Dear Mom

Dear Mom,

I decided I needed to get my words out. I think about you everyday and want to call you all the time, so I decided I would blog to you. They say that when you write things down, it is a better way to help with your feelings, so I am going to do it the modern way. No pen and paper for me!

Here is an update on my life since you have been chillin' with God:

1. I graduated college! Woop Woop!
2. I got my first big girl teaching job! I worked at Perry Primary School doing ESE Resource. Basically I pulled out the kids who had an IEP and needed extra help in Reading and Math.
3. Josh and I had a wonderful baby boy named Tuf Joshua Sands on December 29, 2010. In case you don't know, that is one year after we had the funeral for you. You know, God does some pretty awesome things. I think he gave us Tuf so that we don't only think of that time as a sad part of our lives. God brought you home, and gave us a baby angel!
4. Josh and I got married on July 7, 2011. I know, you probably wanted me to have a wedding, but we just decided to elope. Kylee and David were there, though! It was special to us.
5. I got a different job at the high school! I now do ESE English. Basically it's an integrated class with regular ed students and students who have an IEP. I love love love my job! It is so fun being at the high school. I feel like you being with the big kids. :)
6. Kylee had a baby! Dailee Jayne Howard was born on December 14, 2011. She is an angel baby! You know, I love her like I love my boys. She is my only girl and is going to be rotten! Don't worry Mom, I will spoil her for you, too! I think she is going to be just like Kylee was when she was little. She is now only 3 1/2 months and can already roll over! She wants to go-go-go!! Kylee and David will have their hands so full. I won't mind giving them a break and keeping her in sunny Florida with me and the boys.
7. We had baby # 2! Tate Walker Sands was born January 1, 2012. He is a blessing in disguise. You know, I really didn't want another baby. I just felt like Tuf was not even a year old and it wasn't fair to him to have another baby while he was still a baby himself! You know what, though? He is truly a blessing. He is the happiest baby ever! Tuf-Man loves him, too! I think of Kylee and me. I think the boys will be best friends forever.

Well, those are the 7 most important things that have happened so far.

Let's move on. Another reason why I wanted to do this with you is because all of the things that Tuf and Tate are doing is so darn cute! I know you would love hearing about it, so this makes me feel like I am telling you everything. :)

Tuf loves giving Tate-Tate sugar. He is all the time kissing on him. I think Tate loves it, too. He smiles so big when Tuf talks to him or kisses him. Tuf likes to push Tate's swing, too. I really think they're going to be best friends just like Kylee and I.

Tuf-man is walking and talking now! He is 15 months old and is such a handful! He has his own mind made up that he is going to do what he wants to and will do what it takes to get it done. He has the cutest personality. He now knows how to fake cry. He will squint his eyes and make a sound like a whine. It is so funny! His favorite songs right now are "If You're Happy and You Know It," "The Wheels on the Bus," "I Love Somebody" (thanks to Aunt Rhonda), and "She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain." Anything that he can do the motions with, he likes. He loves music, too! Tuf looks just like Josh did in his baby pictures. I sure am glad I married and had babies with a good-looking man!

Tate-Tate is coo-ing and smiling. He will smile for anything! He woke up this morning at 6:00 just talking to himself. It was so cute. He didn't need anything, just wanted to talk. When Josh went to get him out of his bed, he smiled and talked to him. But when he gets hungy, you better have already thought ahead and gotten his bottle ready. He is a hungry, hungry hippo! He is the "fat baby brother!" I think he looks like me. :)

Mom, these boys bring so much joy to my life. I feel so complete with Josh, Tuf, and Tate. I know the feeling you had when you had us girls.

Kylee is still my best friend. I am so glad I have her. Andy is doing so well. You know, he really loves these grandbabies. He is so proud, it's cute. You would be proud of him.

There's always going to be an empty place in my heart for you. I am doing a good job of distracting myself, but I think of you so much every single day. I don't think there will ever be a day that I don't. I think this will help me fill my void. I need to talk to you. I went from talking to you every single day several times a day to nothing at all. I wish you could be here so we could see you with our babies. You would love them so much. I don't think we would be able to keep you away from all of them! Stealing their sugar...I guess you would become one of the "Blister Sisters." HAHA. I think that term is hilarious. Grandaddy uses it all the time talking about Grandmother, Aunt Hazel, and now Aunt Rhonday. HAHA.

Anyways, I will update again soon. I love you and miss you.

Kam