Blankets, Bottles, and Booties-Oh My!

Check out this spread that your grandmothers

put together!!! Also, take a closer look at the

diaper cake your Meme made. :)

Dearest Dylan,

I am rarely speechless.  In fact, I can think of only a handful of times when I had no words, and by the time you read this letter, you will certainly understand the significance of a wordless mommy. It almost never happens.   However, over the course of the past few days, I have found great difficulty in putting my feelings onto paper, so bear with me as I give it my best shot. 

Your Aunt Beep-Beep and Cousin Abby.

I have always known what a great support system that I have had in my family and my friends. Nevertheless, the outpouring of love that we have received in the last week has been astonishing.  You will come to understand the power of a person’s words, especially when his or her actions support those words. However, I must say that as cliché as it sounds, especially as I write this down, people’s actions, especially the people that you have in your life, give the greatest testament how much you are loved. 

Check out this picture: This is your Meme and your Aunt Rocky! Mommy is the one in the middle in case you are confused! :)  

See how much we love you?

A baby shower is just that—a time to “shower” the mommy and baby to be with gifts to prepare them both for the journey ahead. As I opened all of the gifts, and trust me, there were more than I have every seen in my tenure as a seasoned gift-giver, I realized that the greatest gift was the time that each of your loved ones gave to celebrate your arrival. Amid the torn paper, the endless bottles, the books that one day will show the wear of an avid reader, I was able to scan the crowd. The joy on their faces, the excitement in their voices, and the love in their hearts moved me beyond words.  Not only did every person choose the perfect gift for you, but they also shared stories of your past—the ones that you will surely learn as you grow to be the perfect young man that they all know you will someday be. 

Both of these cakes were as yummy as they were beautiful!!!! 

How can these be stories of your past when you have yet to be born, you ask?

And here, my inquisitive dreamer, is this letter’s lesson.  As I searched the faces of the people that gathered to celebrate you, I realized that all of our stories begin in the lives of the people that love us the most.  Through them, we learn who we are and decide who we want to be. This I can tell you for sure: you are loved, Dylan Ashley Boyette. And that love is by far the best gift that anyone could ever give. 

Love you good,      

Mommy

Your Aunt Ashley arranged these flowers as
her centerpiece at our first baby shower!

  

See that diaper cake in the background?
A super-star mommy and friend made that
for you! :) Now, that is talent! 

Sleep? The “Small Stuff” of the Past!

Dylan,

So, as I type, it is 4am.  And, I promised myself that I would revisit this post at a more reasonable hour to ensure that my words were more than just sleep-deprived antics of a soon-to-be crazier woman.  I have learned the past few weeks that sleep, one of my most favorite hobbies, is, I am afraid, a thing of the past. Now, please do not misunderstand. I am not complaining (well maybe a little) about this lack of sleep because I do know that this will all be worth it, but the lesson for you in all of this is that life is an ongoing learning process of forgetting, learning again, and finally internalizing the tough lessons that come only after the experience. 

You should know that your mother is a people pleaser.  In some aspects of my life, this curse has been a blessing! I was a great student as a child, teenager, and adult, and my people-pleasing ways even served me well when I was a teacher.  What you should know is that pleasing other people does make you very popular among peers, co-workers, and family members; in that way, I feel blessed to have this as a part of my dynamic (insert air quotes) personality. However, I have cried many tears and lost many nights of sleep worrying of what your Meme calls “the small stuff”.  The picture of a teenage Amy Moore rolling her eyes, which I am sure your Aunt Beep Beep and Uncle Da Da will paint in your memory soon enough, fills my head as I can see my mother repeating this phrase numerous times during my life.  Two important things here:  1) Just like my mother (your Meme) has been a source of strength and inspiration in my life, I will be here for you. Whether I am quieting your fears, cheering you on, or reminding you of the important things in life, I am always on your side.  2) Make room for your priorities. Don’t sweat the small stuff in life.  And trust me, you will know the difference. Sacrificing your happiness or your sleep over the small stuff will only make you more tired the next day! J

Since I have been blessed with you in my life, I am now losing sleep for a much more noble sacrifice: YOU.   So for that, Dylan Ashley, I thank you so much. And, I encourage you, at a much earlier age than your mommy, to put yourself first. Trust your instincts, believe that you are your number one priority (bearing in mind those that brought you here), and know that you have support system in your family that will sing the song of your heart when you have forgotten the words. And, I just happen to be a really good singer!

 Already, you have taught me more than I could have ever learned in a classroom, from a schoolbook, or from my job. And, I have a sneaky suspicion, that you are not done “schooling” me.  And as I read this letter to you, at 5:00pm this time, I think it is well written from a place of love that only you have taught me to feel. See you soon, baby boy. 

Love you as big as the sky,

Mommy