Keeping Daddy Sane.

Boys,

Nothing has really happened in the last few days letter worthy, due to work, work, and more work, but today I realized something. You two are keeping me grounded. You two are keeping daddy sane. When times get hard and things get rough and I feel like I just want to rip my hair out of my head I go to a number of different photos of the two of you, I go to the Chuggington train that you kept handing to me one day Benjamin, and that super awesome new frame I got for Father's Day.

Someone asked me once if I thought I had enough pictures up... out of sarcasm of course because I have plenty to fill a small photo book, and my answer? These boys and their mother keep me sane when I think the world is against me and I have nowhere else to turn to. You two are the reason I get up in the morning and do what I have to do on a daily basis. I do what I do so you two don't have to go without. You make me stronger, you keep daddy sane.

Love Always,
Dad

...oh, and here are just a few pictures of the areas Daddy was talking about.

Creating Monsters?!

Dear Boys,

So after you both took your naps yesterday Mommy and Daddy got you both ready to go out to the stores. We had to pick up a few things for the house (the usual... diapers, formula, baby food.) and the surprise that was promised to you Benjamin had you been good throughout the entire TWO HOUR movie. Which you were... so off the family was to the store.

We stopped at BJ's first to pick up all of both your baby needs and while there Daddy found two cars Lightning McQueen and Francesco Bernoulli. They were cool, ya know, something even Dad would like. They each had buttons on their head that when pressed they would both say quotes from the movie. Only problem was they were priced at $16.99 each. Kind of expensive for two toy cars.

(On a side note when you guys get much much older Daddy will explain to you why he thinks Pixar made these Cars movies in the first place. So Parents like Mommy and Me will go out and buy the expensive cars with eyes and mouths when Hot Wheels cars are three times less, but can't see or talk.)

So after walking around with those two cars for a while we decided that we would put them back and see what we can get at another store because it was hard to justify buying two toys for $16.99 (plus tax) a piece. So after we left BJ's we had to run real quick to Walmart so Daddy could return a phone he had to buy for work. You guys waited in the car because Target was having a sale on all things "Cars 2" related. We went over to Target to get Benjamin's surprise and you can't buy one without the other...especially when he's sitting on the side of you Ben! To make a long story short, we got you your surprise, we got Jonathan a toy as well, and when we came home Grandma and Auntie Sara also bought you two toys from the movie as well.  (Everything seen in the picture.)

The moral of this story is... we should have just got those two cars at BJ's for $16.99 because for some reason, Benjamin, when you are right in front of the toys reaching out and saying "Car" over and over again it's difficult to tell you "No". A word that Daddy is going to have to learn much sooner than later because if you and your brother continue to get all these toys, when you get older you won't care as much or appreciate getting things as much, and Daddy would have created two monsters. I love you both so very much and want to give you the World, but even the World has it's limits!

Hopefully Not Too Late To Change,

Dad

A Day At The Movies

Benjamin,

Today was your first time ever going to the movies and let me tell you that I was pleasantly surprised. I admit going into this I had my fears. I thought you would go crazy half way through the movie and we would have to leave. I thought maybe you'd throw a tantrum and toss yourself all over the place. I thought maybe you'd say "Car" a hundred times throughout the movie... well that last one wouldn't have been that bad!

But, you were a good boy. You didn't scream, you didn't throw a tantrum and the worst thing you did was get restless at the end of the movie. Mommy and Daddy got restless too though as a two hour movie will do that to people. Maybe, just maybe all kids movies should be about an hour and a half long because two hours is pushing it. But you sat on both Mommy and Daddy's lap going back and forth without so much as a whimper. We shared some popcorn, you drank your cup then dropped it to the floor, but you were great. Now as you nap we will be getting ready to go out and get you that surprise I said I'd buy for you if you were good throughout the movie.

The first time I went to the movies I screamed and cried because the movie was "Ghost Dad" and I thought there might be an actual Ghost inside the dark theater. But, you were a champ! Good job little guy. I'm very proud of you.

The movie itself was good. You won't remember it, you probably won't even remember this was the first time you ever went to a movie theater. But I will remember this day for as long as I live. The first day you went to the movies and didn't even shed a tear. The first time I went to the movies with my son.

Love Always,

Dad

Dear Benjamin: A Quick Update Just For You!

Dear Benjamin,

As of my last letter you took it upon yourself to take your full sippy cup of milk, tip it upside down, and shake it like a mad man over the entertainment center. In a perfect world the sippy cup would keep the milk inside the container, but not on this day. Milk on Entertainment Center? Check. Milk On Cable Box? Check! Milk All Over The Floor? Check! Milk on Daddy's Xbox? CHECK!

You're lucky I love you and I know your Mommy would say I'm at fault for not stopping you sooner.

Oh, and yes, that cup in the picture is the cup in question.

Enraged, but Understanding,

Dad

Thursday: June 23rd, 2011

Dear Benjamin....and Jonathan too,

I couldn't think of a better blog than to have one where I write open letters to the both of you. Mommy is currently at work and while Daddy writes this the two of you are sitting on the floor watching Chuggington and playing with your toys. It's been a good night so far, just the men of the house hanging out and having a good time. Hopefully I'm not speaking too soon.

Benjamin, your mommy told me a funny story about you today that made me laugh. You went into the kitchen and took the chocolate wafers from the table. You brought them over to Mommy and pleaded your case for one, and Mommy gave in and you got...one. That wasn't enough for you though little guy because after Mommy put the wafers back and went to change your brothers diaper you went in and found the wafers once more, and again brought them to Mommy pleading your case for more wafers. Mommy insisted you bring the wafers back into the kitchen because you wasn't going to have anymore and you took yourself out of the room and back to the kitchen where you were supposed to put the chocolate wafers back on the table.

What did you do though? You sat on the kitchen floor and took not one, not two, but three wafers out of the plastic!! Mommy said you had two in one hand and was eating the third. You're a very silly boy and it's been great watching you get bigger and bigger every day. Time goes by too fast for Daddy.

Jonathan, you poor baby you're getting over a cold now, but you're so full of energy. It's okay you look alot like Mommy. It's not your fault! You keep pressing your body upwards as if you're going to crawl and I know any day now that you will. I don't know if it's as good as I'm thinking it's going to be. You two little monsters roaming around the house! While I can't wait for you to crawl and to walk I think it's best to cherish these last few weeks we have left without you being a little mobile machine.

Well boys, it's almost time for you both to go to bed. So I will wrap up this first letter to the two of you with something I thought about today when I was asked if I missed being the guy who wasn't in charge at work. If you never challenge yourself you will never know what you are capable of. I love you both!

Love Always,
Dad.

P.S. Please... go to sleep without a fight tonight!