Father's day has come and gone again and I find myself writing your yearly letter. Things have changed so much in a year for you Britt and you are almost 2 1/2. You now have a new sister, Ruth, who is getting big enough and old enough to pester you. It seems when you are playing in the living room floor that she has a talent for getting in the middle of things to play with you. Usually the two of you play good together. But, there are times where she wants to play, and you fuss and try to climb up to the landing to get away. She would try to follow you, and I wonder how you will respond in the new house with no stairs to escape up.

On that note, I can't wait to show you our new home. You'll have a big yard to run and play in. Chickens, cows, and even a baby calf to watch again. You are upgrading because while you are still sharing a room with your sister, you are moving out of a closet into a real room. You are also getting a new twin sized bed, your first adult bed ever. You should be able to play with your cousins more often now, and you adore following them around. You are content to let the girls take the lead and just be along for the ride.

Your favorite past time is to go swimming or as you call it the "big water". Other favorites are still drinking your cup, eating cookies, and chasing cats. Your first favorite movie was Jungle Book which we still watch alot. You also like Robin Hood, Aristocats, and Winnie the Pooh. Your current favorite movie though is Toy Story 3 which you call "Cow-bay." You love to play with your "racket" while you watch bluegrass, sometimes it's your "tar-tar" and sometimes it's a banjo or a "men-do-win."

It will be neat to teach you to throw a baseball and a football, you know the little stuff, but I guess what I really want to teach you is how to build on what you are now. You have a happy and content spirit and I hope you always keep that attitude in life. I want you to build on that and learn integrity which is doing the right thing no matter what.

I love you, Britt and I look forward to moving on in the next chapter in our life. It seems like you change so rapidly, and I am amazed how fast you've learned the letters in the alphabet and how you can pick up things seemingly overnight. The time passes all to quickly. The one thing I have not regretted about not having a job, is all the time I get to spend with you each day. This time passes too quickly and cannot be gotten back. I have fun outside with you, and hope to do more together. I never want to get to the point that I have to tell you that we will do it later, because time passes too quickly.

I love you,

Daddy

I started this post on your ten month birthday, and even called and had Ahna and Grumps email me a picture of you with Uncle Nick's old teddy bear "Chocolate". However, I failed to get it finished, and then we had to turn off the internet, pack, and move. We finally got internet back this week, so that I can finish your letter now that you are 10 1/2 months old.

During this past month, you quit nursing entirely. I'm glad we made it a bit over nine months, I was hoping to make a year, but also, I'm so relieved to be done, I don't enjoy it. You are a ferocious eater, you speed through almost every meal and always complain when we run out of food. You have a healthy appetite. You aren't really wild about green beans and your favorite food remains squash followed by bananas, but there isn't a single thing so far that you turn down cold. You have mastered hold your sippy cup, and you are very adept at picking up finger foods. Despite the fact that you have no teeth you manage a variety of foods. I was only giving you things that would dissolve in your mouth (no not M&M's, but Gerber stars), when we caught you sharing a bowl of Cheerios with Britt. Your lack of teeth doesn't seem to stop you in the least. You chew on everything, and often look like you have been hosed down at the w

ater facet, but for all that still no sign of teeth.

You were cruising around on furniture a little back at the beginning of the month, but have abandoned that mode of transportation for Mowgli style crawling, and boy have you gotten fast at that. You follow us around, and hate to be left alone. You don't play well by yourself, and why would you? You've always had a playmate. You are quick to let us know that you don't appreciate being left by yourself, and when we pick you up you are just as quick to smile and babble away. You have been quiet talkative lately, particularly in the afternoons. You have been saying "mamamamama" for over a month, but now you say mama to me, you also say dadadada to Daddy, always four syllables. You also say "babababa" sometimes at Britt and sometimes and whatever you have in your hand, so I don't think that means anything yet.

Much like your brother you love the water, but just like me you hate it in your face and your eyes. You splash and splash in the pool or the bathtub, but when you manage to spash yourself you always stop and look annoyed. When Daddy rinses out your hair by dumping a cup over your head you fuss and let him know just how displeased you are. Oh, and when Daddy dunks you in the pool you come up spuddering, red eyed, and looking confused. I don't blame you after all I have no idea what's so fun about getting cold water in your face. You sure enjoy playing in the bathtub or pool with Britt. It's one of the highlights of the day. I'm going to have to get you two a little pool to play in the backyard on these hot summer afternoons.

Much like your older brother and your Daddy you remain even tempered, never out of kilter. It's a rare day when you are fussy, and usually just holding you a bit extra cures that. That big, beautiful, toothless grin is so endearing. We love you very much little miss, and look forward to you coming back home this weekend.

Love,

Momma