Remington IS Remarkable...

Dear Little Him,

Today we had a very long day at Lakeview Hospital in Bountiful, Utah because Daddy had to have a surgery on the left tendon sheath of his carpi-ulnar bone. They cut open the tendon, drained it, cauterized it and then filed down the bone.

We were in the Same Day Surgery section of the Hospital and had our own smallish room. You were soo wonderful despite being taken off of your routine and getting bored (Mommie had only planned for a couple of hours and we were there from noon until 6pm, leaving our home in Tooele at 10 am so although you had a good amount of things to occupy our time, it wasn't enough to cover the extent of time we were at the Hospital).

While there, we played with the toys brought from home, explored the gift shop, the two fish tanks, rode up and down the elevator and ran down a long expanse of hall way. Dr. Hess (Daddy's Surgeon) got down on the floor and played trains with you for a bit. You had a 1/4 section of chocolate dougnut, and an apple that the volunteers gave you.

You only got cranky when you wanted to explore and Mommie brought you back to Daddy's room, but your cranky moment was not a melt-down or tantrum.

I am so very, very proud of you for adapting to an odd situation. You were sooo cute Daddy's Nurse even gave you a Dinosaur puzzle!

I hope you always find ways to use your energy and imagination to make your days as pleasant as possible.

Love Forever and X Infinity,

Mommie.

What Mommie Learned from Our First Fight...

Reme:

You and I had conflict today. I had worked all morning to get things together to go sledding. We had had the most lush and beautiful snow fall the night before and I thought today would be a beautiful day to go out and play in the snow (one of Mommie's favorite past-times). Well, we went to a nearby park. I thought if I directed your attention to the sled and the hill, you would be interested in trying something new...I was wrong -- you wanted to swing. Nevertheless, in my stubborn-ness, I placed you on your sled and started pulling you up the hill. You started having a hissy-fit and slung yourself off the sled. You face-planted in the snow. Then you started to cry and really had a fit...your boot came off and your sock got soaked, which made you mad...I tried to calm you down, but you continued to whoop and holler. I used Mommie's mean voice to try to get you to stop throwing your fit. It didn't work. You got louder and louder...wailing and fighting Mommie. It scared me a little. Somehow, carrying you in the midst of your tantrum I managed to get you, me, and the sled to the top of the hill. Then I sat down on it pulling you onto my lap. You got madder...I tried to get us down the hill but the snow was too fresh and not iced over enough. You flung yourself about. I got scared that the sled would have taken off on its own...and it was directed towards a brick fence -- imagining all of the horrors of an accident between you and said wall, I got grumpy and called you a BRAT! After my mean words to you I took you to the swing. You remained mad at me for a really, really long time...you wouldn't even look me in the eyes when I tried to get you to understand my intentions....it took about an hour of swinging before you would forgive me trying to force you to do what you didn't want to be doing.

I write about this fight between you and I because I want you to know that I was not angry with you...just the situation. I really wanted to share with you a fun activity...I got frustrated when so much of my diligence and hard work didn't come to fruition. Normally, I am a "go with the flow" kind of Mommie, but there was something about this day whereby I didn't proceed with that intent...and things got hard for both of us...we both were unhappy.

I learned so much: 1) that I never want to yell or use words that are destructive to you or have a negative impact; 2) I only want to say and do things to build you up --even if that means that we have contradictory ideas of what things will work towards that end; 3) that I really don't deserve you -- the special, wonderful, perfect little boy I have; 4) knowing that I don't deserve you makes me realize that I always want to be worthy of you and have you in my life....

I am so glad that you have your own will -- that you are strong spirited -- that you will find a voice to express your will even if it is unpopular, hard, or makes you sad or angry. I am grateful that you are independent in your thoughts and actions.

I learned ultimately that I want you to be who you need to be at all stages of your life. I hope that the person you need to be always stands up for yourself, doesn't bow down to any sort of pressure, nor, evades your goals because someone thinks you should do things a different way. I admire you, Son and I am very, very proud of you.

Thank you for teaching me humility, the importance of choosing kind words in all situations, the amazing gift you give me in the opportunity to support and love you unconditionally. You are a light....you are my Son-shine:

"You are my Son-shine, my only Son-shine,
You make me happy every day.

You'll never know Son, how much I love you,
Until you take the car and drive away."

Love Forever and X Infinity,

Mommie.

Lending a Helping Hand...

Remington,

Today, our neighbor Mrs. Drais, brought her 15 month old daughter, Rachel, for a visit. You were soo excited your muscles tensed up and you started to shake. Once you had calmed down, you walked directly up to her and said: "come." Then you bent down to look directly into her eyes. It was the darn cutest friend moment EVER!

You got little Rachel to go down your slide, but while you were waiting for your turn decided to help catch her. Although Rachel is younger and shorter than you, she is a cute little chunk and probably weighs a little more than you do. To watch you want to be so helpful and teach your friend NOT to be scared going down the slide, to try to help catch her so she wouldn't fall was one of the cutest and kindest things I've ever observed.

You love being social, and I think you will always be a leader and helpful to others.

I am very, very proud of you.

Love Forever and X Infinity,

Mommie.

Mournful...

Dearest Remington,

Today, during our family nap, you closed your eyes and in the saddest, most mournful tone started to sing "twinkle, twinkle..star." Daddy and I were trying sooo hard not to laugh because we wanted you to relax and fall asleep, but the tone and the words were so darned cute! I figure you were expressing a little sadness because you HATE to nap. I sang the entire lullaby to you and you fell asleep more quickly than usual.

Love you darling Son, always...

Love Forever and X Infinity,

Mommie.

Christmas Eve and Our Traditions 2011

Reme, this is the outfit you wore for our Christmas Eve festivities. Every year you will open pajamas and three gifts to represent the gifts given to the Christ Child by the three wise-men.

Thereafter we will proceed with our Christmas Story, "The Twenty-Nine Cent Christmas" and the Christmas Pie, whereby we recite: "Little Jack Horner Sat In A Corner Eating His Christmas Pie. He Stuck in His Thumb and Pulled out a Plum and Said: "What a Good Boy Am I.""

For Christmas Day from Mom and Dad you will always get: Something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read; and a box of your favorite cereal.

You and Dad will always work together to get a Christmas breakfast made for our family...this year you and Dad made pancakes -- boy were they yummy!

I am sure more traditions will be created and developed over the years, and I look forward to all of the artistic creations you will make to add to our beautiful old country charm Christmas tree.

Christmas 2011

Pictures Bottom to Top: The First 5 Pictures = Remington Mesmerized by Daddy's Train, "Christmas Stash - Part I," "The Tree, Christmas Day 2011," "Remington Christmas Morning," "Remington and Daddy Christmas Morning (in Reme's Play Room)," "Christmas Stash -- Part II."

Reme, Christmas this year was soo much fun. You didn't really get into the idea of Christmas until the latter part of the day. The morning consisted of you opening all of your gifts from Santa. You got a little overwhelmed. Mommie went to sleep and when I woke up we finished opening presents from Mom and Dad and Grandma Halverson.

When we finished, I put some items under the tree until I had a better opportunity to properly put them away...you kept going back to the tree as if you wanted to open more presents. It was sooo, sooo cute! I absolutely loved your enthusiasm!

When your Aunt Joyce and I were little we would always open our stockings first, which made Grandma a little impatient,and I can totally understand why now. I am so glad you opened presents first and your stocking last!!! It was a blast doing it that way.

I hope we have many years of fabulous memories for they are certainly a treasure. May all of your Christmases be cheery and bright.

Love Forever and X Infinity,

Mommie.

You Are Wonderful!

Pictures Bottom to Top: "Let There Be Light!," "Full Concentratin," "Full Concentration Part Deux," "Little Him - Cause & Effect with Fridge Lights," "Haaammmm Sanwichin' It Up!"


Dear Remington, there are so many characteristics that you display that totally amaze me! You really like to figure things out and constantly are determining the cause and effects of all of the different gadgets in our world. The pictures above depict this.

Also, you are very clever in figuring out how something works; and, you are persistent and determined in learning all you can. You will often find a stool or something to stand on to get to the things that interest you, much to Mommie's chagrin.

Some of the other neat things you are doing at 21 months of age are: counting on your own to from 1 to 5, developing favorites -- your favorite stuffed animal is Roop-A-Doop (a stuffed Tiger), your favorite letter is "W," your favorite color is "Purple," and your favorite things to play are "yo-yo" (play-dough), "chugga-chugga" (with your Thomas train figurines or your wooden train set), and with your Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head's.

You LOVE to run,run,run and bounce, bounce, bounce. You adore Mickey and Minnie Mouse, and are starting to wane on your interest in Elmo.

You can say the alphabet with encouragement...

You like to help Daddy cook breakfast on Sunday's and you enjoy helping Mommie wash dishes.

One of your favorite times right now is bath time...you try to climb in the bath-tub all by yourself, so Dad and I are on our toes to keep you safe...

You are becoming so, so independent and so much fun! You prefer to get yourself to sleep instead of being cuddled with...and your interest in the world and being so independent means that often you don't eat much. Lately, for me and Dad to get you to eat we have to both clap after each bite of your meal. This is cute and fun to watch as we will clap and say "yeah" and then you clap and say "yeah!"

You mimic everything that is said...

I adore you soo much and feel so blessed that you are my Son. You are everything I dreamed and hoped for and much, much more. You bring verve not only to me and Dad, but to all who meet you.

You are VERY social, saying "Hi!" to all passersby in the grocery store.

You are imaginative!

I hope these qualities will help you meet wonderful people and encounter many great adventures.

I hope you always have zest and wonder -- a liveliness for life, and continue with the inner joy and radiance that you readily share.

I love you deeply and completely, my darling Son...

Love Forever and X Infinity,

Mommie.

20 Month Recap....

Good heavens,Remington! I am not sure where to start...we had sooo many fun things that occurred during your 20th month! This month was roughly from 11-19-11 through 12-18-11. During this time, you enjoyed your first official haircut, Thanksgiving, a family day with your Sisters, Nieces, and Nephew (Collette, Jackie, Stephanie, Aryana, and Ares); a Father/Son day at Thanksgiving Point's Dinosaur Museum, a visit with Santa Claus, and many self-induced adventures. I have decided to choose my favorite photos from each event....I am thrilled we have so many pleasurable memories and expriences. I love you sooo much!

Love Forever and X Infinity,

Mommie.

Pictures Bottom to Top: First Three Picures are from your First Haircut at Cookie Cutters: "I Want My Mom!," "Hmmm, Maybe I Can Do This," "Antagonized," "Hahahahaha"; Two Pictures are from Thanksgiving: "Family Picture 2011," "I'm a Silly!"; Three Pictures from Family Day: "Jackie, Ares, Reme at Chuck E. Cheese Restaurant," "Reme, Aryana, Stephanie @ Living Planet Aquarium," "Steph and Reme Sliding @ Chuck E. Cheese's"; Two at the Dino Museum; Sitting with Santa 12-10-11; and last -- a random fun adventure (you trying shoes 2 sizes too big!).