Letters to Our Sons | November 2013

Each month, I am sharing a personal post with a letter to my son. A group of mothers and photographers joined together for this project to preserve memories and share our love for our little boys. Please follow the link at the bottom of the post and complete the circle to see all the beautiful photos and heartfelt letters.

Dear Abram,

The weather turned cold very suddenly a couple weeks ago, and I feel like I have forgotten how to keep you busy inside the house since the weather stayed warm so late into fall this year. I also forgot how limited my options are for taking photos in our house in the winter because we just don't get the sunlight streaming in all afternoon like we do in summer.

It was a rare occasion when I let you jump on the bed for some photos and to get out some energy.




Your dad and I have been letting you help with cooking a lot lately. I love seeing how seriously you take it. You are just as cute when you are serious as when you are smiling.


And because I am short on ideas again, here are some words of your own:

Favorite food? Chicken
Favorite thing to do with Mommy? Play
Favorite song? Humpty Dumpty
Favorite movie? Iron Man
The best thing about being a kid? My love (love means that you kiss)
What do you want to be when you grow up? A chef
Best thing about school? That we get to play
What is your favorite thing for mommy or daddy to say? That they love me.

We certainly do!

You are the best, kid.
Love,
Mommy

Check out the next photographer in the circle: Anne Canon Photography ~ Kansas City Photographer

Letters to Our Sons | September

Each month, I am sharing a personal post with a letter to my son. A group of mothers and photographers joined together for this project to preserve memories and share our love for our little boys.

Dear Abram,

You are you, and I just want to bottle that up. We tried soccer again this year. At the beginning of the first game, here you were:

Aggressive! I couldn't believe it! Then a teammate dragged you to the ground and an adult stood in the way of the goal when it was your chance to score. And you were back to you, ready to just play pretend and pick flowers. My boy.

THIS is you:


Batman pajamas, snow boots, "hiiii-YAH" with a sword against imagined foes.

THIS is you:



Silly and laughing and happy to be spending time with your mom and a friend. Finding treasures in nature.



And here you are at the last game of the soccer season. After spending 75% of the game playing Iron Man and looking for honeybees with a new found friend, you ran after the ball and kicked it at the very last minute. (Nevermind that you were bribed with the promise of a bounce house if you got in 5 kicks.) Big smile, so proud, doesn't matter this isn't the right field. My boy.



You are the best kid.

Love,
Mommy

Letters to our Sons | August

Each month, I am sharing a personal post with a letter to my son. A group of mothers and photographers joined together for this project to preserve memories and share our love for our little boys.

Dear Abram,
The end of summer is always a bit heartbreaking. This year especially as you head to Pre-K, and I realize just how big you are getting. We squeezed in as much fun as we could during the last weeks of summer, though.
We went to three homecomings for the parades and carnival rides and enjoyed time with several friends. Compared to other four year old boys, you are apprehensive about trying new things like the ferris wheel. You are no daredevil, instead choosing to be very careful about climbing on the playground equipment or jumping off rocks. You aren't shy, but you definitely want to choose who to talk to and when on your terms.


You wouldn't go down the big slide on your own, so I got to ride with you. Even though you loved it, you weren't ready to try a second time on your own.

You decided to brave this roller coaster. I was surprised, and you were beaming when you saw me and your dad waiting afterward.
And even though I was sad our together time had to end, look at how excited you were on your first day of Pre-K!


I love you, Sweetpea. You're the best.
Mommy
Please continue to follow the circle and visit Tracey Bohland | Tracey Bohland Photography to read her letter!

Letters to Our Sons | June

Each month, I am sharing a personal post with a letter to my son. A group of mothers and photographers joined together for this project to preserve memories and share our love for our little boys.

Dear Abram,

Your imagination never stops. The words I hear from you most are "I love you!" and "Do you want to pretend?" And since you have been sticking your tongue out in nearly every posed photo I try to take, I decided to take you out and let you have it YOUR WAY for photos. Pretend!





And sometimes you jump right in front of the camera and give me a sweet smile with your dimple!



I hope you will remember me as a mommy who wasn't afraid to be silly and pretend with you. Maybe you will remember playing together when we chase around like monsters at the park, use sticks as magic wands in the backyard, and circle the stairwell over and again finding super power mushrooms and getting unfrozen. And as much as you love to imagine you are someone else, remember that the best thing to be is you.

I love you sweet pea,

Mommy

Continue to read from the blog circle by visiting Mango Mahalo Photography by Michelle Anderson.

Letters to Our Sons | May

Each month, I am sharing a personal post with a letter to my son.  A group of mothers and photographers joined together for this project to preserve memories and share our love for our little boys.

Dear Abram,
You are getting so big. This month you had your first tee-ball game, full of moments I am glad I didn't miss. You are #11 and were so excited to strike up a conversation with #11 on the other team when he made it to first base.

After a few tries, you got your first hit. Nothing could have taken the smile from your face on the run to first base!


We took a few family photos this month. I think your personality shows a bit here.


And you and Daddy got me a new Lensbaby for mother's day this month. You were giggling like crazy and running in circles trying NOT to let me get a photo of you with it.



I think I got some keepers, my silly sweet pea.
Iloveyou.
Mommy
Follow the links to view the other posts in the circle this month. You can begin by checking out this post by Jen Smay featuring some adorable photos of her little boy.

Letters to Our Sons | April

Each month, I am sharing a personal post with a letter to my son.  A group of mothers and photographers joined together for this project to preserve memories and share our love for our little boys. 



Dear Abram,

I spend a lot of time in wonder over you and your "windy" personality.  Daddy and I asked you to tell us a story while we were on the car ride back from our weekend in Texas.  The clock ticked by for 18 minutes from start to finish of your tale about Mario and Luigi while we glanced at each other, happy to hear you talk-talk-talking.  You are absolute, matter-of-fact when you talk.  If someone gives you the chance to strike up conversation (the grocery store clerk, a waiter, the librarian) you go on and tell them how awesome Iron Man is and every little thing you can think of about whatever is on your mind, even as we walk away.  I wonder if these people you trap with your intense excitement see how special you are. 




I wonder at your little heart of gold.  You seem to be bursting at the seams full of love for your family, biggest smile when we do a "family hug" and jumping for joy when you hear you get to spend the night with grandparents or see an aunt or uncle.  You are not shy with kisses and big squeezy hugs for your cousins or favorite friends.  You tell me about the mean things that happen at school and how you try to make sure everyone is nice and gets to play.  My heart breaks a little each day you come home upset after school.  I didn't expect such big kid emotions and friendship issues from a 4 year old.  Not surprisingly, you tell me about getting "focus time" at school because you wouldn't sit or be quiet at circle. 



Keep on talking.  Be loving and true to your feelings.  Don't stop being you.

Love,
Mommy

Follow the Letters to Our Sons blog circle to Lara Gowder's blog where she shares a letter to her son and some adorable t-ball photos!

Letters to Our Sons | March

Dear Abram,
This month you turned 4 years old. On your last day of being 3, you did your normal. Playing with toys, singing a song, talking talking talking. We read together at bedtime - one book for Dad, one for Mom and, as always, you read a book to us, too. You have a growing list of sight words you can read: go, see, my, you, the, is, up, red, Mom, yes, Dad, and no. I rarely see you being serious, but you put your whole heart into getting all the words right each night.




You had a Ninja Turtle birthday party with your friends, and family came over for cake and ice cream to celebrate your day. You were excited about the Legos, superheroes, Ninja Turtles, cars, and books. Not surprisingly, even after all that fun with your friends and an hour of swimming, you weren't ready for a nap. You have always had more energy than I could drain with any amount of fun or exercise.



For a special treat on your birthday, we took you bowling for your first time, let you play in the arcade, then out for ice cream. I tell you all the time, but seeing you smiling makes me happy.





Before your birthday, you promised that you would continue to visit us, but just for a little while. I am so glad you decided to stay!
Love,
Mommy
Enjoy reading some other letters and lovely photography by heading to the next blog in the circle: Alice Kowalski Photography | Kansas City life&style Photographer

Letters to Our Sons | February

Dear Abram,
You make me happy.
I love to hear your voice and the sweet and silly things you say. Out of nowhere and always in the middle of dinner, you look over and say "hug" and throw your arms out wide.
It is fun to have someone to dance with me or make up a crazy song and sing REAL LOUD with me. We have dance parties in the living room. You have a signature move: hands on the floor, one foot in the air, bouncing on the other. During the drive to school in the morning we sing "P U R P L E purple purple... Purple grapes on the VINE!" Top of our lungs.
I am glad that sometimes you pull me away from the couch and make me chase you in circles around the staircase or play hide and seek. ("You'll never find me!" followed by giggles is such a joyful sound.)
You let me be a kid with you. I think life would be pretty boring if it weren't for that.
Love,
Mommy
Please head over to the next photographer in the blog circle. Mel Karlberg Photography

{About Me} Letters to Our Sons | January

I am involved in a project this year where I will be writing a letter to my son each month. I knew from the start this was going to be difficult. I am an okay writer. I can spit out a report like it's nothing. This is different, though, because it is important to ME and needs to express emotion. I could have chosen to share this on my personal blog, but my hope is that this will reach more people here and that clients can get to know a little more about me through the project. Here goes!

Dear Abram,

Someday, most likely when you have kids of your own, you will wonder what you were like as a toddler. Through my eyes, you are fun-loving. Every moment is a chance to play. Lately, you play Avengers (you always get to be your favorite, Iron Man, and I always get assigned to be Captain America). I see why you don't always have good days at school. You are rarely serious, always seeking smiles by making a funny face or noise, or by wiggling or dancing. Someone might descrive you as "silly" and mean that you are hyper or don't do what is expected. I see that you are light-hearted and want everyone to be part of your fun. You are a happy child.


Through my eyes, you are eager to learn even if you don't appear serious about it. Your latest is wanting to read. You only know a few sight words, but when you look at a book with me or see the words to a song that is playing, you make sounds like you are starting to sound out each word as you hear it. This makes my heart skip a beat every time - it is the kind of thing that makes a teacher-mommy proud. You also want to share what you know - in a kind of excited way that I can only hope will last. Your Papa Steve says you are "windy", but I see it is just your way to solidify what you know. You NEED to share and will tell what you know to anyone who gives a hint that they will listen. You are friendly.

Through my eyes, you are smart. You make up words of your own constantly like a tale from Dr. Seuss. Even this morning you were telling me how some toy was a "zuzzer". "What does it do?" I asked. Zuzzes. Silly me! You love learning about animals from Daddy and have quite a repertoire of animal facts you can spout off. You can build a complex car from Legos - perfectly symmetrical with exhaust and headlights and a fancy spoiler. You are amazing.



Most of all, you are loved.

I love you big,

Mommy


Please head over to the next Letters to Our Sons blog in our link-up. Check out the beautiful work of Deitra Sisk while you are there! DSisk Photography | Indiana Portrait Photographer