Dear Rhys, on your 3rd birthday

Dear Rhys,

Moustache!

Somehow the past year has flown by and you are 3 years old! You are a little boy with solid opinions, a Sheldon-like favorite seat on the couch, and a generally sweet disposition laced with a naughty streak. This year you have gone from talking in sentences to carrying out conversations; from diapers to going to the bathroom by yourself; from needing help with most things to doing them by yourself; from napping to quiet time.

Look at these muscles!

The time we didn't have to put the crib back together at 4 am.

Speaking of that last point, you now sleep in toddler bed and have quiet time in your room instead of in the crib.The first time we tried a real bed, several months ago, went well for about 3 days. Then one night I woke up at about 4 am to find you playing in your floor with all the lights on in your room. Needless to say, we put your crib back together that night and didn't try again for a few months. Now, however, you're getting the hang of staying in bed all night. Quiet time, however, has been another adventure all together. It doesn't always go over so well (meaning you come out of your room about 50 times in 7.5 minutes to talk to us or ask for help). But it is getting better! Except for those days that you really need a nap and don't take one, then wind up falling asleep on the couch at 5 pm.

Failed attempt to skip nap #47

Cora loves playing with you and snuggling with you (most of the time) and you sure love to play with her! The two of you come up with some crazy games and schemes, and usually you just go along with whatever Cora suggests. Her love of pretend play has rubbed off on you, and we often have to run around the house pursued by whatever superhero or bad guy you are being at the moment. Generally you pretend to be Spiderman or Harry Potter, while we either be a bad guy or a Dementor.

Every boy needs a tractor. Even if only for a day.

Still, you often like to play on your own, bouncing balls around the playroom or reading books, or building towers out of legos. While most of your play is active movement, you still have a creative streak when it comes to stacking and building.

Who needs toys when you have packing materials?

You know all your letters by sight and can count really well, with an extra number or two thrown in there to keep it fun (eleventeen and twelveteen should definitely be real numbers), and you enjoy singing us your favorite songs. Singing comes in 2 varieties: pretty and sweet, or loud and more loud.

For some reason you really love to pull the chain on the lamp

My favorite part though? You are still just as cuddly as you've ever been.

Still love to snuggle

In keeping with tradition, let's cover your favorites from the past year!

Foods - Bread (you subscribe to a very high carb diet), cereal (you would eat it for every meal if I let you), pasta carbonara, and cheese. Cheese by itself, cheese on other things, and a side serving of cheese.

Oh, you asked me to smile? Here.

Movies/TV - Like last year, your sister has some influence over what you want to watch, including things like Tinkerbell, My Little Pony, and Strange Magic. But you also still really like The Incredibles and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Surprisingly (or not - you are my son after all) your favorite parts of the Harry Potter movies you've seen are the scary parts. Like the giant spiders and the basilisk. You never once got scared, and you will specifically ask to watch those scenes.

Mouth full of Easter candy

Riding like a champ

Toys -you've grown pretty attached to Twinkie lately (he was your Daddy's toy as a boy) and sleep with him or play with him most days; Nana gave you a sword for your birthday and it has hardly left your side since then; you also love to play with any type of ball from soccer balls to bouncy balls. We can play catch with you for hours!

The serious tough guy face

Activities - swimming, building with legos, reading, pretending to get rid of all the Dementors with your magic wand (which is really just a pencil), and riding your bike round out your favorite activities at home. You also love going to playgrounds and the Children's museum, where you enjoy climbing everything in sight.

Happy birthday, buddy! Sorry you spent most of it in the car!

We love you, Buddy (don't call you sweetie!) and look forward to seeing how much you grow and change this coming year!

Love always,

Mama

10 years

Dear Gena,

On this day 10 years ago, I married the girl of my dreams.

About a month earlier we had made the decision to get married early if I was ever called up for deployment. I received that call on February 5, 2005, and one week later we were married. The wedding was bittersweet, as we were both joining our families in marriage, and saying goodbye. As a 22 year old, I had no doubt that I would return in full health, but over the years I have developed a better understanding for what you and my family must have felt. I cannot thank you (or my family) enough for carrying that burden. To me, it was just what had to happen next.

I will never forget the JAG officer sitting across from me during processing, telling me I was crazy for signing an unrestricted general power of attorney after just 4 weeks of marriage. "You know she can leave you and take everything you own, right?" Yes sir, I do. I felt the same way when we started dating two weeks before she moved away from our college town. I never questioned whether or not we should date, distance was just what had to happen next. So here we were, starting the next stage in our relationship at a distance. I freely admit I am a jealous man, but I never once doubted your devotion. Having lived apart for most of our dating life, I was sure we would make it through this just as easily. I was wrong about the easy part, but we made it.

Through the last 10 years you have been my glue. I have nearly broken so many times, but you have been thee to keep me together. You inspired me to be a better student and eventually pursue a graduate degree. You even followed me to southern Louisiana (that's some serious love!), where we discovered a mutual love for Cajun food and croaking frogs. We brought two amazing children into this world and you continually amaze me with your patience, kindness, and wisdom as we try to turn them into fully-functional human beings. You're pretty good at putting up with the kids, too. :)  I hope that over the next 10 years I can make you feel as loved, safe, appreciated, fulfilled and happy as you have made me. I hope I can be the husband and father you and our kids deserve. I hope do these things without seeking thanks, but simply because that's just what has to happen next.

Thank you for not leaving me and taking everything I own.

I love you, and happy Anniversary.

Geoff