THREE YEARS OLD

Dear Zachary,

On Tuesday, the day before your 3rd birthday, mommy and daddy had a parent teacher conference in your classroom. I continue to be amazed by how you grow and change. Your teachers and friends love you. They want to be with you and work with you and play with you. They appreciate your warmth, your humor and your intelligence.

When mommy and daddy first sat down at the tiny nursery school sized table, the first thing your teachers commented on was how bright you are.  You are learning so many new skills daily, both school skills, like reading and math, but also interpersonal skills, like listening, working with others, and waiting for your turn. Sometimes that last one is a bit hard, especially when your friends make a mistake and you want to correct them.

You know all the letter names and sounds  and try to spell every word you come across, especially the names of your friends and teachers. You know all the numbers and, can put them in order (1-9 or 9-1) when asked. You are starting to write letters and numbers. You can paint simple pictures, like pumpkins and rainbows. You can put together puzzles up to 40 pcs independently, and you will ask for help when there are more pieces than you can handle.

Your teachers are most struck with your comprehension of both stories and oral instructions. You are able to hear a book read to you and you can recall most of what you heard. The teacher will explain an instruction and you will understand it and follow through the first time. Your teacher will show you how to complete a new work in the class, and you will dive right in and master it.

Because of the mixed-age nature of your class, some works are geared more towards the older kids in the class, the 4's, and not really for you. But you chose those activities anyway. Usually the difference between the activities for 3's and 4's is in how long the work will take to complete. You tend to chose the work that requires time and patience and maybe a friend to work with you. We are all impressed by your ability to sustain focus.

You think you are one of the teachers in your classroom. You enjoy sitting in Mariel's chair and running circle time. You like to chose the songs, and call on your friends to join in.
You greet everyone by name, and when you don't know who someone is, you will ask them who they are and introduce yourself. When someone walks into your classroom, you will get up from your activity and greet them at the door.

You are the best version of yourself at school. It seems as if everything you struggle to do at home, sitting at the table during meal times, cleaning up your toys, stopping what you are doing to use the bathroom - none of this happens at school. This is both frustrating and a relief to know. While I'm grateful you know how to sit for the duration of a meal, clean up your toys when you are done, and get up to use the bathroom when you need to pee, I'm frustrated that these things are such a battle at home. We will continue to work with you on all of this when you are home, now that we know you know how to do it.

Tomorrow we are celebrating your birthday with a party. So many of your friends will be there, I think you are really going to love it.

I am so proud of you, my big birthday boy.

Happy 3rd birthday.

Love,
Mommy

two years, 364 days.

Dear Zachary, 

In addition to my letter, which I will write tomorrow, for your third birthday I wanted to make a list of everything you've learned how to do in the past year. 

1. Get dressed on your own. Socks are still a bit tricky, and you don't know how to tie your shoes, yet. But, you can put on underwear, pants, shirts, sweatshirts, hats and jackets with little to no help from mommy and daddy. 

2. Go to the bathroom when you need to. 

3. Sound out short words. 

4. Spell your name and attempt to spell (with quite a bit of accuracy!) names of other people and some words. 

5. Write a few letters, including Z, A and C!

6. Do mazes and connect the dots up to 20.

7. Count to 60! (Tho you regularly skip "16")

8. Count backwards from 10.

9. Verbalize your daily routine, in sequence. 

10. Make yourself and other laugh. 

11. Sing entire songs in both English and Hebrew. 

12. Pour a cup of water. 

I'm sure there are more...

I love watching you grow and develop new skills!

So much love,

Mommy

two years, eleven months, one week

Dear Zachary,

I'm sorry for the huge delay since my last letter. It's been very busy around here as we were both starting a new school year.

I am happy to report that you are loving your new classroom and all of your new friends. Mommy and Daddy were a little nervous about the move from Toddler room to Early Childhood, as you are on the younger end of your peer group. But, you have adjusted wonderfully to the new routines in the Red room and look forward to going to school each day. Coming home isn't so easy, but it just reinforces for us how much you love school. I hope this continues for at least the next 15 years.

A couple weeks ago you came home from school stating, "I don't like crying Kai!" This, I'm sure you understand, worried me. I wondered why you didn't like a member of your class, since you've always referred to everyone as your 'friend' and stated how you love them. I wondered how I would teach an almost 3 year old compassion.

I asked, "Why don't you like crying Kai?"
"Because he cries a lot!"
"Why is he crying?"
"Because he wants something!"
"What does he want?"
"He wants his mommy!"

I couldn't believe that my loving little boy was annoyed with another child, a 3 year old, for missing his mommy. I worried that I would need to work harder to teach you compassion. I worried that I was failing at teaching you this important skill. 

Thank god I was wrong. Your "dislike" of "crying Kai" wasn't exactly a dislike of him. Rather, a discomfort with his upset. Seeing him upset and crying so often made you upset, too. We talked to your teachers and talked to you about how Kai needs a friend at school and different things you could do make Kai smile and not cry. The next day you went to school and colored with Kai. You read with him, worked with him and at lunch, though we hadn't talked about it, you sat next to him. 

We haven't heard you complain about crying Kai since. 

I'm so proud of you, my compassionate little man.

Much love, 

Mommy

two years, nine months, two weeks

Dear Zachary,

Sometime when I overhear you reprimanding your toys, I think, I'm not doing this parenting thing so well. You will be yelling at Elmo, telling him to get back in bed, that it's not time to talk.

And other times, I overhear you approach Elmo with gentleness. You wrap him in your favorite giraffe blanket and hold him in your arms, saying "sh, Elmo, it's ok. I'm here, I'm here. I'm right here with you Elmo. I'm not going anywhere. I love you, Elmo."

And I know we're all going to be ok.

I love you, my sweet boy,

Mommy.

two years, nine months

Happy three-quarter birthday!

I can feel your third birthday approaching. So many things that used to be so difficult about parenting you are getting easier. The "terrible two's" have certainly had their terrible moments, and I have certainly have had my terrible moments, too. 

What I'm most happy about is that you are starting to listen more and more to what mommy and daddy are telling you. You rarely fight to get in your stroller when you need to be in your stroller (running late, crowded areas, too far for you to walk), you don't hesitate often to take my hand when crossing the street, and, finally, I'm not afraid that you will run into the street because you "want to." 

You are starting to walk and not run everywhere you go - especially on the sidewalk and around the pool. I love being able to walk with you and talk about your life. I couldn't do that when I spent most of our time together chasing you. 

Until next week,

Mommy. 

two years, eight months, four weeks

Dearest Zachary,

Mommy and Daddy are really trying to model for you appropriate ways to stand up for yourself so that when you are big, you will know how to stand up for yourself and for others. We want you to know which battles to pick, and which to just let go. We want you to feel strong and use your words so that you can explain yourself and what you need and want. We want you to know how to listen to what others need and what they want and come to a compromise. We want you to feel good about yourself and your capabilities and support others as they discover and develop theirs.  These are also the reasons why we picked your school last Spring. We knew the Montessori model would help foster your independence, your problem-solving skills and your sense of community responsibility. We thought the combination of routine and structure in a child-centered atmosphere was what you would thrive in best. And we were right.  

This week mommy and daddy are struggling with a very difficult decision: whether or not to try to move you to a different classroom in the Fall. You were placed in the Red room with one of your friends from last year, but not the other two. The red room teachers, in my opinion, are under qualified, and, considering how much money we are paying for you to be in school 8.5 hrs a day, we are fairly disappointed that your school would hire this person to teach you - or any other child. When I think to myself about this, I wonder if I'm being too picky, if I'm being the parent that constantly says "you're not good enough for my child". As a teacher, I really dispose these parents. They create issues where there are none, they are overly dramatic when there is no need.  I don't think I'm creating an issue here. We pay too much money to have someone teach you all day that A. doesn't have a degree, and B. does not seem to relate well to small children. And I don't think I'm being dramatic. Well, not yet at least.  While I know you will be just fine in any classroom, I am not comfortable putting you in a room with this particular "teacher" all day every day. And while I would love for you to be in a smaller classroom, as the Red room seems to be, I much prefer you being with your friends.

I love you too much to let you see mommy and daddy settle for anything short of what's best for you. It's all going to be ok. 

I love you,

Mommy

Stuttering

When you are totally exhausted, you develop a stutter. Sometimes the stutter is so heavy that you mix up consonants in words. Tonight's stutter consonant mix up was by far my favorite thus far. 

While talking about the toys you would get to see and play with during our upcoming trip to the pediatrician's office, you said, 

"And I c-c-c-can to s-s-s-s-sit on the big tr-tr-tr-trire fuck!"

Oh, how I love listening to you (try to) speak. 

two years, eight months, three weeks

Dear Zachary,

Tonight was the 5th night in a row that we put you in your big boy bed for the night and, for the most part, you stayed in your bed until you finally fell asleep. I am so proud of you. I know we've changed your sleeping arrangements a lot over the past month between taking off the side of the crib, to going on vacation and having you sleep on an air- mattress in two different houses over the course of 10 days. And although I've done my share of complaining and experienced my own anxieties about you being done with the crib, it looks as if, at this exact moment, that you are settling into this new routine. Finally.

Sleep tight, my little man. I know you'll be running into my room at some point in the middle of the night, asking to "sleep in mommy daddy's bed". And mommy and/or daddy will have to walk you back to your big boy bed...

I love you, even though you completely exhaust me most days.

Love,
Mommy.

two years, eight months, two weeks

Dear Zachary,

Before I start this week's letter, I just want to acknowledge that Mommy seems to be having a hard time writing you these letters weekly recently. For that much, I'm sorry. You see, we've been very busy spending our days together, and I'd rather spend my time playing with you (despite your resistance to take naps) than writing my blog. 

I wanted to document for you some of the random things you've been saying lately. Maybe next week (or hopefully later this week), I'll write more about our recent vacation and your first trip to Sea World. But for now, here are some quotes and bit of conversations from the past few weeks which have brought me smiles and laughter. 

1. "Old McDonald had a farm E I E I O. And on that farm he had a dog...B I N G O!"

2. You: bye bye mommy, I'm going now!

Me: where are you going?

You: I'm going to Sesame Street. I see you later!

3. While sitting  on the airplane to CA, you: we're going on an airplane next week!

Me: no Zac, we're on an airplane right now. 

4. While listening to a youth jazz ensemble in Santa Monica "when my big, I will do that, mommy!"

5. Upon arriving at grandma's house in San Diego, "where are the camels?" (We've been talking about the San Diego zoo a lot...

6. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,15,17,18,19,18...(me: 20), 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39...30-10!

7. Me: Zac, we're on the freeway. You: where's the four-way?? Me: no Zac, it's not a THREE-way...

8. At 5:30am, you: "what should I do now?" Me: "put your head down and go back to sleep."

9. After throwing hard objects at my face, "Mommy, I want you to be angry!"

10. "I'm not taking a nap, I'm taking a bedtime!"

11. "The weasels on the bus go round and round"

12. "I want to listen to possible music"

13. "You made him a steak in the elevator"

14. "These keys are for shalom bayit, but I don't need to use them because somebody's already here."

And the most shocking and least favorite, 

15. "You need to buy me a little iPad."

Looking forward to hearing what will come out of your mouth next!

Love, mommy. 

"What my hair?"

It's a lot of fun to listen to you talk, especially when I have no idea what you're saying (which is really only a small percentage of the time). For the most part, your speech is pretty clear and people who don't speak 2 year old can understand you fairly easily. Other times, it takes me a few tries to decipher your language. You are generally pretty patient with me and will repeat yourself several times until I get it. 

For a few months, you've been saying "bacanuum" to refer to the vacuum cleaner. "I help mommy with the bacanuum today!" 

Or, most recently, and maybe my favorite so far, "what my hair??" Which translates to "what do I hear?" Or "what's that unfamiliar sound?" I have to admit, while you say this phrase quite often, I still ask you "what's wrong with your hair?!" and have to take a moment to remember you are not talking about your head. 

two years, seven months, three weeks

Dear Zachary,

Sorry for the delay. It's been pretty busy around here since the school year ended. We are into week three in your toddler bed and I. Really missing your crib. Mommy and daddy (usually daddy) has to sit with you every night until you fall asleep. Some nights, it takes 15-20 mins, other night's, it's up to an hour before you are snoozing. 

What I wanted to write to you about this week is your rapidly developing sense of humor. Sometimes the things you say totally throw us off guard and we all end up laughing hysterically. For example, this past weekend I introduced you to Mr. Potato head. We were on Skype with Bobé and grandpa and you were showing them your new toy. You said "it's not mr. Potato head! It's misterrrrrrr....banana head!" I have no idea where you came up with that, but it made us all laugh. You didnt stop there. Mr. Veggie burger head, mr. Potato kugel head, mr. Sofa head, were more of the names you came up with, among others. 

It's so much fun to watch you play and to see your creativity and fantasy develop. 

Lots of love to you, my funny man.

Love, 

Mommy

two years, seven months, 10 days

Sweetest Zachary,

I'm so sorry I'm delayed on my letters recently. It's been very busy around here. Friday was your last day of school, but Mommy still has another week to go. Next week you'll be at Tata's work for summer camp at the nursery school there. I hope you have a great time. Here are a couple of pictures of you and your teachers this year. Mommy and Daddy are so grateful for them - they have been so patient and loving. I know you will miss them so much when you begin to understand that they will not be your teachers anymore. I wish you could stay with them, but in the Fall, you will be in an Early Childhood room where you will be for 2 years until you're ready for Kindergarten. Wow. Kindergarten is just 2 short years away...

 

Love you so much, my big boy!

Love, mommy

two years, seven months

Dear Zac,

As I sit here writing this letter to you, a day late, but on the day you turn 2 years and 7 months, you are having a hard time falling asleep. Again.

Now that potty training is pretty much done (no accidents in well over a week and pooping regularly in the potty both at home and at school), we are getting ready to transition you to a big boy bed. I keep thinking, tho, that even though you are past 2 and a half, you are potty trained, you can do most things independently, you are just not ready to be out of the crib. And I don't think this is a case of mommy isn't ready for her baby to grow up. I'm actually thinking, my big boy is just not ready to sleep in a bed without sides. Guard rails, bumpers, whatever, won't do it. You need to be in a crib.

Why do I think this? Where is this gut feeling coming from? I'll tell you.

Mommy and Daddy did such an excellent job training you to sleep in your crib that you can't sleep anywhere else. Except the car. And only if it's at least an hour or two past your nap time. (But considering all the struggles lately with bed time, it's no like your crib is actually that much easier lately.)  You seem to really only resist bedtime when I'm home alone with you which is beyond frustrating (like tonight). At least on nights like these, if you throw an "I don't want to go to sleep!" tantrum, I can at least keep you in your bed.

So, I don't really know what to do about your sleeping arrangements, though I do know when we get to California for our summer vacation, there will be no crib there...

I love you, my little active man. Sweet dreams,

Mommy

two years, six months, 3 + weeks

Dear Zac,

I'm sorry I wasn't home so much today. I know after spending a 3-day weekend together, it was hard to get back into our regular routine. Bedtime was particularly difficult tonight. Not because it took you a long time to fall asleep (it didn't take too long), but because when I was tucking you in, you grabbed my hand and said "I hold your hand so you can't leave me. stay with me mommy. sleep in here with me." This totally broke my heart, as you've been doing so much lately.

At times I wish we hadn't done any sleep training and continued co-sleeping past 4 months. Now, I just want you to be snuggling with us in bed until we all fall asleep together. You haven't fallen asleep in my arms since you were about 9 months old and I miss it very much. You just wanted (and needed) to be in your own bed, and you slept much better not being able to smell me all night.

We are just about done with potty training, and I know this whole process has made you feel both more independent and more clingy.  You now take yourself to the bathroom and don't really need any help there. You even clean out the little potty after you use it.

Yesterday was an emotional potty day for us. We were out all day and you clearly needed to poop. (you said so about a dozen times) Hours of back and forth and finally I gave up and told you it was ok to wait and poop at home, which you did.

Today you were home with Daddy after school. You announced needing to poop and went by yourself to the bathroom and did. We are so proud.

The next project we'll tackle is transition to the big boy bed. We have already started the conversation and you know it's coming. And you're excited. As soon as school ends, we'll give it another shot.

Love you, pumpkin.

Mommy

"I need cough syrup"

Last week you had a pretty annoying nighttime cough. You would be coughing for 20-30 minutes non-stop in your sleep. We started giving you cough syrup during the day and within a few days,  the cough was gone. And so we stopped giving you cough syrup. 

Here's the conversation you and I had in the bathroom yesterday. 

Zac: I need cough syrup. Could I have cough syrup, please?

Me: No, you don't. 

Zac: I do. Yes, yes, I do need cough syrup. 

Me: You don't need cough syrup, Zachary. You're not coughing. 

Zac: (not missing a beat) *cough cough* I coughing now. I do need cough syrup. 

Fantastic. 

two years, six months, (almost) three weeks

Dear Zac,

I can't wait for you to stop telling me what you know you're supposed to do and actually just do it. 

When mommy says stop, I really do mean stop. It is not enough for you to just tell me that you know you should have stopped. And yes, you fell down a flight of stone stairs in Central Park last Friday because you were not listening. 

I've had days of nightmares now. Each time I watch you fall over and over again. Each time it ends worse than the day it actually happened. Though there isn't a bump, scratch or bruise on you (miracle?), in my nightmares you land at the bottom covered in blood, head to toe.  I'm sorry. I don't usually write so much about my fears about raising you, but this week's been tough. 

I worry when you'll grow out of this impulsivity. Obviously your feeling of invincibility will last several more years (someone recently joked that it could last well into your twenties! Yikes!), but at some point you will need to be aware of putting your body in real danger. 

This week was a good week in terms of taking walks and trusting you won't run away. You prepare me before each walk and say "I walk nicely. I hold Mommy's hand to cross the street. I don't run away from mommy. Or I sit in the stroller with straps." I hope you won't need too many more reminders about not running into the street. You've been very good about waiting at the corner for the light to change. I think we're ready to move on to "look both ways before crossing", though in NYC you need to walk half way into the crosswalk to see if anyone's speeding through. 

Please keep your body safe, little man. I really can't handle more scares like last Friday. 

Be safe, pumpkin. I love you like crazy. 

Love,

Mommy 

two years, six months, one week

Dear Zachary,

Sorry for all the potty-related letters lately. I promise there won't be too many more. I am just SO proud of you for all your potty accomplishments!

This week we are really working on the poop-training. To say that you are not having an easy time would be am understatement. You know when you have to poop and you know what you have to do, but when it comes to sitting on the potty and getting it done, you freak out. You would rather hold it in that have an accident and tonight, during the two hour back and forth to the potty, you told me "the poop doesn't want to come out. It needs to stay in my butt!" Finally you couldn't hold it in any longer and you did sit on the potty long enough for it to all come out.

Yesterday mommy went to your school for your spring parent-teacher conference. Your teachers love you so much and are really very happy to have you in their class. You are excelling at math and language skills. You count items accurately and can read short 3-letter words by sounding them out. You are always happy and curious and your teachers commented on your healthy attachment and that you never cry for me. You eat well, nap well, and play nicely with the other kids. You spend a good amount of time testing limits and exploring your own strength. They laughed as they explained to me how many plates and glasses you have broken... Yikes!

I hope you always love school this much and that I can keep up with you this summer!

Lots of love,
Mommy

Spring report card!

I'm a very proud mommy! Your spring report card came last night. I can't believe it's almost summer. We love your school, and your class, so much. I wish you could stay in the Turquoise room next year...

"Zachary is a very attentive child who notices the differences in his environment. When new materials are placed on the shelves, Zachary becomes intrigued and will attempt to use the work. If he is unfamiliar with the process he will ask for help. Zachary is very observant during our walks; as he notices when we are heading back to the school will state, “We are going back to school now!” or “Turn in here, the school is right there (pointing) as we cross the street.” Zachary is independent and in the process of toilet training. He is able to pull his clothing up and down without help and change his clothing with little assistance. He is able to verbalize when he needs to use the toilet and often states to a teacher, “I need to pee, okay (pointing his index finger)!” or “I’m going to pee now, in the toilet (pointing). Zachary is able to recall information that occurred in the past, “I bumped my head on the toilet at home and I have a boo-boo and I cried” and during a visit to the playground he stated, “I fall down on the ladder and was hanging and I cried.” In times of excitement in the classroom, Zachary scatters his work and when asked how we treat the materials he states, “We need to be gentle with the work because it can break, then we have to put it in the garbage and we won’t have any more work to use (pointing)”. This shows his ability to recall, process, and verbalize possible outcomes. He is very interested in letters and numbers. He knows the sounds of ten letters and is able to match objects with their beginning sounds. During an ‘All About Me’ a parent was reading a book and Zachary said, “There’s a Z for Zachary.” He can recognize all of his classmates name cards. Zachary enjoys matching numbers and quantity with minimal help. He recognizes the numbers from 1-9 but gets a little confused with number 6 and 9. Zachary has been a pleasure to work with this school year and will be missed dearly."

two years, six months!

Dear Zachary,

HAPPY HALF BIRTHDAY! Today, you are officially two and half years old!

And it was a big day for you, too! I've been writing a lot recently about potty training and today you really hit a milestone: you ASKED to go to the bathroom to poop at school. You have no idea how proud I am of you. And how relieved that you figured it out. Well, today you had it figured out at least.

This past weekend we celebrated your half-birthday with a trip to Riverside Park on your new tricycle (thank you, tata!) and wearing you new tie-dye peace sign helmet. We rode (or rather, pushed you) in the park for about 20 minutes and then stopped at an ice cream stand for your first taste of ice cream, a chipwhich that you shared with daddy. The ice cream was hard and over-frozen and you only ate a little bit, but you liked it and will gladly eat more then next time we treat you to some. (probably at Ben & Jerry's next time) Daddy was disappointed that the ice cream wasn't better quality, but I assured him that you won't remember how your first ice cream tasted.

Here's a picture of you on you tricycle followed by a picture of you and your first ice cream. I'm looking forward to many more moments like these this summer!

I love you,

Mommy

two years, five months, four (ish) weeks

Dear Zac-Zac,

This will be a short letter because you are having a very difficult time falling asleep tonight and you've been calling for me on and off for over half an hour now.

I'm not sure what's been going in for you this past week, but tonight is not the first night it's taken you so long to fall asleep. Actually, a few nights ago it took you well over an hour to fall asleep. And you were up just a few hours later.

Are you getting sick?
Am I spending too little time with you?
Is potty training too rough?

I hate to hear you struggle so much, exhausted from your little day...

This week I really wanted to blog about how affectionate you've been recently, how you hug me randomly and say "I love you" without prompting. Without me saying it first. Hug you snuggle on the floor and pretend to "sleep on mommy". How you hug your teachers and your friends' parents of your own volition. How "please" and "thank you" and "excuse me" are integrated completely into your vocabulary and I rarely have to remind you how to ask nicely. (Tonight, I forgot to put your fork on your table and you asked, immediately, "mommy, can I have a fork, please?" And you were sincere, not whiny.) I'd like to think mommy and daddy are modeling that behavior for you, but I know we have your school to thank for reinforcing it.

You are still not asleep, an hour and 10 minutes after I said good night the first time. You have, in the past hour, "accidentally" kicked the side of your bed and needed lotion and kisses, had cold feet and needed socks, needed a different color on your night light, and, of course, pooped. I'm hoping the latter event was what's been keeping you up tonight and you'll be fast asleep soon. I know I will be.

The weekend is coming soon and I hope we'll make up at least a little bit of this lost sleep.

Good night, sleepy head. I'll see you in the morning. I love you.

Mommy

two years, five months, two and a half weeks

Dear Zac,

Last weekend Mommy and Daddy went on our first vacation since you were inside Mommy's belly. We went to the Bahamas to celebrate Danielle's Bat Mitzvah. We missed you a lot, but you had a good time at home with Tata.

On Friday afternoon we Skyped to see how your day went at school. You were excited to see us, but you didn't miss us at all.

On Saturday afternoon we skyped again. You were immersed in coloring with Saba and it took some effort on Tata's part to get you to come to the computer. You really didn't care that you hadn't seen either Mommy or Daddy in more that 24 hours. You even went so far as to say "I don't want to talk to Mommy!"

I'm so proud of you for doing so well without Mommy or Daddy for a whole weekend. Although I was a little sad that you didn't notice that we were gone, and didn't shed a tear that Mommy was "on her trip", I'm really happy that you are becoming such an independent little boy and that separation doesn't seem to be a big issue.

Love,
Mommy

learning how to spell

This conversation took place in the bath today:

Me: How do you spell Zachary?
Zac: Z-A-C-H-A-R-Y!
Me: That's right! How do you spell mommy?
Zac: Mmmmmmm...M! M-O-C-H-A-R-Y! Yes!
Me: How do you spell Daddy?
Zac: Duh-duh-duh-duh....D! D spells daddy! D-A-C-H-A-R-Y!
Me: ok...How do you spell Tata.
Zac: T-A-T-A...C-H-A-R-Y!

two years, five months, (almost) two weeks

Zachary,

This has been one of those weeks where I secretly wish we were closer to your third birthday. No matter how many times we say to you that some something is dangerous, you still need to do it. I must have lost a few years off my life this past week, worried sick you'd seriously injure yourself.

A few days ago, despite being asked repeatedly to stop, you climbed up the back of the couch. Unfortunately, you didn't make it over the back and fell backwards, first onto your little table and then to the floor. You have a nice little bruise on your back now.

On Monday, we took a walk with some friends around the neighborhood. Despite being told to stop, you ran into the street. Into Broadway, no less. We are all so lucky for the person (I can't remember if it was a man or a woman) who stopped you as you stepped off the sidewalk. Our play date ended immediately and I grabbed you by the hand and marched you straight home.

I must have lectured you for a good hour after that stunt. 4 days later and I'm still catching my breath. You will not be permitted to walk outside unless strapped into your stroller or holding Mommy or Daddy or Tata or anyone else's hand. Firmly.

Let's stick to climbing on the playground and running in the park, shall we?

Sleep tight, little daredevil.

I love you,
Mommy

two years, five months

Dear Zac,

Now that you're pretty much potty trained, you know all kinds of fun words to describe what happens in the bathroom. I think, possibly, hearing you talk about pee and poop has kept me laughing through this whole potty-training experience. (Which I'm convinced has been way more stressful for me than for you.) I've really enjoyed reading Everyone Poops with you. You like "touching" all the animal poop. "Yucky!!!!!" And, luckily for us, you've actually really enjoyed learning to use the toilet and...well...exploring different positions...to pee.

Today you peed standing up in the toilet for the first time. This looked something like, mommy holding you under your armpits while you stood ON the toilet seat, knees slightly bent, both of us watching your pee land (evenly, I might add!) in the toilet.  You didn't get all the pee out, and said to me "There's more pee but it's too hard...I sit now."

The second you sat on your little potty, you farted. Loudly. And it echoed. You thought that this was hysterical.  But to me the fart itself was not nearly as funny as your reaction,

                       "I'm passing gas! Excuuuuu-me!"

I don't think mommy and daddy have EVER used the term "passing gas" to describe you farting. (I'm assuming you must have learned that at school.) So, I added, "You did! You farted!"

                        "I did fart. That's funny!"

So, at barely 2 and a haf, farting is already funny. Great.

Thanks for keeping me laughing, my little comedian. Looking forward to finding out what else makes you laugh.

Love,

Mommy

"where the poop go?"

Before we flush the toilet you always ask to see what's inside. The other day you asked "where the poop go?" And before I could answer, you said "I goes down the tunnel!"

You followed-up with another question, "what's it going to do in the tunnel?"

Again, before I could (make up an) answer, you spoke.

"It go play with the other poops!"

Yes, Zachary. That's EXACTLY where our poop goes.

two years, four months, four weeks

Dear Zac,

I didn't write a second letter last week because we have been SO busy. So, I'll write the letter I would have written then, now.

My little creature of habit, it usually takes you weeks to adjust to any changes in your routine. A bedtime routine was something that we started with you pretty much from day one. And it worked for a long time. Dinner, Bath, Books with Daddy, nursing and to sleep. In the Fall, we replaced nursing at bedtime with Songs in the Chair with Mommy. About a month ago (or more), we started noticing that bedtime was just taking too long. Usually when I was home for bedtime (most nights), you would not go to bed without 3 books and about a dozen songs. I tried to limit the number of songs (to match the number of books), but then you would have a hard time falling asleep.

Last week we stopped doing songs in the chair cold turkey and switched thing up a bit. You still got your dinner. You still got your bath and your books with Daddy. Only now, you feed your fish and say good night to them and turn of your own light. Mommy and Daddy put you in your crib with some stuffed animals (who are waiting for you in your crib, already asleep - Elmo has an earlier bedtime), and Mommy hums Edelweiss (you won't let me sing the words and you like to hum along) and then we say good night. If you still need me there, I sing ABC's, Bah Bah Black Sheep and Twinkle Twinkle from the door. Generally, you go right to sleep.

The other day, I put you down for a nap (which is only slightly different than bedtime - only one book, hum Edelweiss and we say "see ya when you wake up!" and close the door), and when I close the door you did not go right to sleep. Instead, you finished the new routine - you said ABC's, Bah Bah Black Sheep and Twinkle Twinkle...and then you were quiet.

I'm so proud of you. I'm glad you like your crib and your new bedtime routines. I know it won't be long before you resist the crib and hop over the side. I know a toddler bed is in sight. You know it, too. I think this summer will be a good time for that transition. We'll be going to California without a porta-crib (at 35lbs and 3' tall, you're just too big!) for two weeks. You'll be sleeping on a mattress on the floor and when we get home, no more crib. Unless you want it. Which I doubt.

Have fun at school today - your first day back after a week and a half long break. I'm sure you'll have a blast and come home with lots of stories.

Love,
Mommy

two years, four months, three weeks

Dear Zachary,

Another vacation week means more quality time together.

Today we had a great day. We both slept really well last night and woke up in good moods, with a good amount of energy. After breakfast, we played together on the floor with cars then go dressed for an outing.

Today was Willow's first haircut and she really wanted you there to see. (You were eager to go, but totally lost interest once you saw all the toys in the salon.) Since Tata's car doesn't fit 3 car seats in the back, you and I traveled downtown on the subway. You were so excited because we don't take the subway all that often and you really enjoy it.

Before we left the house I asked you if you wanted to take the stroller or if you would walk. "I walk nicely," you said. And you did, mostly.

You were an absolute angel on the subway. You held my hand as we waited on the platform for the subway to come (the first one was packed so we had to wait 5 minutes for the next one, which was completely empty) and sat down on the seat when I asked you to. You sat the entire 35 minute ride. You looked out the window into the subway tunnel, you met another little boy your age, and you had a small snack. We talked about how it would be several stops before it was our turn to get off and you reminded me each time the subway pulled into another station that it was "Somebody else's stop."

Today was the first time I took you farther than the playground without a stroller and the most I had to carry you was halfway up the subway stairs. You didn't whine, you didn't squirm, you didn't ask to stand or get off the subway before our stop. I didn't feel frustrated once with traveling alone with you on the subway and I didn't regret leaving the stroller at home.

When we got home, I made up matzah brei and we sat down at the dining room table together. You love it when we do anything together but today was even more special to you because you got to sit in my seat at the table and not in your booster. I asked you before we sat down to eat where you wanted to sit and you said,

"I sit in mommy's chair."
I asked, "then where will I sit?"
"You sit in Zachary's chair! noooo! You get stuck! You sit in daddy's chair!"

Good idea, Zac. I reminded you that there is no throwing and you must sit while you eat or I would strap you into your booster (which you are starting to hate...along with being strapped into the stroller) You reassured me and said, "I sit nicely."

You really are doing everything so "nicely" today.

I'll probably write again this week because I am so enjoying our time together.

I love you so much,
Mommy

"green eggs and haaaaan?"

Grandpa and Bobé sent you a copy of Green Eggs and Ham. You read every page the same way.

"Green eggs and haaaaaaaan? Green eggs and haaaaaaaan? No no no like green eggs and han!"

Too cute.

two years, four months, two weeks

Dear Zac,

You've reached some pretty big developmental milestones this week.

Potty training:

A few weeks ago I mentioned my concern for your readiness to use the potty. This came after your teachers told me that you are the last in the class to use the potty and that you wouldn't be able to start the early childhood program in the Fall until you were completely trained. This caused me so much anxiety because you aren't even two and a half and I couldn't predict when you'd be ready and willing to use the potty. I don't know why I was so anxious or why I felt like I needed to rush you through the process. A month  ago you screamed and threw a tantrum every time we mentioned the word "potty". I bought a $5 book on potty training and read the first few pages and realized I was going about this all wrong. I know your personality pretty well and needed to just trust that you would figure this out on your own. You would need gentle reminders, but bribing you wasn't going to work. I knew that if you could just pee successfully in the potty one time that you would want to do it again and again (and every half hour when we're home!).Also, because you really like to do things together, if mommy or daddy said something like "let's go to the potty together!" you might be excited to try. I was right.

I never knew potty training to be so much fun.


Relating to characters and experiences in books and in play:

Another milestone this week has been your ability to see yourself in the books we read. Potty training books were helpful and it was remarkable to hear you say things like, "that looks like Zachary's potty!" "That's boy like Zachary!" and my favorite, "we don't touch poop! it's yucky!"

For the past few weeks now, you been increasingly disinterested in sleeping. You often scream at us, "I don't want to go to sleep". This pretty much shatters my heart every night. A couple nights ago we read Good Night Gorilla and Good Night Moon. We looked at the pictures as I read the story. You noticed that the animals in Good Night Gorilla also did not want to stay in their beds but when they were finally "tucked in", they didn't cry. You looked up at me and said "I won't cry tonight." And you didn't. And the past few nights since then, while you've resisted a little, haven't been unbearable and you've put your head down with your stuffed animal and gone to sleep fairly quickly.

I love you, pumpkin. I am looking forward to spending next week with you while we both have a break for for Passover.


Much love,
Mommy

"i have to go pee pee. i be right back!"

Yesterday as I was getting you to the potty, you stopped in the doorway and turned to daddy, with your pointer finger near your face and said,

"I go to the bafroom. I have to go pee pee. I be RIGHT BACK!"

Daddy said, "Ok, Zachary"

"I be right back daddy, OK??"

"Ok Zachary"

"I have to sit on the potty and go pee pee and then I pour it into the toilet and then I turn on the baff and then WOAH!!! OK? yeah!"

two years, four months, one week

My dear, sweet Zachary,

This week, with the extra hour of daylight and the weather has been significantly warmer, we've been able to head to the playground. Since the majority of your socialization happens at school, without mommy and daddy there to see, it was such a pleasure to spend a few hours with you in the park last weekend.

Mommy and daddy were once again struck with your capacity for empathy. You are cautious around children you don't know and are rarely phased by a child invading your personal space. As a child you didn't know tried to walk past you on the narrow stairs in the playground, you gently stepped aside to let them pass. The other child did not say excuse me and you didn't get upset. When that child's parent took them off the stairs to show them what they had done and to ask if they had seen you on the stairs already, that child became upset. You watched their interaction with a look of concern for this smaller child. You didn't go back to your own play until the child had calmed down and was back on the playground with you.

Potty training.

You have made some significant progress on your potty training efforts. Last week mommy was beginning to get a little concerned. Not because I am in a rush to get you in underwear, but because you were stopping your pee from coming out. We're talking 2-3 drops of peepee and then you would make it stop. I honestly have no idea how you have the ability to do this! Well, for the past two days you have been letting more out on the potty and yesterday you were dry from after your nap until you woke up this morning.

I am so proud of you. But, even more importantly, you are so proud of yourself when you pee in your little potty. You really enjoy pouring your peepee into the toilet, rinsing the potty in the bathtub faucet and flushing the toilet.

Now, if you could only poop in the toilet. Then I would believe you when you say "I'm a big man!"

Love,
Mommy

two years, four months

Dear Zachary,

I am so sorry I've been so sick lately. I notice how hard it is to see me at home and not be able to play with you. It's hard for mommy, too. Yesterday daddy picked you up from school and explained to you that mommy was at home, sick and in bed and that you needed to let mommy sleep. When you got home, you came to visit me in my room. You came up to my side of the bed, said "hi mommy. You sick? You need to sleep. Ok? See you later mommy." And left the room with daddy. Thank you for listening to daddy, for being understanding and for letting mommy sleep.

This week, I really wanted to blog about some of the more difficult parenting moments daddy and I are experiencing with you. Last night, after you threw your entire dinner, water, fork and spoon on the floor, I insisted we throw you in a bath to calm you down. You kicked and screamed for a good 10 minutes (long tantrum you've ever had) and then suddenly looked up at us with your happiest, most excited face and asked "are you ready? Yeah?" And then stuck your head under the faucet. Daddy's response was "there's my Zachary! I missed you!" And Mommy's response was "sometimes I don't understand you at all." I am glad the bath helped your mood and you were able to finish your dinner more peacefully the second time around.

I love you, my little unpredictable monster.

Happy 28 month birthday!!!

Love, mommy

two years, three months, three weeks

Dearest Zac,

This week we welcomed another new member to our little family.

ELMO!

Oh my, how excited you were when we found him at Nordstrom after buying you a new pair of sneakers. Your face lit up and we just couldn't leave him there.  It was the cutest thing. We saw Big Bird and Grover and Cookie Monster, too, but your excitement for Elmo was just too cute. You carried Elmo around the mall hugging him under one arm (and eating his eyeballs). Mommy and Daddy have never seen you so happy about a doll.

Elmo sat with you in the stroller and "wanted" to be strapped in with you.

Elmo "wanted" to sit next to you.

And tonight, Elmo "wanted" to pee in the potty.  This made mommy very, very happy.

"Elmo go pee-pee on Zachary's potty! Elmo has to wait for the pee-pee to come OUT! Oh look, Mommy! It's coming! Oh nooooo, there's no pee-pee in there!"

Apparently Elmo doesn't know how to pee. 

Anyway, I'm very proud of you for all of your efforts on the potty. Twice this week you woke up in the morning with a dry diaper and peed on the potty. Today, you resisted, but that's ok. Actually, you resisted just about everything today...

Tomorrow we can try again.

I love you so much,

Mommy

two years, three months, two weeks

Dear Zac,

I am absolutely loving spending this week with you! We are both off from school/work and have been taking advantage of our time together. We have gone to the Natural History museum with friends, run a bunch of errands, had friends over for brunch, slept in, taken long naps, baked muffins and cookies and visited a good friend in New Jersey. We've played with trains, read books, rolled out play-doh, built tunnels, painted, and colored with crayons. We've watched a ton of "Elmo's song" on YouTube. You have pointed out every triangle, every "Z" and every helicopter you see.

We started our week together by spending the day at Micki's house with your brand new baby cousin, Twila. It was heart-warming to see how gentle you were with her. And you weren't jealous at all that I was holding her for so long. You were also very excited to spend time with cousin Willow, so I get that was a good distraction for you.

I know that you will be fine going back to school next week, but mommy could really get used to staying home with you.

I'm going to savor these next few days at home, enjoying your company, hearing you come running from wherever you were, calling for "My mommy! My mommy!"

I love you so much, my Zachary.

Love,
your mommy

zachary's first report card

"Zachary is a happy, confident, and independent child who join us every morning with a positive attitude. After he hugs his father and says goodbye, he gives a smile to his teachers and says, “Good morning Astrid." He also looks for friends as soon he comes in and asks, “Where is Phoebe” or “Where is Trudy?” He then immediately begins his daily routines by saying, “I need to close the door.” Then he gets his green bag from his cubby to put all his belongings inside it. When he hangs up his bag he says, “It is heavy; I did it!” While he is completing all of these steps, he talks with his teacher and narrates all the actions that he is doing, for example, “I bring a banana, apple sauce, etc.,” “I need to open the refrigerator,” “I put my basket right there,” and ”I need to work.”
Zachary chooses his own activities and enjoys working in all the classroom areas. He matches and recognizes the primary and secondary colors. He sorts shapes, strings beads, puts together puzzles, connects the tracks of the train, paints, pastes, stamps, transfers dry beans, pours water, and so on. At lunch time, Zachary sets up the table by getting a placemat, plate, cup, and a napkin independently.
He is very friendly and enjoys working alone and with his friends. Zachary is also very affectionate and will hug his friends and teachers during the work cycle. We very much enjoy working with Zachary."

two years, three months, one week

Dearest Zachary,

It's been another week of solid sleep, pleasant mood, great eating, and hilarious conversation.

Of course, there has been your usual occasional defiance. "I don't like it" and "I don't want to" are often heard coming out of your mouth.

You've been naked a lot more recently because when I try to get you dressed in the morning for school or at night for bed, you usually assert yourself saying, "I don't want to wear that! I need to pick one!" And then you proceed to empty the contents of your drawers. Eventually, however, you do end up "picking out" the same pajamas mommy and daddy already laid out for you.

It's important for me, and for anyone else who cares for you, to understand that when you say, "I don't want to", you really mean "I don't want to do it right now. If you give me a few minutes, or some incentive, or some reason I should do it and not you, than I am more than happy to oblige."

Last night the following conversation took place.

Me: (on my knees) Zachary, your sweatshirt is dirty. Please take it off and put it in the hamper.
You: I don't want to. Mommy do it.
Me: Mommy will help you take it off, but then you need to put it in the hamper.
You: I don't want to. Mommy put it in the hamper.
Me: But Zachary, it's not Mommy's sweatshirt. Please go put Zachary's sweatshirt in the hamper.
You: It's MY sweatshirt. (And then you ran to put it in the hamper)
You: I did it! (With a big smile on your face as if it was your idea to put it in the hamper in the first place).

I keep being reminded of that scene from My Big, Fat Greek Wedding where Tula's mother and aunt are trying to convince her father to let her go work at her aunt's travel agency. In that scene, the women plan to have the father think he came up with the idea on his own. And in the end, he does think the plan is his, and the women praise him for it.

Sound familiar?

I love you, even though it takes you 10 minutes to put on your shoes.

Love,
Mommy

"thank you for dinner, tata"

We have dinner with Tata and Baba every Friday night. And after dinner, Tata drives us home.

Tonight, as we were pulling up in front of our building, you said, "Bye-bye Tata. Thank you for dinner. It was very very yummy!"

You are just absolutely delicious.

two years, three months

Dear Zac,

I am so happy to have last week behind us. You are back to your usual happy, energetic, cooperative, well-rested, and secure self. You say "good night mommy. see you in the morning." in your sing-songy little voice and you go to sleep. You sleep through the night and wake up a reasonable hour, happy. You let mommy go to the bathroom. You let mommy make dinner. You let mommy walk out of the room. And you don't come screaming and running after me. I am really so very happy that last week is over.

And I still have no idea what was actually wrong.

However, this week, mommy and daddy (and tata) have noticed another tremendous leap in your verbal skills. You are engaging in complete conversations, you respond to questions, you are using dozens of adjectives, you talk about the future.

Today, you and Tata were talking about your cousins. You listed them all nicely, and then Tata asked about the baby in Micki's belly. She told you that the baby was going to come out soon and asked what you are going to do when you see the baby. "I give the baby kiss!"

Tonight, after your bath, as we were putting on your 'jamas, I notice that we are running out of diapers. I said "Zachary, we only have a few diapers left. What are you going to do when we don't have any left?" You thought for a moment and then responded "I wear underpants!" I followed-up with "Then where will the pee-pee go?" You said "I go pee-pee in the toilet!"

I like to believe that you know what you are saying, and that in a couple of weeks, we can start to save money on diapers. And spend more on laundry.

Happy 27 months, my big boy.

Love,
Mommy

two years, two months, three weeks

So Zac,

Remember how last week I was all grateful for how you can tell me about your day and I don't feel so left out of you life?

Well, this week, you switched thing up a bit.

I'm not sure if what you are going through right now is a stomach bug, teething or sleep regression. OR, something serious. There's a stomach thing going around the world right now, but you're not puking (just pooping in the bath tub). Your top last molars have cut through, but are still making their way down. Sleep regression around 2 years old isn't uncommon. So, all of those are plausible explanations for your constant clinginess, especially when you should be asleep. Say, at 4:30 in the morning.

If you could only just say, "Hey mommy, ya know, these molars are really hurting! Please apply some teething gel?" or, "Mommy, my tummy hurts. Can you please just rub my back while I try to fall asleep?" Or, "I'm experiencing another bout of separation anxiety and really just need to make sure you're still home in the middle of the night."  Any of those would be really great to hear right about now.

Of course, as I write this letter, you are quiet in your crib. You are not screaming my name as you have been for the past 4 nights. You did not beg me to stay in your room after good night kisses. You actually sound like you might fall asleep in the next few breaths. Certainly before I publish this blog.

Yup, you're asleep.

Mommy now sounds like a big, fat liar.

Well, I'm grateful that whatever it is that's been causing you so much distress to the point of interfering with your appetite and your mood and your sleep these past few days is resolving itself.

Sleep well, little monkey. I'll see you in the morning.

Love,
Mommy

"i'm a monkey!"

"You are my sunshine" is one of mommy's favorite kids' songs. 

I'm not so sure how much I like your new version, "you are my monkey", but it is pretty cute to hear you slur, half asleep, "so please don't take my monkey away...".

two years, two months, two weeks

Dear Zac,


You and I spend a lot of time apart. I go to work 6 days a week. 5 of those days you go to school and one day you are home with daddy. A babysitter picks you up from school once or twice a week, daddy picks you up on Tuesdays, Tata's picks you up on Wednesdays and sometimes I am able to pick you up on Thursdays or Friday. While you love going to school every day, and often ask to go to school on the weekends or holidays, it breaks my heart to have to say good-bye to you every day. I have an especially hard time on Tuesday mornings when I leave you and daddy on the corner and I go to work, for 13 hours, and don't get home until you are already asleep. On those days, you and I see each other on Skype for a few minutes when I am between classes.

Although you have so much fun at school, I think you do miss spending time with me. Tonight, you had a hard time settling down for bed. Almost immediately after I walked in the door at 6, you were a wild little boy. You insisted I give you your bath and, when it was time to say good night, you cried and cried until I came and sat next you and rubbed your back. We talked for 10 minutes about your day and about what you will do tomorrow. I promised you I would pick you up from school and we would have the afternoon together (now I just have to get out of that faculty meeting!). I'm looking forward to trains and tunnels and bridges and play-doh and cars and books and dancing and songs and snacks and anything else you want to do.

I promise to do what needs to be done in order for me to able to spend more time with you. I'm working on it.

I am so happy you are so verbal. At only 26.5 months you talk about everything and everyone. I love that you can tell me about your days. What you did at school, who your friends are, what you ate, what you saw.  Since I can't be there to experience all you do with you, I am grateful that you can and do tell me all about your little life.

I hope you will always, even 30 years from now, want to tell me about your day.

I love you,
Mommy

two years, two months, one week

Dear Zac,

This week I've noticed a huge leap in your cognitive and social development. Specifically in you're ability to distinguish between what "listening" and "not listening" is.

Since you turned 2 you have been becoming more and more defiant. And, you seem to be aware of your defiance.

On Tuesday morning you woke up extra early. (5:30! I think because your last molar finally cut through.) You were a chatterbox from the start. You insisted on wearing your oveeyalls to school and when I finally had you dressed and ready to put your shoes and jacket on, you insisted on sitting (and doing nothing, mind you) on the toilet. You sat for about 8 seconds (maybe less) and jumped, bottomless, into my lap stating you were "all done" and "need to flush the toilet together". I started to get your diaper and overalls back on and you were wiggling all over the place. I reminded you that we needed to get to school. You looked up at me and said "Mommy, I'm not listening."

Daddy took you on a special trip after school yesterday. You were very excited to tell me all about it. "I went to museum. I went on subway. I saw lions and gorillas and giraffes and buffalo! I ate snack in stroller. I listen to Daddy."

When you talk about school, you often add "I need to listen to Trudi" or "I was listening. I did it myself."

I'm glad you are aware when other people are speaking to you. This is such an important thing to know how to do. I am proud of you when you listen and I hope you will learn to enjoy listening to others and one day find value in what other people have to say.



I love you so much,
Mommy

"you see that?"

I love how you are beginning to imitate what you see at school. Especially when you read to mommy and daddy. Just like your teachers do at school, you turn the book around to show us the pictures as you "read". It's particularly adorable when you are reading by yourself and you run to us in another room to show us the pictures, and ask, "you see that? you see that picture?"

Never mind it's a book we've read with you about a hundred times and we know the pictures...

May you always have this much excitement about reading.

two years, two months

Dear Zac,

You are growing so fast, I'm having a hard time keeping up. I thought that in this week's letter I would write out where you are in your development. I know you can do a whole lot more that just what's on this list, but I wanted to get at least some of this written down before you learn a whole new set of skills and I forget what you were doing at 26 months.

You are now able to:

-open doors "secured" with heavy magnets, cupboards in the kitchen, and, to your greatest pleasure, the refrigerator.

-undress yourself completely. Asking you if you want "naked time" is great motivation for getting you out of your booster and ready for your bath.

-put on and take off and put away your shoes by the front door. Your shoes are always beautifully aligned at the front door. Usually blocking the front door.

-put on and take off your jacket and hat.

-feed yourself a cup of apple sauce at a ridiculously fast pace (think more "inhaling" versus "eating") and you only drip one or two drops. It's pretty cute watching you scrape the sides of the cup to get every. last. drop.

-recite about 15 (maybe more) books, singing about 20 songs, independently and in their entirety.

-ask what things are. And then tell me I'm wrong and laugh. (Apparently the hamper is not a hamper. It's a frog.)

-tell me when you're tired, hungry, in pain

-demand sympathy. The other day you were crying about something and you KNEW if wasn't a big deal. You came over to me and said "I'm cryyyyiiiiing!" A few minutes later something else was bothering you and came back to me "I'm crying AGAIN, mommy!"


I'm very much looking forward to seeing what next week holds.

I love you so much pumpkin.

Love,
Mommy

"what's that smell?"

Today, as we were playing with your magnetic drawing board, you asked me to write down several words.

"What's that smell?" you asked.

I was very confused. Was there something in your diaper??


SPell, Zac. You meant to say "sPell".


This reminded me of the time when you were about 11 months old and you pointed to the dryer and said "PISS!"

It took mommy and daddy several moments to figure out you were trying to say "spin!"

Thanks for the laughs, pumpkin.