Dear Nolan, you are 1!

Dear Nolan,

You're one year old now! Wow how the last year has flown by. We are so happy that you are a part of our family. Daddy and I are the luckiest parents in the world. 

It's been so fun to see you reach all your milestones this past year. Rolling over, sitting up, walking, you are such a little pro. You also have lots of cheerleaders. Elijah and Maddie get so excited when you learn something new. You love Elijah and Maddie and they love you. You like to chase them and have them chase you. It usually ends with Elijah trying to pick you up and that makes you mad. You don't see yourself as a baby. You're a big boy. 

You weigh 25 pounds and 6 ounces. You only eat table food. You want eggs every morning. If I try to give you something else you throw it over the edge of the tray until you get what you want. You eat great! And get really "hangry" if I go too long between feedings. 

Your laugh is so cute and your smile is adorable. You crinkle your nose with your biggest smiles. I love it. I love you. 

While this past year has been such a joy, it's also fun to be entering into this next phase. I can already see your little personality developing. You love to be held and I love when you lay your sweet head on my shoulder. 

You have so much ahead of you. So many adventures to be had. It's bittersweet to think of my kids growing up. It's fun to imagine what you will be. Who you will become? Where will you serve your mission? Will you be an optometrist like your daddy? 

I just ask you be patient with me. I am far from perfect but know this, I love you perfectly! While I will lose my cool, I may yell, and there will be days you think I'm horrible, even on the worst days I love you and want the best for you. I want to be a good mom. I want to be the best. Be patient with me, love me. 

The world is your playground and I want you to always remember to have fun/play. But there are times that you must work and be serious. I know you'll do this with a smile, that's who you are. 

I love you Nolan LeGrand Adamson. I look forward to all the adventures we get to have together. Never forget I'll always stand for you. I will cheer you on in life. I will love you unconditionally. 

Love, 

Mommy

Dear Maddie, you are 2

My dear sweet Maddie girl, 

You turned two today and wow what a whirlwind it has been. You are a little tornado! And a very dramatic girl. I guess I should call you passionate instead. You are very strong willed. I guess the quote, though she be little, she is fierce, was written for you. I can't tell you how many times a day we have to say, oh Maddie.  You love people and say hi in the sweetest voice whenever we pass people. You win them all over quickly with your sweet voice and deep dimples. 

You currently love love love frozen. You can sing almost all the song lyrics. You love Elsa! It's fun watching you watch it. You get really involved and say oh no. And look at me like you are surprised every time. You also started watching toy story 3 a lot lately and really like it. 

Your favorite tv shows are superwhy, jake and the never land pirates, and the old mickey mouses. 

You love running in the house in your superhero cape. You are really daring at this age. It's so different from elijah. He's always been so cautious but you jump right in. 

Speaking of your brother, you 2 fight constantly! But every time you wake up you say, where's elijah and start calling his name. Also if he gets put in time out you think you must go too. You 2 really are best friends who drive each other crazy! And then of course there is Nolan. You love Nolan. I need to tape the way you say his name. You use a different voice for him. You love to play with him and cuddle him. He likes to pull your hair and since you are 2 you generally get really upset about it. You say, no no Nolan. 

If your personality now is any indication for the future, your teenage years might be tough but you'll be a strong woman. And while raising strong willed kids can be a challenge, I love knowing you'll be a strong willed adult. In life, you'll learn, you have to be a go getter! And I think you will be. 

As I sit here watching you doing your puzzles there are so many things I hope for you. And of course because I'm your mother I worry about you too. I want you to have everything good your desire! I want you to grow into the wonderful amazing woman I know you are intended to be. I want you to be courageous when it's hard, and it will get hard. I want you to stand up for yourself and be kind too. You currently love learning, I hope you excel in your education. You are so stinking smart. 

Maddie you amaze me! I love you so much. You are the sassiest sweetest smartest girl I know. I'm so blessed to be your mom. You are my sunshine!

I woke up to the most amazing Valentine gift ever. Brent wrote me a 5 page letter. How did I get so lucky! He not only provides for us, helps with the kids more than any man I know, but he knows exactly what I need to hear. I am blessed. 

Elijah

Elijah is a funny kid. He makes me smile all the time. 

This morning Brent was telling me about a dream he had. In it he was saving friends in a lake and had super powers. He was able to control the water. After his story elijah said, why you do that? You saved all those people and moved the lake. We tried to explain to him that it was a dream, it didn't really happen. Elijah just kept asking questions. He wouldn't even ride to church with me because I'm not a superhero and daddy is. 

While the sacrament was being passed I was telling him that those who bless and pass the sacrament have the priesthood and daddy has the priesthood too. He asked where the hold it and I told him in their hearts. I told him when he's older that he'd hold the priesthood too. He said yea, then I can move lakes like daddy. 

So elijah thinks that priesthood holders are superheroes. 

Church

Lately I've a bit of a hard time liking my outward self. I've gained too much weight and I'm very aware of it and sensitive about it. I also realize that one or Satan's greatest tools is to make us feel bad about ourselves. Today at church after sacrament, one of the sisters stopped me and said the nicest thing. She said her and her momma rarely talk about people but I recently came up in conversation and they both think I'm beautiful. I know it's trivial and maybe not important, but in that moment it was exactly what I needed to hear. It not only lifted me up but it reminded me of my Heavenly Father's love and awareness for each of his children. I'm a blessed lady. 

I love church so much. I always leave lifted up. The primary children are amazing and I love learning from them each Sunday. They are amazing! #feelingblessed