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