Matthew's is one year old!

Matthew, today you are one year old! This picture is from a little while back, but I wanted to post the morning of your very first birthday. I'm sorry that I have not posted more often, but you are partly to blame! You are constant motion, a true explorer. Even as I started to write this I had to stop because you were emptying out a drawer in the bathroom.

Here are some words that describe you:

STRONG... You're our little muscle man. Always lifting and moving things. You even picked up your big sister in her chair one day.

CURIOUS... You are in to everything, especially anything electronic, like a phone, tv or computer. You explore and climb and since you're so tall you can reach things we wish you could not! But we're thankful that you've got such a sharp mind!

DETERMINED... Some might say stubborn, but where would you get that from? Once you have your mind set on something you won't give up until you have it. And if we insist on stopping you, you let us know, LOUDLY.

HANDSOME... it's one of the many names your sister calls you and it's true. You are a good looking little man.

SWEET... You are a great cuddler and love hugs and kisses. You give great hugs.

HAPPY... You smile and laugh most of the time and you have the BEST laugh in the world. Total bliss.

LOVED... You are such a loved little boy. Your Mommy and me, your big sister Kenzie, your Nae Nae and Pappa, Gaga and Packa (in heaven), Aunt Beth and Uncle Mike, Uncle Mark and Aunt Zeny, Uncle Greg and Aunt Suzie and all your many aunts and uncles (some by blood, some by choice) all love you so much.Never forget that GOD loves you too. The greatest blessings in life are to love and be loved and YOU Matthew Nicholas Leece, are blessed.

WE LOVE YOU...HAPPY 1st Birthday!

PS  This would have been longer but you were into something in the kitchen while Mommy was trying to cook our breakfast. We're busy living life so don't always have as much time to write it down...but we do have lots of pictures!

Here we go!

This was a big weekend for you Matthew...you crawled for the first time! You did a great job, so strong and confident. Now when you want a toy you don't have to wait for it to come to you, you can go to it! We are celebrating your latest achievement in your less than seven month old life... just one more reason to be proud of you. Mostly though, we're just proud of YOU.

GO MATTHEW, GO!

Matthew at 6 Months Old

That's our boy! 6 months old, big, handsome and happy! Some have said he's got my Dad's smile and right now he's also got his blue eyes. Nice to see Dad in him. In honor of Matthew's first 6 months here are 6 of the things I love about him:

1. His big, easy laugh

2. The sparkle in his eyes 

3. The way he yanks his head around to see me whenever he hears my voice

4. His joyful personality

5. How he's learning to do so much so fast

6. His laid back nature

But more than any thing I love about Matthew I just love him. He's my son. That's enough, all the rest is just an incredible bonus.

Thank you God for Matthew!

Our Laid Back Big Boy

Matthew is the easiest baby...sleeps through the night, smiles a lot, laughs, hardly cries except to let us know he's hungry. He's so laid back that I almost forget how blessed we are to have him. 

He's a BIG boy. He's four month old but wearing 12 month pajamas (they fit him well). He's tall and strong and if I allow myself to dream I see him being quite a ball player in a few years. But who knows, he may prefer music or art or fixing things. Whatever he decides we'll support him and love him. Right now he mainly likes to eat and sleep and laugh and play. And he loves his big sister. He stares as her and smiles at her and the feeling is mutual. She hugs and kisses him and holds his hand. She tells him "I love you so much  Matthew DD (We're not sure where the DD comes from but I guess it's her nickname for him). She also tells him "You're the best!" Hope they will always be close. Brothers and sisters are special. I know I'm blessed with mine. Aunt Beth is the sweetest, kindest person with a huge soft heart. She also loves Matthew and Kenzie to pieces.

In fact, as I think about it, the biggest blessing that Matthew has is the number of people who love him. Of course his Mommy and me and sister and grandparents, and aunts and uncles and cousins...but lots of other folks too, including his church family. God's love is abundant in his little life. No wonder he's growing so big, love is "good soil".

Matthew Nicholas we love you and are SO happy to have you as our son. You've already given us so much joy and we look forward to all that you will be and do.

GROWING SO BIG!

Matthew, you are growing and changing every day. Getting SO big. At your 2 month check up you were already 13.2 pounds and 24 3/4 inches long. The top of the growth chart! Not only are you now rolling over from your tummy to your back with little effort you are smiling up a storm. You soak in everything around you. Some of your favorite things to watch are the fish, Jessie the dog and your big sister Kenzie. Since she is usually "in your face" it's easy to see her!

Today is January 28th, your Grandpa (Pakka's) birthday. He was your Daddy's Daddy. Pakka went to heaven before you or Kenzie were born but you need to know him, he's a great man. He would have been so proud of you and loved you and spoiled you some too. He would have thought it was cool that you were such a "big guy". 

In High School Pakka was a football star. He played both ways on the line and was known for being strong and tough. His nickname was Moose! (We thought of calling you" Little Moose" but we'll let you have your own nicknames). Pakka worked really hard to take care of us. He worked 43 years for General Motors. When Daddy was little Pakka worked as many as three jobs at the same time but still found time to coach us in baseball and to play with us when he got home. You see Pakka was a tough guy but he had a big soft heart... especially for his children and grandchildren. Your older cousins can tell you some good stories about all the fun they had with him.

Pakka was married to Gaga for over 50 years and they loved each other very much. They still love each other because true love is forever. Gaga can also tell you some wonderful stories about Pakka and so can your Auntie Beth and Uncle Mark. Daddy will make sure to tell you lots of stories too.

Matthew, if I made my Dad half as proud as you make me then I am very happy. I love you son and can't wait to make lots of memories with you just like my Dad did with me. Some of them we'll even tell your Mommy about! 

Love, Daddy

Santa, Matthew and the Greatest Gift

Matthew went to see Santa, though he most likely will not remember it. First because he was only 3 weeks old and second because he was sound asleep through the whole thing. Being born the week before Thanksgiving thrust Matthew right into the middle of the holiday season, although he was blissfully unaware.

What does Matthew want for Christmas this year? Just something to eat, to be clean and dry and loved. Simple wishes. Probably the same wishes baby Jesus had, the ones all babies have no matter the time, culture or location. Right now life isn't complicated for Matthew and I'm praying that we model a simple life for our son as he grows up. 

The gifts we want for Matthew are the same ones we wish for all. Faith, hope and love. And the greatest of these he already has. May Matthew always know he is loved and may he share that greatest gift with a world that is crying out for it like a hungry infant in the dead of night. 

As we think of our baby we remember the birth of another child. One who calls us from fear to trust, from despair to hope, from darkness to light. One who saves. 

"An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven,   and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:9-14

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Your Big Sister

Matthew, we have discovered your biggest fan... your big sister Kenzie! From the first day we brought you home she has wanted to "hold you" and "kiss you" and be right where you are. She doesn't like it when you cry. Gets quite concerned and tells you "It's OK Matthew" and "Hey brother!" 

When you were born I got Kenzie a big sister gift (a little stuffed monkey) but she wanted YOU to have it instead. She came and laid it on your tummy. Kenzie has also shared some of her prized possessions with you, including Tigger and Pooh which she normally will not part with for anything. 

At diaper change time (which you are not a fan of so far) she is right there to help, handing up wipes and kissing your head and hands and talking to you. She even helps lay out your fresh diaper and takes the stinky one to the trash. You two will be great friends.

If, like most brothers and sisters, you have days when you aren't getting along perfectly, remember that your sister was your first fan and will ALWAYS love you. You have a bond like nobody else.