Dear Thatcher

Dear Thatcher,

I wanted to write you a letter to tell you how special our time together this summer has been. Before I even typed the second letter, I started crying my eyes out :) Don't worry, it's happy tears. I'm crying because I am overwhelmed with joy and love when I think about you, and when I think about all the special memories we have together as a family, and as mother and son. I make it a point to cherish every day we have together, just the two of us, because soon your baby sister will be joining us. I know you probably won't remember much of your life before the age of 3 or 4, so I wanted to journal it for you in a sense.

Last summer you weren't walking yet, and it was a nice cool mild summer. It never got too hot. This summer, not only can you walk but you can RUN, and you can especially outrun me because I am big and pregnant. And it has been HOT. We have done a lot together this summer, play dates with friends, the zoo, the children's museum, and the public pool. Some days we just hang out with each other at home too, playing outside, going for walks, or watching cartoons.

One of my favorite memories this summer has been taking you to Joliet Splash Station. That's where the picture above is taken. We would go at least once a week, tried for 2, and sometimes even got a third day in. I was very proud of myself for taking you there on my own, and I was very proud of you because you were always a good boy there for me. We would arrive, find a chair, put on sunscreen, and then you were off and running into the pool. You LOVED it and squealed with glee every time. We would spend about a half hour to 45 minutes in the pool, sometimes we would go in the lazy river, but then we would take a break to go eat. We usually shared a bosco stick or a soft pretzel. You loved dipping your food, whether it be in ketchup, cheese, or marinara sauce. I loved to watch you as you sat with me at the table eating, enjoying our sunny day together. Then after we ate we would dip in the pool for about another 20 minutes, then we would head home.

Thatcher I love you more than words can say, you are more than I ever could have dreamed of. Even though we have a new family member coming soon, you will always be my first baby, my first son and I promise to always make time for just me and you. I cannot wait to see you as a big brother; I know you will adore your sister and she will absolutely adore you. Protect her and love her always; she is your family.

Love and many blessings,
Mommy