Dear Jack

You are growing so fast. I look at you every day and see the little baby I once held changing into a busy preschooler so fast my head spins. I want to remember every second of the last 2-1/2 years but I know I'll forget things. I don't want to forget how scared we were those first few days when you were in the NICU and we didn't know how long it would be until we could hold you, much less bring you home. It made me realize what a GIFT you are to us and how very, very much I wanted you. I don't want to forget how you hopped around on your knees before you could walk. It was so cute! I don't want to forget how Daddy and I referred to you as "Junior" before you were born and we didn't have a name picked out for you. I want to always remember how Daddy & Keegan wanted to name you "Hondo Jack" and how we settled for Jackson Dallas (Jackson after Andrew Jackson and Dallas after the Dallas Cowboys). I remember taking you to Moe's Southwest Grill when you were just a few weeks old and how we put your infant carrier on the booth beside me. You went to several restaurants that way (by the way, it was much easier to take you out to eat in those days!). I remember how you first called me "Be-be", not "Mommy" or "Mama" and kept that up pretty regularly until a few months ago. I guess it's because I tend to call you "Baby" a lot. When you were VERY little, I called you Baby Jack. I want to always remember how your warm, little body feels when you snuggle up for a story or to watch T.V. together. How excited you are when you ask us to read a book "One more time" (you don't understand that you can't just keep saying "One more time" over and over again!!). I remember how brave you were about the playground and climbing up to the HIGH slides when you were not even 2 years old. I love the way you say things are "BIG" in that deep,gravelly voice ("The BIIIGGG Jack", etc.). This Christmas you have enjoyed the decorations on everyone's houses so much... you point them out and say, "Mommy, lights on Daddy's side" or "Mommy's side". You LOVED pumpkins this fall and we must have read the book, "Five Little Pumpkins" 100 times or more. There are so many more things but I will add more later. For now, I love you, sweet boy. So very much. Finally, I have to include this picture of you from Christmas 2007. My sweet angel boy.
Always and always,
Mommy