tell Daddy I said that! Hehe :) ).  We had such a wonderful Christmas as always.  We spent time with each side of the family and you two got so many presents!  Aaron, you don't get Christmas yet, but when you do, you will be as crazy about it as Andrew! :) And Andrew, you truly were crazy about Christmas this year!  It was so awesome to watch you get excited when opening your gifts.  You got so many new train tracks!  I can't even.  Haha.  Our house is slowing being taken over by Thomas and Chuggington! :P  We love it though!  Andrew, you are also finally starting to understand the true meaning of Christmas this year.  I know it will take a few more years to really sink in, but you are getting there.  You understand that we celebrate because Jesus was born.  I can't wait until you learn even more!
Well, I love you two so much!  Hopefully 2015 will be the year Mommy gets back in gear with this blog!  Poor Aaron needs some screen time! :)  There's just a little less time now with my two little turkeys than when there was just one. Hehe. :)  But it is SO worth it!  I love my little turkeys soooo very much!

Andrew and the Christmas Play

Dearest Andrew,
Oh. My. Cuteness!!! You, my sweet boy, were in your first play this weekend. It was short and sweet (and oh so cute!), but it was so perfect.  You played Joseph and wore a costume made from a pillow case.  I can't even.  It was such a mommy moment for me.  You wore a costume from a pillow case I actually made.  It was super easy, required no sewing, and your Aunt Amy told me how, but I still made it and you looked adorable! And I LOVED that you were learning about the true meaning of Christmas!  Sis. Smith did an amazing job with you guys!  I was so very proud and recorded as much as I could.  My camera was giving me problems.  Ugh!  Meanwhile Daddy was snapping away with his camera getting plenty of cute pictures.  And when you guys took a bow at the end, I just about died! <3 <3 <3 Cutest thing ever!!!  There you go topping yourself again for "cutest thing ever!"  Haha! :)  This is a memory I will keep with me forever!!! <3
I love you my sweet little Joseph! :)

Praying For John Deere

Dearest Andrew,
You love your John Deere dump truck.  GiGi and Papa have one that you loved to play with, so I put one on your Christmas list last year.  I didn't pay attention to the size however, I just know it looked right on the screen.  Hehe. :)  When you opened it, it was WAY bigger than the one GiGi and Papa have!  Grandma got it for you and thought I was crazy for asking for such a big truck for you!  Hehe!  I couldn't believe how big it actually was!  I vaguely remember you could fit in the back that Christmas morning as one of your uncles pushed you around. :)   Now, you can't fit in it, but you love to play with it all the same.  It carries loads all over the house.  I hear those wheels on the tile as you race through the house pushing John Deere along.  That is what you call him, you actually call him John Deere. Too cute.  :)  I don't know if I have mentioned it on here or not, but you have the BEST imagination there is!  You love to pretend and I love pretending with you! Tonight, not long before bed, you told me John Deere was sick.  I asked how he was sick and you pointed to his ailment (that I couldn't see, but oh how I pretended I could! :) ).  I said, "Well, maybe you should pray for John Deere."  That's when it happened.  That's when you did one of the sweetest things to date.  You closed your little eyes tightly, laid your hand on your truck, and uttered this short prayer:
"Dear Lord, please touch John Deere.  Please help him to get better.  In Jesus's name, Amen."
You were SO sincere!  I know you learned that from me praying for you, but it just touched my heart so deeply!  Sure you were just pretending and of course the truck wasn't really hurt (and it's just a toy), but I love that you know to do that!  You make Mommy so happy!  I love that you have a heart for Jesus at this young age and that you know who to call on when things go wrong.  I know you don't understand it fully, but for what you know, you believe with all your heart!  Keep living for Him little man!  Even when you don't understand, even when it may seem hard, God will always be there and He will always help you through!  For now we pray for our trucks and skinned knees, but as you grow, I pray your faith in Him will as well!  I love you!!!