Dear Bently,

I need to write these more often. I hate when I have too many things I want to say in one letter. Sometimes I just want to focus on one thing! Well let's start with Halloween.

You are such a sweet kid. We were originally going to go as people from Monster's Inc because that's what you wanted to do. Well, one day at the store Olivia saw an Anna costume. You immediately said if Olivia was going to be Anna you were going to Olaf. No convincing what so ever. You just wanted to match her! And let me tell you, you look mighty adorable in that Olaf costume! I loved every minute you were in it!

We did lots of fun things for Halloween this year! We went to the library for there little activity. We also went to our church Halloween party. It was quite the adventure. It was our first big function as a family of five and you could tell we were newbies! You and Olivia basically ran crazy as your Dad and I tried to figure out how to juggle holding Lincoln and dishing up 4 different plates of food. We failed pretty bad at it. We finally got food when Olivia fell down and split her lip open! So I ran off to the bathroom to help her take care of the blood. Then when I got back Lincoln was ready to eat. So Olivia and I went to the mother's room to feed him. (Olivia didn't want me to leave her.) I remember thinking, at least Greg and Bently will get to eat. At this point I had eaten a roll. While in the mother's room Olivia had diarrhea. As soon as I finished changing her diaper you and Dad walked in. Where he informed me you had not been eating like I thought. You both had been in the bathroom because you had diarrhea too! Oh boy! By the time Lincoln was done eating, so was our food gone. Oh well.

The rest of the party went much smoother. We played some games and did the trunk or treat and got our picture done in the picture booth! After the party we hit up McDonalds. Because we were all starving. Haha! So much for not having to worry about dinner that night! ;)

We also went to the Christian Academy's Halloween party. We went in with pretty low expectations. It was super crowded and it was free and we were late. We figured we missed all the good stuff. Luckily that was not the case. The first thing we hit up were the bounce houses. I tried on the way to explain what a bounce house was, but you didn't really get it. Well I don't think you'll be forgetting about bounce houses any time soon. You and Olivia LOVED it. We let you bounce for most of the time because you loved it so much! Then we went trunk or treating. For reals this time. The church one was actually inside, this one was the real deal. We went at the very end so everyone was trying to get rid of their candy. We got A LOT of candy! You asked me to hold your candy bucket as we walked back to the car because it was too heavy!

Finally the actual day arrived. You were so excited leading up to it and kept asking if it was Halloween yet! The day of we didn't do anything too exciting. It's hard to do activities during the day time! We did have a couple trick or treaters come to our door! You and Olivia loved handing out hte candy. Since I knew we wouldn't have too many and we were leaving I let you hand out multiple pieces to everyone who came to our house. It was so cute watching you be so big and putting the candy in the bags! We had our annual Halloween dinner and were running super late. But we finally got in the car to go trick or treating. You were so anxious to go. You had been asking all day if we were going yet! On the way we stopped by Dad's friends house to trick or treat. This did not please you! You just wanted to get on the road. After that we finally went trick or treating. Boy did you LOVE it. I smiled the whole time watching how happy you were! You never got shy or scared. You just walked up to all those doors and boldly exclaimed, trick or treat! Than ran off to the next house. You had a hard time waiting for you slow sister! ;) One funny moment from the night: We were trick or treating at a house and it was a little boy handing out the candy. He was probably about nine. Well he put the treat in your bag and Olivia's and you were able to see what was in the candy bowl. You exclaimed, "I like liquorice." The little boy just stared at you and you stared right back. Unmoving. The little boy slowly put the Liquorice piece in your bag. You Dad and I laughed long and hard about that one.

So that was our Halloween! We had a blast to say the least! I know you loved it and I can't wait till next year! :)

Tonight I was frantically cleaning trying to get something done in the precious moments while Lincoln was actually sleeping! In my haste I found a folded up coloring page. I remembered you had told me the day before it was for me and I couldn't look at it because you wanted to put it in the mail box for me. I had been feeding Lincoln at the time and couldn't get you an envelope. Well we had both forgotten about it. I picked up and considered throwing it away without looking at it. You have been very into coloring and I have too many to keep. But I decided to open it and boy am I glad I did. There was a colored Minion and written on the side in your cute 4 year old handwriting were 3 letters. Mom. You had written Mom before but this was the very first time you had written it without asking for help. I can't even describe how much those three little letters meant to me. I bawled like a baby just staring down at it! I couldn't get over how much I loved you! I hope you know how happy you make me as a mom! I hope you know that the little things are most often the big things in life! :)

I love you so much my Bently man!

Love,
Mom

Dear Bently,

I have so much to catch up on and no time to do it! So sorry in advanced if I skim a little!

First off, Christmas!! Christmas was crazy this year due to the fact that we moved to Vernal on the 5th of December. I felt like everything was rush rush rush because that's how it was. Rush to move, rush to unpack, rush to set up Christmas, just rush. That made it hard but honestly it was a very incredibly happy Christmas. Except for the fact Liv and I were sick! ;) Christmas morning you woke up at your normal time and were pretty content just to sit and play with the tablet. That was going very well till I started asking you what presents you think you got! Ops! Then all you wanted to do was go down stairs and open them! Livvy decided not to wake up till almost nine! That was crazy. When we finally got down stairs, well, you were adorable! You could literally just feel the magic of Christmas pouring out of you! The look on wonderment in your eyes had my heart melting! After inspecting all the presents you proudly exclaimed, "Let's open them!" Haha! You were okay doing stockings first and I think you got a ton of things you wanted! You did ask Santa for Jake and the Neverland Pirate figurines. It's one of your new favorite shows. We bought them for you and then Christmas Eve you informed us you wanted 4 guys not 3. You wanted the 3 main chractars and the bird. Ops. Too late. So when you opened it you asked where the bird was! Haha! We sorta just moved on. ;) You weren't too heart broken and still love your Jake toys! :) The highlight of Christmas is we got you and Livvy a play kitchen. Now we had this in the box in the family covered by blankets for a week. For your credit, you did really good not peaking. But it didn't last and you did get a slight look. So when we brought it down you eagerly exclaimed, "A kitchen!" It was adorable to watch you squeal in delight! You sure do love making us food. You'll tell us if it's a hot food or a cold food. If it's hot I have to blow on it and if it's a cold food I have to make a funny face after swallowing! ;) You also will randomly bring me silverware and insist I cut the food. To be told I love it! I'll play kitchen with you anytime! You never really grow up, you just get taller! :)

New Years Eve we went back to Davis county and spent it at Aunt Shawna's house! That was so much fun! You fell asleep in the car on the way down so you were not tired at all. So guess who stayed up with us till the new year? I don't think you got what was going on but you were eager to tell us "Happy New Year" and dance around! You then stayed up till 2 in the morning because you don't like sleeping in new places. The next day we spent seeing Grandma Kay Lynn and Granpa Paul and Grandma and Grandpa Hodson. We got our presents from them and you are a little too good at presents now and kept asking for more. I guess I need to teach you about gratitude before next year! :) All your Grandparents were exstatic to see you and I must admit, so was I. It made me a little home sick for the first time! We had a blast hanging out with everyone!

Driving back to Shawna's you fell asleep in the car but you made sure to tell us in your half asleep voice, "When I wake up I'm going to play with Kara!" You guys were best buddies this trip and were never apart from each other!

We were also able to see Gradma Curtis and Aunt Courtney, Brittney, Bryson, and Brynnlee, and the Hyers. It was a busy trip full of driving around and visiting everyone we could. We still missed some but it was fun! I told your Dad we can't go back for a couple months because it was exhausting! ;)

So today, 1/5/2014 was your first day in Primary! Now you were not prepared. I kept telling you there was no more nursery but you didn't quite understand. When I found your class and took you in, you suddenly grabbed onto my neck and wouldn't let go. You just sat there with your head buried. I tried to point out your best friend Riley (a girl from nursery, not your cousin) was there but that didn't really help. I didn't know what to do. I did not expect this reaction because you are usually such a brave child. Luckily I convinced you to sit in your seat next to Riley and you seemed okay so I left. I listened in at the door at one point and heard you eagerly exclaiming your desire to help so I guess you got over it fast! When I picked you up from Primary I asked how you liked it and the first thing you said was, "There was no sack or toys!" Haha! Nope there isn't. Then you told me next week your going to nursery. I think everyone wishes they could go to nursery! :)

I can't even describe how old you seem! I mean I have a kid in Primary! It's crazy to think about, but it's also so exciting to watch you grow up!

You do this thing were you sometimes will avoid crying. I can tell you want to cry  but you stop yourself. I always tell you it's okay to cry but you admittedly exclaim "no!" It's cute and sad! I hate watching you try and hold off the tears! You don't have to be big yet! Your only 3! You can always cry to me!

My new favorite thing you do is you will answer questions so adorably. I will say "Bently do you love me?" and you say after a long pause, "Uhhhh sure." Or "I guess so". You say these answers with the most interesting face. You talk out of the side of your mouth. It's crazy adorable. It makes me laugh super hard. Especially when I ask that question because in my opinion that should be a resounding yes! ;)

You talking out the side of your mouth!

There was something else I wanted to say but I can't remember it for the life of me! I love you my big primary kid! :)

Love,
Mom

Dear Bently,

You have begun to sing. It's adorable. I seriously can't get enough. We tired to get it on video but of course you clammed up in front of the camera but don't worry I know we'll catch it eventually! You sing in your own jibber jabber randomly throwing a word out that you know. My favorite is listening to you sing "I am a Child of God". You know all the end words. God, Here, Home, Dear, ect. It's adorable! I used to switch up your goodnight songs but lately all I sing is that one because I love hearing you sing it! I know you're going to be the kid in primary that shouts out the songs with no fear. You sing loud and you smile. I can tell you are so proud of yourself. And to be honest, I'm pretty proud too! Feel free to serenade me anytime you want to! :)
You also have decided you are big enough to feed yourself and we do not need to help you. It started a couple mornings ago at breakfast. I always just feed us from the same bowl. Well this morning you started throwing a fit and wouldn't take a bite no matter what. I gave up, deciding to just feed myself when you reached over, grabbed the bowel, pulled it in front of you and picked up the spoon. Since that moment you have fed yourself. You're not always perfect and I have a hard time not helping you, but you are learning. And trying. You really aren't my baby anymore. I Love you so much!
Mom

Dear Bently,

The other day you were trying to climb into your crib. I knew it was time to put you in a big boy bed before you started to crawl out and hurt yourself. I dreaded it. Not only because it means you can get out of bed and touch things, but because it means you really aren't my baby anymore. It's really hard for me to accept that you're growing up and getting bigger. I love watching you grow and change but it's really hard to deal with at the same time!

You did so good going to sleep in your bed. You didn't act like anything was different. You didn't get out of bed once which shocked me! I'm thinking it's probably not going to last forever! Eventually you'll learn you can just get out and do what you want! After you fell asleep your Dad and I went in and of course took pictures of you and just marveled at our little boy looking so grown up in his big boy bed. I tucked the blankets around you and we kissed your face. I almost cried. It's just so unbelievable how fast time has gone. I am just trying to cherish each tiny precious moment I get with you! I love you so much Bently! Words can never describe how I feel about you! You are my world son! :)

Love,
Mom

Dear Bently

Happy 18 months birthday little guy! I try and stop myself from calling you my baby because you sure aren't a baby anymore. Though to me, you'll always be my baby! Love you more then you'll ever know!

Mom

Dear Bently,

Since Daddy is working full time and going to school we have been spending lots of time together! Lots of mommy and Bently time. Something that never happened very much in the past. I love it! I love spending time just us two bonding! We go to the park and run errands and I let you get into lots more trouble then Daddy did! We have dance parties and watch your favorite TV show the backyardigans. You love it! You hear the theme music start playing and you laugh and clap your hands. Adorable! We read book after book. You love to read books! We take walks to the trash and talk about cars. We spend hours playing with the alphabet refrigerator magnets. You have recently become obsessed with letters! Every where we go you point out letters to me! You now recognize H and M almost all the time. You are so proud of yourself when you can recognize a letter! It's adorable!
It's hard to watch you grow up but it's also so fun watching you want to be more independent. Today I was feeding you when you grabbed the fork from me and didn't want to give it back. Things like that tell me how much bigger my little boy is getting. You now want to do things for yourself. I snuck home for a second on my break tonight. I just needed to see you. I slowly opened the door and crept over to your crib. There you were. Spread out with your baby hair all a mess. As I watched you sleep I suddenly realized, you are not a baby. Not even a littel. I kept telling myself you were turning into a toddler. Little did I realize it has already arrived. You are a toddler. You are the big kid now! You don't have to walk holding onto my hands and you can feed yourself and you know what I mean when I ask you to go get your shoes. I can't believe my little baby is so big. I can't believe how fast it has all gone. I can't believe what joy and love you have brought into my life. More than I ever thought possible! Being your mom is the very best job in the world!!! :) I seriously love it! I can't wait till I can do it 24 hours a day 7 days a week!
Little man I hope you always realize how much I love you! I hope you always feel it. No matter where you go in life or how far away we might be from each other I will never stop loving you ever! Thank you for choosing our family to come to! Thank you for changing my life and making me happy every single day!
I love you always!
Mom

Dear Bently,

I was reading online and I realized one day you might find it interesting to know the words you can say now. You are currently 15 months and I am surprised each and every time you say something new! I swear it's a new word every day!! :) You're first words was Dada! These are all the words you can say right now! July 21, 2012

1-Mama
2-Dada
3-Cracker
4-All gone
5-Amen
6-Dog (mostly when we ask you to say dog you just bark! It's adorable!)
7-Duck
8-Papa (Started consistently saying this one today!)
9-Car (You say this one all day every day! It get's a little annoying sometimes!)
10-Plane (Mostly sounds like pa. It's adorable! whenever you hear one you point at the sky and say plane! :) You also said it today when you saw some balloons floating in the sky! We'll have to teach you balloon next!)
11-Home

Eleven words! That's pretty impressive! I am probably missing a couple so I'll add when I find more! I love you so much Bently! And I am constantly impressed with your speaking abilities! :)
Love,
Mom

Dear Bently,

Life sure is getting exciting in the White household. You are growing like a weed and getting bigger and smarter every day. I swear you are always learning. You are such a happy baby. I hope you always keep that happiness. I hope you always find the good in life. Even in the hard times there are always good times to be found! Your Dad and I went on a little get away for a night and it was so weird us both being a way from you. We missed you like crazy! Melissa was bringing you back and we were literally standing outside on the curb waiting for her to get there. All I wanted was to have you back in my arms! Any time I get with you is so precious Bently. I think it's not only because I love you so much but because I work full time. I hate it. I hate sleeping while you are home and up and happy. The only thing that keeps me going is knowing this isn't going to last forever! Dad has finally decided what he wants to go to school for so hopefully the time will go by quickly and I will be done and home with my favorite little man all the time! :)
Like I said, you are figuring things out! The other day you handed me a Tupperware container full of cereal. Usually you just want me to shake it for you and then you are happy. But this time when I handed it back to you, you gave it straight back to me. After another round of this I realized you wanted me to open it for you and give you some. You were as happy as a clam after that. Since you point at everything you want. Well it's not really pointing, it's more like you reach your hand out like you are trying to grab it. Today I was outside with you and we just went from object to object touching and feeling different things. I love watching you explore your enviormentt! I love watching you grow and learn! I feel so incredibly blessed every day that I get to be your mother. I pray all the time that I can be the mother you deserve! Never ever forget how much I love you!
Love,
Mom

Dear Bently,

I've been meaning to write you forever! But life is just crazy hecktik as usual! :) Here we are, Easter Sunday, (april 8, 2012) and you are already one! I can't even believe it! I still look at you and see my tiny little baby. That soft little newborn I brought home from the hospital. I remember constantly marveling at how small you were. You're little hand would grab onto my fingers and I would just stare at those tiny fingers. I couldn't believe something so small could hold my heart so tightly. Even though you are bigger now, you still hold my heart little man. Everyday I get to spend with you is my favorite day. I hate having to work but it's what we have to do at this time. I can't wait for the day when I can stay home with you and get to snuggle and read to you and wake up with you in the morning! Seriously can't wait!
You're birthday was so special. I think all first birthdays are. I know you'll never go back to being a baby. You are a toddler and a big boy now. I know you already see yourself that way! As all the people who love you gathered around and sang happy birthday I couldn't help but get chocked up. I looked over at your Dad and at you sweet face and I just felt the severe and utter joy that surrounded that moment. As I watched the flickering candle I told Dad to make a wish for you, since you weren't old enough to make one yourself. I wish so many things for you my boy. I guess what I wish more than anything is for you to live a life full of happiness and love. :)
We took you to the zoo on your actual birthday and it was too fun. You weren't exactly super excited about looking at the animals but you still enjoyed yourself! I loved holding you and pointing at the animals. I loved watching you get excited and slightly scared watching the porcupines run around. I love your wonder at looking at the birds. I loved your sweet smile while staring at the monkeys! The whole day was magical and wonderful. It's a day I wish I could replay over and over again! You have given me so many amazing memories already and it's only been a year! Kid you have quite an influence over your Mother!
This morning was so fun! Last Easter you were only a couple weeks old and just laid there the whole time. This Easter you were able to crawl around and gather the eggs and put them in the basket.You LOVED all the candy and constantly wanted more! You looked so cute in the outfit we gave you! You are so funny now! You LOVE to walk! Not by yourself, but if someone is holding onto your hands then you practically run everywhere! The whole time you are walking you are just laughing and grinning! :) It always makes my day! :)
I love you so much Bently. I wish I could spend every second of everday with you! :) You are my whole world son!!
Love,
Mom

Dear Bently

Today my creative juices started pumping and I decided to start working on your first birthday party invite. As I sat down and stared at the words, Bently is turning 1, my eyes flooded with tears. My little boy is growing up too fast, and it's amazing, and wonderful, and heart wrenching. I can't even believe it! I love you more than you know and that love only grows more and more with each day. Never forget it!
Love,
Mom

Dear Bently,

Yesterday you did something INCREDIBLE!!! I have been working with you and working with you trying to get you to walk using the little walker we got you for Christmas. It hasn't been an easy task darling! You have recently discovered fear, as in you're afraid of EVERYTHING!! The vacume, the blender, elevators, leaf blowers, and anything else that is loud! The point, you are terrified of walking. But I was determined. Both your little cousins are already walking without assistants so I figured you could walk with a little help! Yesterday I was practicing and practicing, and no offense, you weren't getting any better. I decided today to show the Hyers how we practice. You took off. You acted like you had been able to do this for years! Seriously? I was so incredibly happy! I seriously was about in tears. You are growing up too fast my baby boy! Part of me gets so excited to see it and the other part just hurts! I love you so much Bently and I absolutly adore being your mommy!
Love,
Mommy

Dear Bently

You did something absolutly amazing today and I was lucky enough to see it happen.. you my dear son...stood all by yourself, without any assistance. You did this TWICE!! I can't believe it! You are getting so big! You sat there your feet spread super far apart swaying back and forth and looking oh so proud! And I'm going to let you in on a little secret, I was pretty proud too!!!
Love,
Mom

Dear Bently

There isn't too much to say but I just had to blog and let you know how funny you are! You always keep your Dad and I laughing. You are ALL personality! I don't know if that should make me excited to see you grow up or terrified! :) I can't wait for the day when I can stay home with you. I am sure you are already tired of hearing it but all I want to be is a stay at home Mom. I just want to be with you all the time 24/7. You are my whole world and there is nothing more important than raising you and having you turn out well. :)
Anywhosers. There isn't too much going on right now. You are now the master of crawling on all fours! It's crazy to look over and see you doing that. You are so freaking big I can't even believe it! :) I love watching you grow up. It's so exciting!
I love you Bently Elmer!!!
Love,
Mom

Dear Bently

Last night your Dad, me, and of course you laid on our air mattress in the family room and laughed and laughed. You do this funky thing where you twirl your hand around. We think it's adorable of course and we began to imitate you!! :) Out of no where you start giggling uncontrollably! It was hilarious! We just sat there for like an hour playing this little game with you! It was the  highlight of my LONG week for sure! :) You always are! You are getting so big I can hardly believe it. Today you fell in the bathtub because you somehow think you need to be standing ALL the time! Every time I turn around you are on your feet getting into something you probably shouldn't be touching! You are one silly kid! Bently I love you so very much! I love watching you grow and change. Can you believe you'll be 1 year old in just 2 and half short months! I am in denial! There is no way you are that big! Where did the time go! I am just trying to appreciate every minute I get with you! With that said, it's time for me to play with you! You are sitting below my chair whining! :) Don't ever forget your Mom loves you, has loved you even when you were just a tiny little thing, and will love you forever! I promise! :)
Love,
Mom

Dear Bently,

My tiny blog post mentioning Christmas isn't enough. So I decided to give you a list of my Christmas highlights with you. Not all of these happened Christmas day but they all happened in December!

*Watching your eyes light up looking at all the lights.

*Snuggleing on the couch watching Christmas movies together.

*Picking out your Christmas presents! Yes you were there! ;)

*Playing games with you and Daddy.

* Feeding you all my favorite Christmas foods even though you techniqcaly probably shouldn't have had any!

*Sitting with you in the dark staring at the Christmas tree!

*Christmas morning with you. Watching you try and eat the paper and look at your toys with the most hilairous expression!
*Just being with you. I am so frustrated with my inablility to put into writting how truly special you are to me. How every little second we get together now suddenly means 10x more because I work. Because I suddenly realize how fast the time truly is going.

Sorry for the tangent. Basically your first Christmas was magical and perfect and I loved every single second! Most of all I love you more than anthing in the world! Just watching you smile Christmas morning was the best Christmas gift ever! :)
Love,
Mommy