Dearest Samantha,

From this picture above, I can tell you are 15 months going on 12 years old. I swear you are so grown up already and even though time sometimes feels like it stands still, it seems to fly by. You have become a little girl this month in so many ways. I know I say that every month but I feel like this one your little girl personality is shining.

You are so independent. It is hard to even go food shopping with you because you refuse to be carried or sit in the grocery cart. I guess I could be that Mom with a screaming kid but I swear your will and power would override any games that I could play to distract you and no a cookie would not work, since you do not love food and you are gluten/wheat and soy free so our options are limited. Basically you want to walk on your own until you feel that I should pick you up and you do the little gesture with your hand and say something that resembles up…but I think you just say..”PPPPP”.

You have started to dance and break dance like your brother does. You actually watched him do one his moves and then did it yourself. You had me in tears from laughing so hard. Check it out!!

You have had a tough month so far…you have been sick twice. It seems this is the month that everybody in our family always gets sick-this month and October and you have been sick with a cold and then a chest cold-it has been awful..many homeopathic remedies such as pulsatilla, chamomilla, and kali bich. It seems that chamomilla did the trick and also helped with the 3 teeth that are coming in-2 molars and another tooth on the bottom right. UGH.

Oh can I have your eye lashes because I love them and just love you.

We actually went out to play yesterday even though you and the rest of us were not feeling great but I knew that vitamin D would help and it was so nice until you ate the dirty snow and then we went inside. LOL. You have this part of you that like to gets in trouble and I can see that look where you just want us to say NO..like how you try and hang from the over handle these days..You have such an adventurous side to you. I love it and I see so much of myself. I am getting myself prepared.

You are still in love with Shrek and actually laugh at different parts of the movie. You also love Milo and Otis, a film about a cat and dog and their travels. You are really enjoying playing with the pretend kitchen and are great at enjoying your toys on your own but you also love to wreck your brothers toys and then watch him get upset. I have a feeling this will go on for a long time between the two of you. You are the light of my life. I am so lucky to have you as my little girl and to watch you grow and experience. I hope you never stop exploring and continue to challenge us. I love that you are strong willed and yet need to be cuddled and snuggled. Keep loving…you are so loved by me.

Love,

Your Mommy

Dear Max,

I think this picture says it all…CARS..you love cars and the movie CARS. WE watch it daily and you have all of the cars and the huge truck MACK that carries Lighting McQueen. There have been nights where Mack goes to sleep in your bed and there are many days where I have to wash your CAR MOVIE pajamas almost daily because that is the only pajama you want to wear. But it is awesome and you can play for hours with your cars and they are so important. I think your favorites are Mader the tow truck, Mack, Lightning Mcqueen of course, Doc, the Sheriff and well there are so many to even list but you love them..you are such a boy.

Your speech is expanding every month and now it is not uncommon for you to say multiple sentences together. You still work with a speech therapist named Miss Belkin at school two times a week on articulation but I think in the end it was also just your time to talk. I dont doubt that all our hard work (and you did not say a word in March-not even ma ma or dad da) did not pay off and clearing the strep from your gut and changing your diet according to your allergies but I also feel that it was just your time. I think school has been huge for you and your love your school and I do too…montessori learning has been awesome.

You have had a good month in general. You have watched the snow fall so much this past month and went sledding a few times at Nan and Pops house and went down the hill all by yourself. It was amazing to watch you be fearless and we were so proud of you…a little worried when you almost crashed into a tree but then daddy re-made the path and it worked-no more near crashes. We also went sledding at one of your school friends house and you had a blast.

You  have been amazing with your sister. You guys play and share and there are few times when you want to be alone except bath. You are very clear that you like to take a bath alone. I think the earlier days when your sister splashed you over and over has created this alone bath situation but so be it..because it is your time and I am happy that you are saying what you want and need.

You are still a great eater. You now love zucchini too. I swear you would be a vegetarian if beans worked well with your tummy but you do love your grass fed bison burger that you eat for lunch daily with rotating cultured veggies every other day.

This month we have had a few power struggles about saying the word sorry..which has always been hard for you but the other day you said it right away..I will also say that prior to this experience the other day we had three fights..one an hour long, then one 40 mins and then one 30 mins but then you said it with ease and I was so proud of you.

You are saying the funniest things these days and I can see already that you know how to use your words with saying things like..I don’t have the words to say it and I am tired and my body hurts..these words all the things you said to me during our SAY SORRY FIGHT but I held strong..which is so hard. I am sure one day you will know how hard it is to set boundaries with your kids because you just want them to be happy and feel no pain but I also know that giving your happiness and safety in your life is setting those boundaries.

You are now asking WHY to everything and I am trying my best to give you very complete answers. I know you are like me and you just want to understand the WHYS of the world.

You are an amazing little man and I love you dearly. You are the light of my life and I am so happy that I am your mom. Keep exploring and never stop asking WHY.

Love,

Mommy

Dearest Samantha,

So much to tell. You have turned into a little girl right before my eyes  this month. You babble, say words, walk with ease, carry your baby around and ask for your favorite movies. You can say the following words: Max, Ma Ma, Da Da Ba for bottle, Hi, Bye Bye, Re-for remote, ruff ruff, Do for Dog and more. I am sure there are others but those are the ones that I can make out currently.

You love to point at everything and you give this look..I know you are asking me WHY? I can see the future already..so many questions and so many answers. I have a feeling that you will always want to know the answer just like your momma.

You have been cutting two teeth this month-a molar on the bottom right and a tooth on the bottom right and I swear I feel a bump on the bottom left. OUCH. We actually had to give you motrin for a few days but things seemed to have calmed down since the tooth broke through. Poor baby. Teething stinks!

You are so sweet and so much fun. You love to play with blocks and you love to put things inside of other things. You enjoy playing with the little kitchen we have in the playroom. Every morning we go downstairs and you sit on this big bean bag and watch MILO and OTIS-a movie about a PUG and  CAT while I work out. You play and watch me and we sing songs..even though I can barely catch my breath as I am running.

You enjoy empty vitamin bottles, water bottles, and anything that is not a toy. You still love to sing and dance and enjoy yourself the most when music is playing. You are shy to a degree but the minute you warm up..you are chatty and dancing.

You were able to see two huge storms that totaled almost 40 inches here in Philadelphia and that is unheard of but you witnessed it and we had a lot of fun playing outside. You loved going down the hill with your Daddy, as I know you are such Daddy’s little girl. And by the way, he loves you so much too!

You still love to snuggle despite how independent you are and I love that. You have very curly hair, especially the day after we wash your hair and it reminds of the curls I had when I was your age.

Your favorite movie is SHREK. You have a little couch inf ront of the TV and you will sit there until your favorite scene and then you must go to the TV and watch close up..it can’t be good for your eyes but it is what you do and it is adorable.

You are doing great with your food and pooping..both subjects we talk about in this house a lot due to allergies. I think this protocol that we have had you on since November is working and we are addressing some issues that are finally getting your tummy in good order. You love squash, home made banana muffins, rice, apples, pears, carrots and kefir. I also give you a litle cultured veggies each week to help with your digestion and gut..we are just so happy that you are pooping daily. You are also on a homeopathic remedy called SULFUR, which is helping you to process the sulfur better in your little body-hoping that you will have less reactions wot foods with sulfur and almost every food has sulfur.

So things are good with you and you are just such a blessing in my life. I never knew how amazing it would be to have a girl. You have taught me so much about myself. I see my fire in you and I see that part of you that is a little volcano when you don’t get your way-kicking and screaming on the floor but then-I show you cups ands blocks and it is all over. You are a great kid and everybody that sees you just says you have so much personality and so much to say already.

Ever since you learned to walk, you are just so happy and you love to explore and hide and play games. You are playing great with your brother and you guys have a lot of fun together. We adore you. I guess there is not much more to say than that. Thank you for being my daughter.

Love you tons,

Mommmy

My dearest boy,

I am a few days late. I am so sorry for this. I did this to your sister too this month. I have been very busy with life with you guys-the new year, the new moon, nutrition school, raising you and your sister, and having the family on the yasko protocol-well your momma does not know where the days go. BUT LETS TALK ABOUT YOU!!

You are such a sweet boy. The other day we had a play date and I had to break up 5 fights and then the kid chocked you..yes we will never have them over again but it was also good to see that when you need to-you know how to defend yourself.

School is going great for you..montessori teaching has been a gift in our life and we are so lucky that a school is 5 mins down the road and we love it. You attend school now 5 am’s a week for 2 hours and then I pick you up and we have the rest of your day. Your teachers adore you and you have a bunch of kids in your class that you enjoy playing with. I pack a home made muffin every day for your lunch or a banana and I think you love that you have something different than the other kids. Your teachers say that your speech is getting better with every day and that is partly why you go 5 am’s a week-to just help with the social aspects of speech. You said a 12 word sentence the other day. I was in shock.

It has been a rough month with the yasko protocol. I know it is doing amazing stuff for your gut and rebuilding your cells but it has also been hard on your body. I know it has been the right thing for you because your speech is doing better and better as we kill those bugs in your gut but it is hard to watch you tired on some days and just feeling blah. Trust me, because I have been detoxing too and it is no fun. I am so proud of you because your B12 shot every 3 days has become less of a fight but I am sure it hurts and you are doing amazing.

You LOVE Bob the Builder, board games, trains, Dinosaurs, baking cakes/muffins/ and anything that has to do with cars or trains. You are enjoying having play dates, except for the one the other day but you are really playing and using your words.

You are a great eater. I am so lucky. You love broccoli, asparagus, carrots, bison grass fed burgers, lamb burgers, home made muffins, celery and rice. Even though you have allergies, you eat so well and I am so lucky.

Basically, you are an amazing kid and watching you navigate your way through the world is amazing. When you turned 3, your Dad and I definitely saw your testing your limits and I am sure this year will be full of that but we are consistent and loving to you. You still refuse to say you are sorry-it is the one thing you will not do and the one thing we will need to work on because it is important.

I am so blessed. The moments that I live in the moment and see how lucky I am to have such an amazing first child and such an amazing boy-are the moments that all I see is bliss and love. I see rainbows when I think of you. You are a spirited special little guy and thank you, I need to always say thank you for allowing me to be your mom.

Love,

Mommy

My dearest Samantha,

First off, where has the time gone little girl? I feel like just yesterday you were a little baby and now your are such a little girl. Words cannot describe the love I have for you. I never in my life thought having a girl would be so special but it is. You are my wild child. You are a fire cracker. You have so much personality. I actually have to tell you not to hit, throw or smack. I have to constantly say be gentle and show you how to be gentle. I have to admit that there is a part of me that loves the fact that you are this feisty but there is also a part of me that knows I am in big trouble.

You LOVE to dance. If you hear any dance song or a song on the tv, you immediately start to move your booty and clap your hands. It is so cute. You even can mimic the people dancing on the tv and you try and sing along with them. To this day, if tears are flowing out of your eyes, and I start to sing “Wheels on the Bus” or “Twinkle Twinkle”, the tears stop and your start to smile and sing along.

You have taken your first steps this month and you get so excited that you can only make it about 4 or 5 steps but you are doing great. I think you prefer to crawl because you know you can get there faster but you want to walk so badly.

You can say Star, Dog, Mama, Dada, Max, up, more and Baba. You point a everything and I can already see in your eyes that you want to know what everything is so I tell you.

You love Blues Clues, Yo Gabba Gabba and Max and Ruby but you also will watch anything your brother is watching. Your favorite movie right now is “Milo and Otis”, a story about a PUG and  Cat. You love to point at the tv and say DOG.

You still love squash, yogurt, carrots and basically any vegetable that is sweet. You still do not adore food but you have tried my home made chicken soup and bison burger. You do enjoy the home made muffins that I make for your bother but still your love is your bottle.

You love to kiss and actually just last week at a play date, you kissed two boys. You are a flirt. You will flirt with any older boy and blow kisses. You are very sweet and adorable. Lately you have been wanting your Mama only and that makes me feel very special. You are an amazing little girl. You have a big heart and love to hug and love to snuggle. We are so lucky to have you as our little girl and to watch you grow. I look forward to many years of being your mom. I love you dearest sweet angel.

Love,

Momma