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 have officially decided your baby giggle is the best noise in the entire world! I have never heard anything more magical or cute in my life. I constantly tickle you just so I can relish in the sound! I wish I could keep it forever! I know no matter how old you are it will always stay in my heart! :) I love you my happy boy!
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

Dad got surgery on Thursday and can't lift you which means we've been having LOTS of quality time together. I once again your favorite person the be around. (you have always been my favorite peron!) We've played, gone to the store together, taken long naps together, danced together, I've kissed your ouchies, picked you up when you cried, and enjoyed the magic of your smiles and giggles. It funy how much I appreciate the every day things because they're not always everyday things for me. It's so magical being your mom. Every moment of your life is filled with discovery. Everything is brand new and that is quite refreshing. You remind me there is good and beautiful things in the world and my favorite good and beautiful thing is you. I love you more than you know. Thank you for thinking I am funny and smiling when I walk in the door. Your my favorite son. ;) aren't you glad you are the first born? Love you.
Love
Mom

Dear Bently

Today you fell in the bathtub! Now you must understand, if you don't all ready, how very different your father and I are! I always knew we had some little quirks but having you sure has made some of them become more prominent than others! One that sticks out is how much more laid back I am then your dad. Usually i don't find this much of a fault, really I often think your dad stresses too much! Well today I learned otherwise! So as I said earlier you fell in the bathtub. You have a habit of standing up in the bathtub where it is slippery and you tend to fall! You hit your head pretty hard and started to cry! I whisked you up out of the water and hugged you tight to my chest, even though you were soaking wet! What can I say i sacrifice for you!!!! ;) well your dad if course is freaking out telling me I shouldn't let you stand in the bathtub! I think myself well ya but maybe if he falls enough he'll learn not to do it! But apparently my reasoning was incorrect! I put you back in the bathtub and watched as you stood right back up. I wasn't quite fast enough and you slipped and hit your mouth. Oh bother you cries and screamed. In that moment I felt so horrible I wanted I cry along with you. I would've taken that pain from you in a heartbeat! As I thought back on this I realized in some small way, I could understand how the Savior and our Heavenly Father feel about us! They know the danger out there and warn us of it! But we (especially me) think we know better and do it anyways. Sometimes multiple times! And every time we fall down and get hurt they are there for us! To pick us up when we're soaking wet and wounded. They are there to hold us as we cry and tell us it's okay! They never say I told you so. They just love us and want us to be happy. They are always there for you Bently! Never doubt that! Neve think you've done too much or are not worthy to talk to them! As a parent I can tell you the love for a child is endless! I love you more than you can imagine and so does your Heavenly Father!
Love you forever no matter what!
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