Dear John: You Rocked It! (A Kidville Review)

Dear John,

A few weekends ago I stumbled onto a place called Kidville.  As I walked in and saw the boutique to my right and the salon to my left I noticed your eyes were wide with wonder!  The place just screamed "We love kids!" And apparently you got the memo!  For as much as they packed in...it was not overwhelming in the slightest.  There was so much to look at but somehow easy to take it all in.  As we walked up to the counter you were greeted by a smiling face and a "Hey Buddy!  Welcome to Kidville!"  You replied back by pointing at the big giraffe and saying "dee do."

I got to talk to the smiling face for awhile & a few other employees... They were sweet, kind, patient and fun.  They knew their business from front to back and were excited to share all they could offer to us....although I never once felt pressured to join the club.  While we were doing this, they would every so often talk to you, high five you and generally make sure you knew that you were loved.  We got a tour of the place (they hid all the super awesomeness upstairs!) and there were a ton of "oh, wows!" from both me and you!

After going home and talking to Daddy and dragging him back with us so he knew what I was raving about, Daddy was sold on Kidville, too.  We signed you up for a half semester class, both excited and fearful of how you'd like it.  You have never been very good in big groups of children.  You are easily overwhelmed and intimidated and social anxiety kicks in to high gear.  But, yesterday was your first class and YOU ROCKED IT!

You also received play passes for being a part of the class.  This means when the weather is a million degrees out you will have a safe & air conditioned place to run & jump & play all day!  I am so excited to know that when the weather gets hot we won't be at a loss of what to do with you in this new town!

 But anyway, back to your first class...The class was run by Miss Jessica.  Every toddler loved her!...and parent, too!  She had you wrapped around her finger before the hello song even ended!  The class was structured just enough for your age group and held so many opportunities for you to explore, learn and thrive.  Seriously, tiny dude, you really came out of your shell!  You interacted with the other kids, tried things you would normally be afraid of and actually participated in group activities including "clean up time!" (which made this mama heart so proud!)  Kidville is by far worth every penny Daddy and I paid.  They are well trained, clean, friendly, affordable & offer wide varities of classes for you, bud.  I think next semester you're gonna join a painting class ;)  Oh yah...and how would you like to have a Kidville birthday party!?  They rock at throwing parties and I love the idea of doing nothing but showing up to celebrate you!!

So, John John, I am so proud of you.  I am in awe of the way your class pulled you out of your comfort zone & how many times you giggled that day.  You have the BEST laugh ever and I would pay a million dollars to hear it over & over again like that!

With love,
 Mommy

*John did the Big Muscle Builders 1 class in Kidville Las Vegas.  There are Kidvilles nationwide, by the way!  We did not receive any type of compensation or gifting for this review.  In fact, they have no idea this is even being written.  =)  Now, please prepare yourself to be violated with way too many photos of John's first class.

Before class started.  Feeling pretty unsure of it all.

Conquering the obstacle course

Braving the incline to shoot some hoops

John & Miss Jessica going in for a slam dunk

Not gonna lie: This thing was FUN.  And John thought so, too!

John & Miss Jessica bonding over some swing time.

It's like they opened up a toddler's brain and knew bubbles were the way to their hearts!

Thanks, Kidville!  John and I cannot wait to go to class #2!

 

Dear John: You're Driving Me Cray

Dear John,

Of all the babies in the world, I'm pretty sure you've been the easiest.  Maybe it has something to do with how relaxed Daddy & I have been as you've gotten older.  We don't have many rules & the ones we do have are usually for your safety (the others are for our sanity), we like to distinguish between a minor offense of naughtiness & an actual need for discipline.  So yes, maybe it's thanks to the way we've chosen to raise you, but I'm pretty sure you're just an easy going kid.  You sleep through the night & have been since you were 3 months old.  You eat well.  Adjust well to change & are flexible in your daily routine.  You like baths & potty time.  You love stickers, chalk, TV, picking at the carpet & other weird & boring things.  Generally...you're easily amused & easily distracted.  Every mother's dream.

BUT.  Lately.  You've been driving me crazy.  You are fussy & whiny.  Waking up too early.  Not eating enough.  Easily frustrated & prone to tantrums.  When did this start happening?  Why?  Was it something I did?  Something I said?  Why won't you let me sleep in past 6AM?  But, FYI.  I'm also being a bit dramatic.  You're still generally a happy guy but I'm just not used to you having an opinion or a preference.  You've always just been a go with the flow baby.  I think the "problem" is now that you are growing up.  You want certain things above others & don't want things done a certain way.  And you are figuring out how to process these new opinions & emotions & I am figuring out how to handle your processing.  Yikes, baby!

Seriously though,  as upsetting as it is for me to not have a handle on how you are changing, this new stage in your tiny life is amazing.  I have to say, the moments of crazy are overshadowed by the moments of fun & learning.  You are talking nonstop & adding new words to your vocabulary every day.  You are becoming more independent & sillier all the time.  You are sensitive to the way other people feel...I can see that in all kinds of things you do & ways you react to circumstances & I can see that you are understanding much more about emotions.  Obviously, you're still a toddler, but these subtle changes show me you are also a little human capable of all that humans are capable of.  Am I making any sense?  If not, I blame the sleep deprivation. 

John, I want to thank you.  This new season of your life is teaching me so much.  It gives me a chance to practice patience & love.  It gives me a chance to pray to be the type of mother God has called me to be.  One that offers grace & mercy, love, gentleness & kindness.  It challenges me & helps me grow. That's what God wants from us.  He wants us to grow, mature & change.  He wants us to be more like Him, go to Him, rely on Him & love Him.  That's what you challenge me to do: to be more like Him & rely on Him.  So, thank you.

With love,
Mommy

Dear John, I Love You.

Dear John,

I used to blog for a million reasons other than you.  But, I stopped writing & it's because it didn't hold the same appeal to me anymore.  What does hold appeal to me is writing TO YOU.  I know that if I 'blog' that means that lots of other people all over the world could possibly read my words but that's okay.  What's important is that one day you can see these letters and read my words, too.

There is so much I want to say and share with you.  I want to tell you how amazing your daddy is.  I want to tell you about how amazing our God is.  How sweet Jesus is and how He loves you.  I wanna share about your intense love for Toy Story & fire trucks.  But, all in time, my little friend.  For now, I just want to share with you my love.

When I was younger I used to tell Gramma & Papa I'd have kids but only if I could ship 'em off to boarding school. =)  I've never really been the maternal type.  Too selfish, I guess.  But aren't we all?  But, then I met your Daddy & all I could think about is marrying him and having babies with him.  That's where you come in.  We decided to adopt & we got to meet your birthmom and you and you became our son.  It wasn't love at first sight, really.  It was like meeting a tiny stranger and being told to love him unconditionally.  Although I knew that I did love you & would die for you it was more of a mindset than a feeling.  But slowly & surely, as time marched on...as you accompanied me everywhere & depended on me, began to trust me & love me in return...as we began to bond, play, snuggle & cuddle, you became my tiny best friend.  Sometimes I'd just look at you & be afraid my heart would burst from too much love...but my heart has readjusted & expanded & everyday you stretch it out just a little as I begin to love you more.

Now, you are 19 months old & although some moments I dream of shipping you off to Gramma's so I can go to the restroom in peace or just be selfish again...I hate being away from you!  When we get babysitters I can't wait to get out but once we are out...I can't wait to come home.  Your smile, your sweet baby voice, your  HUGE laugh and incredibly SILLY personality.  Oh my word, I love them all.  A lot of times Daddy & I just sit on the couch in the living room and watch you play and laugh at all crazy things you do.  You love to run laps.  You go 'round and round and round in circles, arms flailing and cheeks jiggling.  You sit down and read book after book to yourself.  When you read it typically goes like this "ba boo.  baba daddada ba wee oooh weee oooh eee ah"  You love books and love being read to.  I LOVE that.  I love your curiosity, the hilarious way you test boundaries & the way you flap your arms in excitement when you  realize it's bath time.

John Ivory, you are by far the coolest tiny dude I have ever met.  My love for you knows no bounds.  Daddy's love for you is unconditional.  But just know that no matter how much Daddy & I love you Jesus loves you more than both of us combined!  That's a lot of love!  We are always praying that you will love Him, too.

Love,

your mommy