Today You Are Twelve...

Dear Miles,

Another year, and you just keep getting taller, kinder, and funnier. You’ve talked a lot about growing pains—both physical and emotional—and you really have had to adjust to a lot of changes. You switched schools from Ignite Academy to North Point Elementary, just a block from our house, which meant you got to start walking to and from school! It took time to get used to a new building, a new way of doing things, a new teacher, and new friends. But you did it. You found your place. On top of that, you’ve had to get used to not seeing your best friend every day and to Mom switching jobs. As the year has gone on, you’ve gotten braver and more flexible, and I’m really proud of you.

This year you also donated eight inches of your hair to Locks of Love. I think it’s so cool that you were willing to chop off your hair to help another kid. That kind of generosity and courage says a lot about who you are.

Something I love about you, Miles, is that no matter how old and big you get, you still want to snuggle with me and spend time together. You love going on little dates with me. You love joking around with me and you need regular hugs. Even when it’s late at night and I’m telling you over and over and over again to GO TO BED, you still keep coming back for one more goodnight hug. You’re my velcro child, and I love it. We have such a similar sense of humor, and it’s so fun to joke around and be weird together.

I can’t believe you’re out of the little kid stage. It’s weird, because I still see you as my little boy, but then I remember you’re a big tween now. You love playing with your friends on the computer and in VR. When you help Dad or me with projects or jobs, you work really hard and you’re so thorough. You love being useful and helpful. You still enjoy building Lego cars and proudly displaying them on the shelves in your room (which are now full). You go to your young men activities and have a lot of fun spending time with your quorum and leaders.

Miles, this next year might bring a few more big changes—some we know about and some we don’t. You’ll probably have challenges that will mean practicing even more flexibility and patience. You’ll probably be getting braces soon, and you’ll be graduating from elementary school and moving on to junior high. It’s going to be a big growing year for you. Just remember that you will always have our family to support you and that your Heavenly Father is always there to help you.

Kiddo, I love you so much. I’m proud of the young man you are and the person you’re becoming. You’re such a good son and friend and brother. You are my baby and you always will be. I hope you have an amazing day.

All My Love,
Mama

Today You Are Eleven

Dear Miles,

It feels like eleven is kind of that border between childhood and teen years, and although it's been creeping up on us, I still think you're my little three year old toddler dancing and playing and making faces for the camera. The realization that coming up in just a few short months, you'll be receiving the Priesthood, passing sacrament, and attending the temple, it's kind of thrown me a little. Being my youngest, everything with you is the last for me. This is the last 11th birthday we'll be celebrating in our home. It's the last 5th grade class I'll attend parent teacher conferences for. You're the last kid to be shorter than me. So you growing up is especially bittersweet for me. But I guess the positive in all that is that I am really trying to soak it all in: the feelings and the experiences of this age. 

Miles, you are a Mama's boy, and I hope that will always be the case. You are so quick to give me hugs and kisses. You still want me to tuck you in at night, and you miss me terribly when I'm away. You want snuggles and stories and me just to listen to you. And despite me sometimes not really knowing what on earth you're talking about, the fact that you are talking to me about something so incredibly exciting for you, is heaven. 

You are so incredibly smart, Miles. Sometimes too smart. So smart that I regularly feel like I'm not doing a good-enough job finding a great schooling situation for you. You test above your peers and it can be frustrating for you to feel like school is too easy or boring. But, I am so enamored at the fact that you so willingly help your classmates with their math, to the point that you organized your own math tutoring group. You love to help other people achieve and succeed.

You're a good friend and brother. You have friends that love spending time and playing with you. I get texts from parents saying you're such a good kid and that they hope you rub off on their kiddos. You love playing with your brothers when they give you their time, and they love spending that time with you. You are funny and creative and a good problem solver. You love to help dad with any of his projects and you want so much to be like him when you grow up. I hope you are.  

You love going on adventures, camping, wakeboarding, swimming, playing baseball, snowmobiling and snowboarding, and trying new things. You face your fears even when it's terrifying. You feel deeply and empathetically. You love giving and making a difference. You love to feel needed and to have a purpose. You love animals and want to be a veterinarian or zoologist when you grow up. You are so many things, but most importantly, you are a child of God. And you're my amazing son, Miles.  

I hope this coming year, you will continue to grow in emotional strength and kindness. I hope you will be able to mature in a way that brings others to Christ and be an example of goodness. I am so incredibly grateful to have you as my son and I am so lucky to be your mom. You are beautiful inside and out. I hope you always know how much Dad and I love you, and how much your parents in Heaven love you. You are unique and special and I am proud of the young man you are becoming. 

Happy Birthday, my great, big, baby boy!

All My Love,

Mom

Today You Are Ten

Dear Miles,

It's a bittersweet day knowing you are no longer in the single digits; you're no longer a little boy anymore. You have now reached big boy status. I didn't expect the day to be so emotional for me and I guess I'm just a little sad that with each day, that is the last of that age that I'll ever have as a parent since you are my baby. But at the same time, you are getting older and wiser and more independent. You develop skills and passions and goals for yourself, and that's pretty cool.

This past year had a lot of ups and downs for you. A lot of new feelings of anxiety and panic were experienced but you have grown stronger and have gained a lot of new skills to help manage all of that. You've also had a lot of wins this year with developing your piano talents, moving up a grade in math, improving your baseball skills, getting SO much better at snowboarding and wakeboarding, and finding good friends. 

I have loved going on Mommy Son dates with you. I love that you want to help me with any and all projects, that you love to learn how to cook from me, and that you always want snuggles and loves and my undivided attention. I'm not always perfect at that last one, but it's not because you're not important to me. You and your brothers are the MOST important and I love being your mom. 

I love your laugh and goofiness. I love that you like me to read to you and that you like me to make a pizza on your back before bed. I love that you love your brothers and want to spend time with them. I love that you are kind and accepting of others. I love that you tell me your worries, the things that make you happy or excited, and everything in between. I love that you love your dad and want to work with him on his projects. But I especially love the small things that you do. Like on Sundays when dad parks on the side of the church that only has grass and rocks and I'm in my heels, you hold my hand and let me lean on you so I don't fall. Or when you give me a random compliment. Or when you notice I'm having a hard day and give me a hug, a snuggle, or play with my hair. You're a kind, intuitive, compassionate, and loving boy and I know that is just who you are to your core.  

This year, I hope you continue to find joy and fulfillment in everything you do. I am so proud of you and the choices you make and the person you are. Being your mom brings me so much joy and I know I always tell you to not grow up, but truly, you're the only one not taller than me in this family now, so please just take your time growing up. I still can carry you to your bed and it's not lost on me that one day, it'll be the last day I'll ever pick you up.

I love you so much Miles! You are wonderfully amazing and I am the luckiest mom to have you as my baby boy. Happy 10th Birthday kiddo!

Love,

Mom

Today You Are Nine

Dear Miles,

Another year has come and gone and it's amazing just how much you've grown in that time. You're taller, smarter, kinder, and stronger. You've had experiences that have stretched you and helped you realize just how capable and brave you really are. You've had ups and downs, but have found joy and confidence through it all. 

You love the water. I thought of all the fun things you've done this year, a lot of them are in the water. You played in the ocean, went fishing, went down HUGE scary waterslides at Splash Summit, swam in the pool in the backyard, went crawdad fishing, and did a lot of wakeboarding! Speaking of wakeboarding, you learned how to wakeboard this year! And you are so good at it. I've loved watching you figure it out and improve with every run. I've loved seeing your confidence grow and your great big smile even after face-planting. 

Something else you've really impressed me with is baseball. Having played baseball my entire childhood, it's been fun watching you enjoy it as well. Except you are actually good at it. Ha ha! You're a fantastic batter and can just about hit anything. I think the best position you play is catcher, which is really amazing since you sit and let balls hit you over and over again. But you're focused and collected and confident, and that's just really cool. 

Other things you've enjoyed are snakes, catching snakes, reading about snakes, exercising, writing out exercise plans for your friends and I, going on Mommy Son Dates, playing video games, and building with Legos.

Miles, I love how much love you have to give and how you give it freely. I love that you're kind and helpful. I love that you think of others and want so much to make people smile and feel happy. I like that you're funny and goofy and that we can joke around with each other.

Something fun that happened this year was that you and your brothers made cars for the pinewood derby. You were supposed to race yours with the Primary kids, but a couple days before, you had to come to the Young Men derby since I had to be there with the Young Women and Dad wanted to watch your brothers race. So you brought along your car and when they asked if you'd like to participate, you happily joined in and smoked them all! You got first place! It was hilarious. 

Miles, I love how brave you are. I love that you're up for new and exciting adventures. I love your positivity and your ability to find the good in things. I hope by now you've realized just how good a kid you are and how much you are loved. You are so smart. You are doing 4th grade math at 3rd grade. You are a great reader and you love to learn. You're a good friend. You've made some wonderful friendships this year because you know how to be a good friend. I love your hugs and snuggles and your desire to be near me. I love watching you grow up, but I think you're doing it too quickly.  

I hope this year is wonderful and fulfilling and that you continue to learn and grow and be happy. I hope you continue to choose the right and to listen to the Spirit. I love that you've developed a love and understanding of the Book of Mormon as you've read it on your own. Your Heavenly Father loves you so much and your dad and I love you so much too. 

Thank you for being such a great example to me and for loving me, even when I'm not being very lovable. Thank you for being my baby and for letting me be your mommy. I've loved every minute of it. Truly. Being your mom is the best thing ever. 

Happy Birthday Sweet Miles!

I love you so much,

Mama