Dear Children,

Dear  Clarence and Adina,

I've been wanting to write you a letter for a while now.  I want to remember how fun you are and to tell you what you like to do these days.  We've been spending a lot of time inside because of baby Clifford.  When we first came home from the hospital with him, we were just focused on getting through each day, trying to figure out how to handle a baby, as well as a 2 1/2 year old and a 4 year old.  You spent a lot of time under the card table (that holds my sewing machine) playing.  You'd hide in there and play for hours...you said it was your house.  You also watched a lot of disney movies...Daddy would wake up with you guys in the morning and put a movie in so you'd be quiet so I could get an extra hour of sleep.  It worked sometimes. :) 

Now we're sort of figuring out a new routine.  Clarence, you're back into playing with your farm and animals all the time.  I love how you always ask me if you can play with your animals....absolutely! I love watching you and how you think, how you haul your animals around to different pastures or off to get butchered.  You understand farm life so well.  You also like to go out and help Dad feed cows once in a while.  You haven't been going out as much because it's been so cold.  However, on the nice days, it's fun to go out and play on the big snow hill Dad made for you or go out and work in your pen.  Last week, we worked calves.  Clarence, you were right out helping push the calves through the chute.  I love watching you....you're fearless. That part scares me sometimes.  You need to have some fear when working with the cows.  But I love how you know exactly what's going on and you don't quit until the big guys do.  I also love how much you love your new little brother.  You always want to kiss him and hold him.  Lately you've had a little cold, and you're so sweet and careful not to kiss near his face.  You kiss him on the back of the head and haven't been holding him as much because we don't want him to get sick.  So sweet!  And yesterday, I was upstairs and Clifford started crying.  You grabbed his bottle and started feeding it to him.  You're such a big helper!

Adina, you mostly just love life.  You're pretty easy-going most of the time.  The rest of the time, you're incredibly stubborn.  I love watching you pack your purses full of bracelets, necklaces, toy dishes, food, lip gloss, and baby accessories.  You're 100% girl.  I don't know where your love of makeup came from...probably Auntie Nikki.  You haul all your "stuff" around the house in purses.  You love holding baby Clifford for 15-second intervals.  You put him in your arms, talk really sweet to him, say, "I love you, Baby Clifford," kiss his head, then hand him back.  I get a real kick out of how much you like to dress up, do your hair, and put makeup on.  Then you pucker up your lips and talk about how pretty you are.  Another thing that makes me smile is when you are in a good mood and you're walking somewhere; instead of walking, you kind of skip/gallop with one arm in the air.  It makes me smile every time.  You sleep by yourself most nights, except when you wake up from a dream or if your blankets fall off and you get cold.  Then you'll come into our room and get Daddy, and he'll always go and sleep with you for a while. 

You two are such fun kids.  We love seeing how your personalities are developing, and we hope to help you grow into kind, loving, helpful and respectful kids.

Love, Mom


Dear Clifford,

You're going to be five weeks old tomorrow.  I can't believe how fast the time has gone.  You've been such an easy-going baby so far.  You're still not that good at sleeping long stretches through the night, but that's okay.  I know this won't last forever. :)  Someday, I'll get a little more sleep.  Last night, you woke up at 1:30.  Daddy fed you a bottle, then layed you down in your cradle thinking you'd fall right to sleep.  Then he immediately fell asleep. You didn't, though.  Nope.  You cried. I woke up.  And we were awake together until about 2:45.  I wasn't real impressed, but at least you're cute.  That helps make up for losing sleep in the middle of the night. :)

You're sure growing fast, too.  You're getting nice, chubby cheeks, and a lovely little double chin.  And you're growing right into all those 3 month clothes.  It makes me sad how fast you're going to grow.  I've already been talking with Clarence about his farm and how by next year at this time, you'll be making a mess of all his animals and pens.  It makes him a little nervous, so we've already been planning a different "safe" place that he can set things up where you won't be getting into them.  I hope to enjoy all the time we have of you being a little baby, because it's going to go so fast.  I am excited, though, for a little bit of nicer weather, so we can all go out and play outside together.  Some fresh air would really do this momma good!

Clarence and Adina think you're great, which I love.  Clarence wanted a brother so bad....I only hope he's as glad to have you in 4 or 5 years as he is right now.  Adina wanted a sister, but she's adjusted to a brother, and it doesn't seem to bother her a bit.  Clarence tells her every now and then that next year we can have a girl.  We'll see, Clarence.  Your siblings love to hold you, kiss you, and pat your head.  Most mornings, Clarence comes in my room and asks how you are.  He just loves you to pieces.

Thanks for being such a good little baby.  You're such a wonderful little blessing to our family!

Love, Mom