My Papito

My gracious, wise and special father
turns just another year older
This, the twenty seventh of April day
soon followed by the beginning of May

There's a generous amount of heritage he gives
to his kids and grandkids by the way he lives
Because, you see, he's chosen to follow Christ
Live in God's forgiveness which cannot be priced

He gives wisdom, care, growth and health
Comfort, depth, joy, safety- true wealth
The beauty of this inheritance type
We relish and use it long before goodbye

Dad, your example of continued growth
Has been a catalyst for me in both
My own personal growth and journey o'er the years
And my wife-ing, parenting and friending endeavors

Thank you for sharing your life openly
For following God's call on your life daily
For pursuing your kids and grandkids fiercely
Your legacy lives on and loves you dearly

Happy Birthday Dad!

(And here's a few fun ole' pix of this man
I am so thankful to call my dad!)

Bursting With Joy (and Growing!)

Five months worth of Jacob photos
GREAT change in his hair, his face, his height, his abilities!

Where will Jesus take him? Only He knows!
Oh to think of this life- Oh the possibilities!

 

Jacob enjoys his sister and brother
He's happiest when they are all together

 

He was ecstatic to discover how
Basically he's one of the big guys now...

 

When we knew we were going to travel and need a passport, for a price break
We took pics, but his had too big a shadow, so he had to have a retake

 

Jacob often helps mama doing laundry and chores
Cuz the biggers are in downtime and he's up, of course!

 

On days when Jacob doesn't nap his needed twice
He's a bit of a grump and doesn't smile quite as nice

 

On Mommy and Daddy's 10th Anniversary this year
We went to the park and took pics- but instead Jacob shed tears

 

Jacob has scooched, crawled, walked and now run
But he still gets ecstatic when we join him on the rug

 

Jacob has enjoyed the world from his stroller view
And I'm grateful for the adventures we've had as he grew

 

Lucky duckling got to come on Mom and Dad's overnight date
While the biggers stayed at Auntie Anna's and had fun so great

 

Open/shut, push/pull, grab/let go,
He's into everything and we see his curiosity grow

 

Grass is tickly and itchy and doesn't fare him well
So he lifts as many limbs as he can and then he asks for help

 

What a travel buddy he's been- in cars or on planes
Dozing when's convenient for us, and smiling, barely any complaints

 

Like his big sister and bro
He dresses up in hats and gives us a lil' show 

 

As finger food made it's great debut
Jacob showed his preference and bid some foods adieu

 

He loves to swing, and sometimes Mommy's distracted by others
But he remains content watching his sister and brother

 

While the biggers do downtime, Jacob and Mommy bond
We play ball, giggle and tickle then have a snack to get calm

 

Dearest Jacob,
We had a scare last year when your soft spot closed too soon on your crown
The CT Scan revealed it was fine but a possible cyst was found
And this year we had to do a follow up on that head
Only to find out last year's scan was just misread
No cysts, problems or anything persistent
We're praising Jesus for hospitals & doctors' assistance

 

For the MRI you had to be sedated
And it was horrendous for Mommy as we waited
But Daddy held my hand and dried my few tears
And it was moments later that away went all my fears!

You had a hard time waking from that fiasco
But in less than an hour you were your old self, you rascal!

I love you Lil' Buddy!!

Love, Mom!

 

 

Like his mama and 'Buelo, Jacob has fair skin
So he wears his flap hat to protect as much as we can

 

At the local outdoorsy store Jacob "saw" a mountain lion there
And didn't seem to feel even a little bit scared!

 

When he dresses up we often put him in a vest and fancy socks
And he and his Daddy have matching feaux hawks!

 

He's a climber, our Jacob Sterling
(And the back of his hair is kinda curling)

 

Into small or tight spots he'll often squeeze
Today his head was stuck then scratched by our Christmas Tree

 

Smiles, giggles, chatter, coos and laughter that
We hear then smile too! Can't help it after that!

 

He's a walker, and has gotten steadier with time
At first it kinda looked like he was a walking Frankenstein!

 

Jacob's little profile has got to be one of my favorite things
Makes me think of his Daddy, and highlights his precious lil' chin

 

As mentioned before, he's full of smiles and the like
He's such a gift, a joy to mother, this tyke

 

Robbie and Jacob have fun together when Tay's at school

They'll play together under the table and Robbie makes up rules

 

Unlike his busy big brother Robbie
Jacob is a snuggler - we all encourage him in this hobby!

Exhuberant and Joyous would be words to describe him
Balloons of helium may be the best way to someday bribe him

 

He's handsome, dashing and a heart grabber, quite dapper

He's sure to make a grandma or mama's heart go pitter patter

 

I mentioned he's a climber and that is very true
He's also a quick learner and mimics his siblings two

 

He climbed in here, as creative as he is
And played with every toy, Taylor's, Robbie's or his

 

He's stuck with a few princess toys
But it doesn't seem to dampen his joys
Instead he chills out with his feet up
Paci in his mouth and grinning for his close up!

 

 

Preciousness all bottled up in one lil' boy
And to parent him has been a true joy
We love him dearly and to see him grow

Is like my smile stretches from earlobe to earlobe
What a gift! I feel so blessed

To have my heart beat quick in my chest
With love for this lil' guy just over a year old
Tears can fill my eyes at times, although I try to stay controlled

Thank you Jesus for giving us our Jacob child
When you gave him to our family I know it made you smile!

Will you stay with him, call him to you,
Let him know you, love you, live his life for you,
If my love for him is great, your love for him is wild!

 

 

 

Heart Over-Flowin'! (and some Quotes)

A big big boy!! You are definitely all boy
-through and through-
loving to be outside, play baseball,
rawr like a dinosaur and scare us with a "boo"

 

 

 

Brother is something I think you've done very well
With the good example your sister set
You have embraced the responsibility whole heartedly
If they need anything you'd say, "You bet!"

 

 

 

Cheeks! People notice your cheeks!

They want to tug and squeeze them.

And what's more is they help to highlight

Your smile and silly grin

 

 

Dress up has been an intricate time of creativity for you
As you watched your sister play
You like Clifford, baseball guy, super hero or king,
And Spiderman this past Halloween Day

 

Energy abounds for you!
That may just be part of being a two year old boy
But let me tell you your volume and busy-ness
Although sometimes hard to handle are truly a joy!

 

Familiar faces and family
Make you most at ease and comfortable

But sometimes you resort to silliness

Which compared to grumpiness is preferable

 

 

Growing up might be hard to do
As changes and transitions come your way
Watching you grow out of little stages can grieve me
But then I smile thinking of your future days

Hickles! "We're all the Hickles!" you shout!
At the dinner table or in the car
You're proud to be one of us
and we're proud you're our son/brother!

 

Inside activities sometimes baffle you
Your movement and volume can't be contained
But you've latched onto books and coloring and "homework"
And found an extra joy you can gain

 

 

Jacob is a special addition to your life
And you have loved him so well!

(And here you still had your beloved 'mi-mi'
to which we recently said 'Farewell'!)

 

 

 

Kindness, tenderness and a sensitive heart!
We see it every day!
Your hugs, quivering chin when you're in trouble,
Your sweet and precious way

 

 

 

Learning new things can feel daunting at times,
But you've begun to step out bravely
And a few times have even jumped into Dad's arms in the pool
And found out you've landed safely!

 

Music and movies bring a smile to your face
Every time you engage in them

Pixar has given our family a gift

In each of their cinema gems!

 

 

Now and then we visit Daddy at the office
where he's studying to be a nurse!
We eat in the big board room there
and then enjoy a candy from the dish of course!!

 

Outside I see you breathe freedom and fresh air
You get to be as loud and passionate as you want
Tell stories with all the feeling in your heart
And expel your energy on the lawn

 

Pride and satisfaction filled your heart
When you sorted all the letters by color on your own

Something you chose to do
While Tay was at school and you were at home

 

 

Quite a fascination you have with Pumpkin Pie!

You've called it "Cung-cung Pie" since you were a year old
And you'll eat a whole piece and then ask for more
Hot, lukewarm or cold!

 Rest is important for people as young as you
But when we transitioned you from nap to downtime
You basically dropped any sleeping out of the equation
And just turned it into one giant alone play time! 

 

 

 

Scootering has been a favorite of yours
since before you could steadily walk!
And now you're steady, balanced and fast
And can zoom around the block!

 

 

Taylor and you have a special friendship
You're the "big kids, "T&R" and "the biggers"

You are friends, brother/sister, companions, room sharers,
and I love how the bond between you grows quicker and quicker!

 

 

Unity is something I've begun to understand more fully
With watching you and your siblings
The differences between harmony and dischord
And how it all affects your feelings

 

 

Verizon, Sprint, AT&T and others
Would benefit from a commercial highlighting your phone convos
You're creative, endearing, hilarious and profound
Something your family already knows!

 

 

Whatever you do you do it fully!

Halloween cookies were decorated in black
And you whole-heartedly enjoyed them!

But afterwards were in need of a big bubble bath!

 

 

 

 

X'pectations are something I've learned a lot about as Mom!

When you expect something (like iPad time)
And then we change our minds
You'd think me or your father had committed a crime!
(**Moral of the story? Be sure to check on the kids' expectations
and help them form new ones if they need to!**)

 

 

You sometimes get shy- in this pic just camera shy-
And then you'll cling to my leg and hold on to me
I'm happy to be your safe place in this life
And then coax you to let go bravely eventually

Zoos and Hunting stores are a joy for you
As you like seeing the animals (stuffed or alive)
You spot them, watch them, learn all about them
And sometimes, in turn, educate us Hickles five

 

You're as quotable as they come these days
With quips, clever jokes and profound pray-ings
I've given into the fact that I have to keep a list
Of all your cute and memorable sayings

 

Some Funny Quotes of Robbie's:

 

*Daddy told Robbie how to do something*
"Dad! I know what I'm doing!!"

 

*Recently*
 "What's this?"
*Chocolate*
"Chocolate? I love chocolate!
It's my favorite candy!
What's this?*A pancake*
"A Pancake? I love pancakes!
It's my favorite breakfast!
What's this?
*A shovel*
"A shovel? I love shovels!
It's my favorite....toy!"

*and on and on it goes!*

 

*At dinner*
"I don't want corn on the cob!

I don't like cob on my corn!"

 

*Fifteen minutes after I'd put Jacob down
for the night, I hear him crying.
I asked Robbie if he knew why...*
"I forgot to give him a hug and kiss good night!"

 

*When driving anywhere last month*
"I see a two! There is another two! A two! There you are two!*So I told him that last one was an "S"*
"Oh!.... Well I call it a TWO!"

 

*While driving through town*
Robbie: "Hey!"
Taylor: "What?"
Robbie: "Hey, hey, hey!"
Taylor: "What? What? What?"Daddy: "Robbie, do you see some hay?"
Robbie: "Yup! Hay!"

 

*I made myself a chocolate banana protein shake*
"Mom, can I have some?"
*No*
"Why? Cuz I'm a widdle kid?
But I'm a widdle bit big Mom!
I'm gonna be a big people!"

 

*While eating lunch next to Jacob*
"Mom, Jacob is squishing his beans!"
*Think full-on tattle-tale tones here!
I tell him it's okay if Jacob still eats them*
"Why is it okay?
Because if he puts it in his mouth and his teeth will squish it?
So that it can go down into his tummy?
So that it can go between his legs
so he can go peepee and poopoo later?"

 

*Almost every night around the dinner table
At full voice, full volume, full shout*
"Hey Guys!!!!!
I LOVE you guys!!
I LOVE you guys.... ALL!!
And.... we are ALL the Hickles!!"

 

*Looking for his sister*
"Tay! Tay....! Tay-wuh!! Tay-wuh-wee!!!"

 

*Whenever he talks about anything from the past.
We're talking last year, yesterday, or even an hour ago.*
"Last night when.....
I was a baby, this were my baby socks.
Last night when....
Mommy had me in her tummy I kicked her.
Last night when....
I was sleeping in my bed."

 

*Robbie was playing alone in his room
for over 15 minutes, and it became very quiet.

I went to check on him,
and he had wrapped a ribbon around
the banister to Taylor's loft bed
probably 25-30 times.
I asked him what he was doing.*
"I'm fixin' Tay's roof Mom.
It was broken."

(We had a hail storm in May,
and all of our neighbors had
to get new shingles put on their roofs.
Ours included.)

 

*Robbie came into our room as we were
just getting into bed. He said he was having bad dreams.
So Greg told him that he can always talk to Jesus.
Robbie walked back to his room,
and three seconds later we hear him,
full loud voice*
"Dear Jesus,
I'm dreaming bad dreams.

Are you gonna help me?"