Merry Christmas

You really enjoyed Christmas this year. You loved opening presents and got excited even before you found out what was in the gift.


You got to play with cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents for 4 days straight (that was including Great-Grandpa Hardcastle's funeral).

Santa Clause brought you an awesome balance bike. You seemed pretty excited about the bike AND the helmet that Mimi and Papa got for you. Mimi also have you a sock monkey that she made herself, which was pretty impressive.

But, your favorite... had to be all of the Thomas the Train stuff you got. Grandma and Grandpa Hardcastle AND Lafeen hooked you up, and I can barely get you to eat and sleep these days. It's becoming impossible to tear you away from your trains.

You sat on Santa's lap at a ward Christmas party, and you seemed pretty excited about Santa, Christmas tree's, Snow men, and Rudolph. You're just such a happy kid, and everyone loves being around you, and this holiday season was no exception!

A Bike! from Melanie Lafeen on Vimeo.

Little sister

Well, she's here.

And you'll never even remember what life was like without her.

Katherine, or Baby Kate, as you call her, was born December 8th, 2010. She weighed 7 pounds 3 oz and was 20 inches long. At first sight I didn't think she looked anything like you, then a little while later I thought she looked JUST like you. She's starting to get her own little look, but there are a lot of similarities.The night before she was born you spent at Mimi and Papa's. When Mimi had to go to work you got to hang out with your favorite cousins, Laila and Nolan for a few hours. Then Jodi showed up and let you come home for a nap. By the time that was over, Grandma Hardcastle had joined the two of you and you all got to wait for Kate to arrive.

She got a little later than most of us expected, but you still came up to the hospital with Grandma and Jodi. You were a little anxious, probably just being in a hospital setting, and I'm not sure you liked seeing mom in the hospital bed.

But, you LOVED your baby Kate. You didn't stay long, but you did get to hold her, and decided she was yours. When we tried to take her back, you would say, "No, mine!".

You came up the next day with Grandma and acted the same way. You want to see and touch Baby Kate all of the time. You don't like it when she cries, and tells me that she's 'happy' when she's sleeping. And, let me tell you, we're ALL pretty happy when she's sleeping!

Your adjusting quite well, I think. You're pretty emotional, and get frustrated super easy. Although, we were seeing a lot of that before your sister arrived too. I think you'll hit your 'terrible two's' AND deal with a new siblings all at once. I guess that's okay, just get it all over with at once.

We're trying our best to give you a lot of attention and have a lot of patience with you. You're having a REALLY hard time leaving the baby stuff alone (the crib, bassinet, swing and bouncy chair). We've had a lot of visitors and they always play with you for a while, which you always like.

You got your uncle Gordon to get you a second drink the other night when they were visiting, and you tried to drink both at the same time.

Having a newborn is pretty tough, even the second time around, and it's even harder trying to entertain you at the same time. So far, I've had about every other day where you both take a nap at the same time, which will probably be my sanity over the next few months.

In other news (I know, we HAVE other news other than Kate??) you met Santa for the first time. You and dad went to our ward party on Saturday and he was there! Dad said you were pretty good with him, didn't get too scared, just super shy. You asked (with dad's help) for Thomas the Train and a bike for Christmas, so we'll see how that goes.

I love you, Hyrum. I think you're going to be a great big brother, and I'll miss having some much time to spend with just you, but you love your sister already and I think we'll all get the hang of each other soon!

A letter to my first born

We have a lot in common, me and you. We're both the oldest. We both spent time being an 'only child', although we don't (or won't) remember it. We both changed our parents lives probably more than any other child will. We both have (had) NO idea what was in store for us when our mom and dad would talk about another baby coming to our house.

I have been feeling a little bit guilty these last few days. Your life is going to change so much this week, and I'm responsible for that. I hope you will always know how much I have enjoyed spending my days with you, and only you. I hope that you will have a good relationship with your new brother or sister. You probably won't always feel that way, I didn't, but I am grateful for all of my siblings for different reasons.

It's a big responsibility, being the oldest. You'll probably feel a sense of responsibility over any and all of your siblings that will come. Which is good, you're the oldest, and I think you should feel that way. They will most likely look up to you and watch how you live your life and the choices that you make, good and bad.

We're going to try and spend some time together tomorrow, just you, me and dad. We might take you swimming or to a children's museum. We won't have too many opportunities to do this again, with just the three of us. I know you won't be able to remember it, but I promise that I will.

Love,
Your mom

Nursery

As much as I'd love to save every scrap of paper you color or write on for the next 20 year or so... I'm not going to. Your dad would, if given the chance, but we won't go there. Here is one of the first pictures you actually colored in Nursery.