Dear Milo, 

Today you are 7 years old! I can hardly believe it! You have grown so much in the last year. You are going to be taller than me soon! This was a big year for you and it came with a lot of changes. You welcomed your baby sister, Rooney, you finished kindergarten in the middle of a pandemic and excelled at home school. You started first grade and then said goodbye to your school and friends and we moved to our new house. I was so nervous for you to start your new school and didn't know how you'd do with all the changes, but you have done so well. Adjusted to all the changes and made so many new friends. You are such a kind and caring boy. You love deeply and show your love freely. You ask for cuddles and like to come and lay in my bed with me in the mornings. I love when you do that cause it reminds me that you'll always be my little boy no matter how big you get. 

You are so creative and love to draw and build legos. You are so good at making up cool things and adding onto old things to make them even bigger and better. I love your determination and drive. 

You learned to skateboard this year which has become your most favorite thing to do. You are so good! You went from barely being able to stand on the board, to dropping in on a 4 foot mini ramp in just a few months. We are so proud of you and hope you keep on learning how to do new things and be passionate about them.

I am so proud of you, Milo. I love you so much and am so blessed and honored to have you as my son. I couldn't ask for a better big brother for your brother and sister. I love you til the end. 

Love, 

Mom

 12/3/19

Dear Milo,

You’re finally 6 years old! You have been patiently (and not so patiently) waiting for this day! You want to be so big so fast but we aren’t gonna let that happen. You’ve grown so much this year and have done so well in kindergarten. 

Milo, you are the sweetest boy and quick to make friends. You love school and learning and have so much fun telling me all about your day. It’s been a rough transition to being away from home all day but you’ve done so well. 

You love your brother even though he drives you crazy and you can’t wait for your baby sister to come. You love babies and especially love making them smile. Your tender heart makes you special. You feel so deeply sometimes and I hope you always do. Happy 6th, Miloboy!

I love you. 

Love,

Mom. 

12/3/18

 Dear Milo,

Today is your fifth birthday! I can’t believe how big you are. You have grown a lot this year, physically and mentally. You are so smart. Sometimes you call me out and correct me when I do or say things wrong. You are an avid rule follower and such a great friend. Your teachers and classmates love you and it makes me so proud that you are so loving and willing to help. 

You are a proud big brother and even though you and Rome fight a lot, you always stand up for him and say sorry when you do something wrong. 

One of your favorite parts of this past year was learning to ski with papa Jase, going camping in Malad, and playing with all your cousins. You have so many people who love you and who are cheering for you. 

You are such a brave boy and had to face a lot of unexpected challenges this year when Roman was in the hospital. You never complained and were super tough. 

I am so proud of the smart, tough, sweet, and silly boy you are. I can’t wait to see you grow. 

I love you, Miloboy. 

Love, 

Mom 

Dear Milo,

Today you are four years old! You have been waiting for this day for so long. You have so many big plans for when you turn four. You have promised that you are going to be brave and get your hair cut and say your part in the primary program. You already are brave but being four will make you even more brave. 

You have grown so much this year. You have lost most of your chunk and are just a tall and skinny boy. You still look exactly like your dad. Sometimes you look so much like him that is scares me. 

I am sorry to say that you have my stubbornness. You are so determined and strong willed. Once you set your mind to something, that is how it is. That is something to be proud of and also something that can be disheartening at times. But you are tough and we get through it together. 

I am so proud of all that you have learned this year. You started going to preschool and learned how to write your name and all your alphabet letters, what they say, all your numbers and your starting to add things together. You are such a smart boy and you make me beam with pride when I see how far you have come in such a short amount of time. 

Your favorite character is Batman and you have been telling me almost daily that your name is now Batman. You never stop making your dad and I laugh. We love all the funny little things that you say and you have begun to pick up on phrases that we say and throw them into your vocabulary. 

Roman has also grown a lot this year and it has been a challenge for you. The two of you play well together but sometimes it’s hard and frustrating when you both want the same thing. But you are getting better and I know that you’ll be the best of friends. 

Most of all, this past year we have grown to know each other better. We have learned from each other and taught each other so many important lessons. You have taught me to be more patient and we are beginning to understand each other better. You are so much like me that sometimes we both feel frustrated but we also end with a hug, kiss, and an I love you. 

I truly do love you so much. You made me a mother four years ago today and have taught me everything I know. You are the strongest boy I know and I could not be more grateful for you.

Happy birthday, big boy.  

I love you forever. 

Love,

Mommy

on your third birthday.

Dear Milo, 

Today you are three years old! You woke up to a room full off balloons and you were both excited and a little scared. You loved all the attention you got today but there were a few times when you just wanted some quiet time by yourself. 

You have grown a lot this past year. Not only physically but mentally and spiritually as well. You are talking our ears off but need to learn how to listen just a little bit better. You became a big brother this year and you absolutely love your baby brother Roman. Sometimes you love him a little too much aand he cries. You are learning more about the world are ask about a million questions a day. Sometimes we aren't sure how to answer your questions. 

You look up to your cousin Jase and love playing with him and your other cousins and friends. Sharing is still a very hard thing for you to do at times but you are getting much better as you get older. 

You got your first real cold this year, you moved into a big boy bed, you learned how to do a somersault, you moved with us into our first home, and you also went on your first airplane to Hawaii.

We are so proud of the boy that you are becoming. You teach us a little bit more everyday and we don't know what we would do without you. You are our silly boy and we love you so much. 

I love you forever. 

Love, 
Mommy

on your second birthday.

dec. 3, 2015
dear milo,

today you are two years old and i can hardly believe it. these past two years have gone by so quickly and you have grown so much. i remember the day you were born so clearly that it is hard to believe that two whole years have gone by.
you have grown so much this past year and we have grown to love you even more. this past year you have become more stubborn, like me, and more creative, like your dad. you learn something new almost every day and it is so exciting to see you learn and grow. you love toy story and big hero six. the two dogs that gram gave you, darth and max (you named them that yourself), are in your arms almost all day long and you cannot go to sleep without them. you are so smart and know almost all of your letters. numbers are a different story, but we are working on them. you think you know how to count and i hear you say "I, O, 9" all day long. it is adorable and makes me love you even more. you are silly and spunky and make us laugh all day long. you are crazy about your dad and want to do everything with him but you are still a mama's boy and can't be away from me for too long. you are tough but sensitive and give the sweetest little kisses "buh!". 
milo, we absolutely adore you and cannot wait to see how much you learn and grow over this next year. you are the light of my life and i love you more than ever.
happy second birthday.

love,
mama

on your first birthday.

dec. 3, 2014

dear milo,

one year ago on a cold december night, you were born. the sky was black and the valley was welcoming the first big storm of winter. your perfect body was laid on my chest and i was in awe of you. you looked at me with your deep gray eyes and i knew you. we knew each other, my boy, we knew each other because this was not our first time meeting, it was just a reunion. one we had been anticipating for a very long time.

one year ago, your daddy cried as he held you and my love for both of you multiplied infinitely. you were finally here. you were finally in our arms and we are never letting go. you have filled a hole in our hearts that we didn’t know was there. from the very first time i held you, holding you in my arms has felt so natural, like it is what my arms were made for.

over the past year, you have grown so much. from learning to hold your head up, to rolling over, to scooting, to crawling, to walking, to running. milo, you are amazing. your vocabulary may be limited, but somehow, i always know what you are in need of. your toothy smile can warm my soul even on the most difficult days. the way you lean in for a kiss and lay your head on my shoulder are things straight out of my dreams.

this past year has been filled with learning for your dad and i as well. we have learned how to love differently, deeply, more completely. we have learned to be more patient, more understanding, more humble, more prayerful, more loving, more selfless, more caring, more present. you have taught us all of those things and so much more, my boy.

one year ago, at 7:32pm you were born and in that same breath i was born. i was born to be your mother and when that moment finally came, i was scared and unsure, but we figured it out together. you are a piece of my own heart, living outside of my body. you have blessed my life in ways i could never begin to describe.

milo, i love you. forever, my baby.

happy first birthday.

love,

mama.