Dear Bently,

You have a funny little quirk. We decided you were old enough for silverware and it has been the best choice we have ever made! I love being able to focus on my own dinner while you happily munch away on yours. You are still really bad with spoons but we'll get there.

The funny thing is you LOVE using your fork. No matter what we're eating you want your fork. Today, for example, I gave you a grilled cheese sandwich. I set the plate in front of you and then you adamantly demanded a "fork". No matter what I told you about using your hands and that it was okay, you weren't going to eat that sandwich till you got your fork. You ate the whole sandwich with your fork. It was pretty hilarious. I don't know why eating with silverware is so important to you but I don't mind at all. I think it's pretty darn adorable! :)

I love you so much Bently!

Mom

Dear Bently,

There are so many things I want to write about, but then when I go to actually do it, they all slip from my brain like water running through my fingers! Ugh! I am such a slacker mommy. I feel like I haven't written about all the fun things you do in forever. Let's just get started shall we and we'll see where it leads! :)
You have turned into a little parrot. You repeat most everything we say. I love it! I love making you say silly words, or words I know are pretty much impossible for you to say right now! But there are always those rare moments where you actually say a really hard word crystal clear. I always am shocked and amazed and end up hugging and kissing you like crazy cause my mommy pride is exploding! :)

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

Here's the list from before and I'll add the ones you can say now!
12. Chicken
13. Annie
14. Grandma
15. Melissa
16. Milk
17. Eat
18. dinasaur (This one is hilarious! You just say it so cute!)
19. Amublance
20. H (As in the letter H. We have magnetic letters on our fridge and every letter is H no matter how many times we tell you otherwise! :)
21. Bye bye
22. Hello or Hi
23. Cheese (You pick up our digital camera, Point it at yourself and say cheese! It's pretty much the cutest thing in the world!)
24. Bath
25. Night night

There are more but I can't think right now! I love that you can talk! It's the cutest thing ever! Everytime you say a new word I get so excited! You can't even imagine how happy it makes me!
We bought you your very own potty awhile back. No I have no intentions of potty training you yet because you are not ready. But I read this neat article about preparing your child for potty training and that is a part of it. You love sitting on your potty. It's pretty cute! :) I can't wait for the day I don't have to change diapers!
You have a weird reaction to sirens. We have 2 firestations within 1 or 2 miles of our home so we hear a lot of sirens. You have 1 of 2 reactions. The first reaction is your terrified. You will run and cling to us and snuggle down and get the scared look on your face that is adorable. You will stay that we long after there gone! Or two you look up with big eyes and imitate the sirens making a little wooing noise! I love it! That one always makes me laugh! Whenever I hear a siren I always automatically look to you to see what you're going to do! It's quite entertaining!
You have become very giggley lately! You love being chased. I will growl and you will automatically go running towards Dad! You squel with anticipation and hide your face in his legs! We then of course have to tickel you. You are so ticklish! I love making you laugh! You also laugh when I make silly faces at you! I probably look like a nerd as I munch my breakfast down making the craziest faces I can muster for your enjoyment! :) It's worth it to hear your sweet baby giggle! :)
Every night I check on you when your sleeping. I quietly sneak into your room and look into your crib. You are the sweetest sleeper ever. You are always snuggled down in some crazy upside down position with Dog dog wrapped tightly under you arm. Or Dog dog is under your belly or beneath your head, but mostly you just hold him tight as you sleep! It's incredibly adorable! I have never seen a child actually sleep with a stuffed animal until you! I just sit there and stare at you, taking in every single little detail! I whisper I love you, wrap a blanket around you and sneak back out. As soon as I shut the door I wish I had one more second with you. I always want as much time with you as possible. I miss you when your sleeping! :)
You love dancing. It's hilarious. I would like to give the credit to me. I am always having crazy dance parties by myself in the kitchen. I should say I used to because now you will usually join me for my dance parties! Before all you could do was rock your head back and forth. I'm happy to report your skills have much improved! You now can spin in a circle and bend your knees and bounce. I love it! We turn on music just to watch you dance. You are picky when it comes to the music you like though. It has to have a good beat or you will ignore it. Oh I should also mention when you spin in a circle you make yourself dizzy. Again, hilarious! :)
I'm sure there were more things I wanted to talk about but of course they have all dispeared! I hope you always know how much I love you! How much your smiles mean to me when I am having a bad day. I love getting Bently hugs. Today we just layed in my bed and snuggled and played. It was one of those moments that I wish could last forever! I am one lucky Momma to have you for a son! :)
Love,
Mommy

Dear Bently,

I am writing this letter not quite sure what I want to say to you. All that enters my mind is how completely happy I am. You make me so happy. You are so sweet. I love your smiles and your giggles. I love singing to you right before I put you to bed. I hate days where I have to leave for work without putting you to bed. I stand there and you lay your head on my shoulder and I sing to you. I can always tell when you are really tired because you'll raise your head and look at me and smile. I just know you are so anxious to get into that bed! I love holding you there because I know someday you are going to be a big boy, you're not going to want me to hold you, or rock you, or sing to you before bed. I can't even tell you how much I dread that day coming. I am trying to hold onto every single second because they are going by too fast! :( Here is a small list of things I never want to forget!

-Every morning when I get you out of your crib you have the biggest smile on your face! Then you hand me each of your stuffed animals in your crib one by one.
-You have started sleeping with a stuffed animal under your arm! It is too cute!
-You have started to giggle at everything! It always makes my day!
-When you walk you hold your hands together or you'll have one hand underneath your chin. It's adorable!!
-You love dogs and will give any dog you meet a hug but not humans!
-You cry when I leave you now. I love it because it means you love me and miss me when I'm gone. But it breaks my heart because I hate to leave you!
-You LOVE bananas. You get so excited when you see one coming your way! :)
-You clap your hands ALL the time and I love it!
-You hate getting dressed/getting your diaper change. As soon as it's off you are on a mad dash out of there! As annoying as it can get I love watching your baby butt crawl across the floor as fast as it can!

I know there are so many more but those are the ones that immediately come to mind. I love you so much my son. I home some day you can read these letters and feel of my love and now how deep it runs! I love you handsome man!
Love,
Mommy

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

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