Nothing new or really exciting is going on with the Stanley family at the moment. Matthew is growing and learning more everyday. He had his 15 month checkup a couple of weeks ago. He is still on the same growth curves – 2nd percentile in height at 28.75” tall and 20th percentile in weight at 22 lbs 6 oz and 70th percentile in head circumference. So he is still a shortie like his mommy and daddy. His pot belly is no cause for concern of him being over weight. And he has a big brain like his momma! He says new words every so often, but usually will only say them once. I find myself saying “did he really just say that”. He consistently says ma-ma and da-da (although now he is starting to say daddy). He will occasionally say bye bye, uh-oh and baby. And he has said school, shoe, eat, wet, cup, blue, bubble, puppy, doggie, snack, cookie, thank you, hot, and a host of other words only once or twice. He does recognize words when you say them and responds appropriately most of the time. He likes to color and I have an assortment of artwork from daycare. He doesn’t like to finger-paint or play with play dough, which I find odd since he doesn’t mind getting his hands messy in his dinner plate. He is getting much better at using a fork and spoon, but fingers are still faster.
As I watch him everyday and tell people all the new things he is doing I often find myself thinking about those who I can’t share these developments with. People who I really wish were here. There are several people who would really love to know him and watch him grow up. So here is what I would say to them if I could call them up:
Grandma Cathy,
you would not believe how much Matthew has grown since you saw him last. He has grown 3.75” taller, which doesn’t sound like much, but on such a short fella, believe me it’s a lot. He has gained 6 lbs. And he has 8 more teeth since the last time he showed you his pearly whites. And he is becoming so smart. He loves to bring you things that you ask for, like his shoes or books or Elmo. He loves to find the doggie (or as he calls it the “Ddddd Dddddd”) in any book, picture, TV show, magazine, etc.
So he loves to play with that red dog you got him when he was just a couple months old. And he can climb the slide you got for him all by himself. He is so proud when he does something independently. He also loves to clean, which he must have gotten from you (goodness knows he didn’t get that from me). He will take a rag and wipe the floor, especially if he has spilled something on it.
He loves to sweep, so much so that we had to find him his own little broom so that he would leave my big one alone. Oh, and he loves to dance. Anytime a song comes on that he likes, he just can't seem to help himself. He just starts bobbing and swaying to the music.
He will suck on a lemon slice without making a face, which he also must have gotten from you. He has recently become very interested in the book you got him for Christmas (I hate you didn’t get to record it for him). He looks more and more like Brian everyday. His smile would light up your whole world if you could see it. He has the cutest dimples and the biggest eyes. I really hate that you are missing so much and so is Matthew. He is so much fun and he would love to play with his crazy, silly Grandma.
Even though you aren’t here for him to know, I promise you that he will know about you and how much you loved him. I always tell him “your Grandma Cathy gave you that” whenever he plays with something you bought for him. I show him your picture on the refrigerator and tell him who you are.
Great Granny Mable,
you would not believe how sweet Matthew is. How I wish you could meet your great grandson. You would just want to eat him up. You would get a kick out of how he blows kisses when he says goodbye. (He doesn’t always blow them to you, sometimes he just keeps them.) You would love to watch him play and run around. You would light up hearing his laughter and since he is so ticklish, he laughs a lot. And he laughs when you kiss him on his neck. He thinks that is the funniest thing. He is so much like Brian, so you could probably give me some tips and advice. I am sure we will tell him things you used to say. Gene is constantly telling us that if you were here, you would get on Brian for turning Matthew upside down. I know Matthew would love getting spoiled by you.
Great Granddaddy Rose,
I so wish you were here to know your great grandson. You would love watching Matthew, and Ayden too. Both boys love the outside. You could tell them stories about fishing and hunting.
I wish you could bounce them on your knee and sing to them and tell them stories like you did with me. I sing “have I told you lately that I love you” to Matthew and think of you every time. You would not believe how fearless Matthew is. He is quite the daredevil climbing on everything.
And if something he wants is out of reach he will push a chair over to it to climb on and try to grab it. He has no fear of falling. He is so clever. Sometimes I can see the gears turning in his mind as he is trying to figure out something. Not a week goes by that I don’t wish I could call you and tell 'ol gramps something he did. I miss you all the time. And even though you’ve been gone for 4 years now, I am still not used to it. As much as you loved being a granddaddy, I know you would love being a great granddaddy even more.
Great Uncle Rayford,
you would not believe how funny Matthew is. I wish he would have been able to get to know his crazy Uncle Rayford. Matthew loves to laugh and have fun, which is something I know you would appreciate. Sometimes he laughs at himself for no reason at all. I think he must have told himself a joke that no one else would get, so maybe he has a touch of your sense of humor. He makes funny faces just to get us to laugh. So I know he would have found you hilarious.
We often hear things that remind us of you, so Matthew hears your name. And one day we will tell him an edited version of who you are (some things just aren’t meant to be told to little kids), so that he will know all about the crazy relative that he never got to meet.
I would tell all of our loved ones looking down on us to keep sending their love, because even though we can’t see them, we can still feel their love. I hate that you aren’t here for us to call, see and hug. I hate that Matthew won’t have memories of his own of each of you, because you all are so special to me and Brian. And I will make sure that Matthew knows who you all were because you are people who would have cherished him. He will know you through the stories we tell him and the love Brian and I have for each of you. He will know that you all are with Baby Logan, loving and cherishing that baby for us while we are still down here.
We're having a great time with Matthew, but boy I wish you all were here to enjoy and love him too.
I love the song "If heaven wasn't so far away". Here is my little poem it inspired:
If heaven wasn't so far away
I'd pack up my son and go for the day.
Introduce him to his grandma
I’d watch her watching him in awe.
I'd take him to his granddaddy Rose
So he could teach him all he knows.
We’d go find his granny Mable
And sit talking around her table.
Uncle Rayford, we’d have to see
Share a laugh cause he’s so funny.
Spend some time with Baby Logan
Cram in as much love as we can.
Then tell them we'd be back in a couple of days
In the rear view mirror we'd all watch 'em wave
Yeah, and losing them wouldn't be so hard to take
If heaven wasn't so far away
