…sometimes I’m off-key when I sing”

These are words to a lulliby we listen to (and sing) each night. The song is a prayer in which Junior lists the occurances of his day with a chorus of “It’s really good to know how much You love me… Your love is with me all throughout my day!”

Every day you are growing taller, you have more wonderful words, you are doing new things – and testing those boundaries. : ) I really wouldn’t want it any other way!!

Let’s see… some of the new things you are doing:
* riding escalators (with Mommy or Daddy of course)
* sitting in big chairs (on your knees)
* enjoying the reading of bigger, longer books
* you say Hi! or Goodbye Everybody as you enter or leave a room
* laying on your back and blowing bubbles with your face in the water (not both at the same time) in the bathtub or swimming pool
* you empathize with others: when you see someone smiling, you say “mommy happy!” and you smile a huge smile
* greeting Macy and Jake by name (and sometimes with kisses) when you see them
* no lie, you can almost count to 10 (it’s kind of freaking your Dad and me out)

Tuesday night, you came to Gospel choir practice with me (because Daddy was working). You were SO incredibly sweet. You sat on my lap (or danced on my lap) most of the practice, kissing my cheeks, snuggling into my neck, rubbing my nose with yours, patting my legs or kcking your feet to the beat of the music. At one point, you got off my lap to stand in the middle of the floor (surrounded by the choir) and danced your little heart out!! You slapped your legs to the beat and directed the entire soprano section to join you! You bring SUCH joy to everyone you meet!

And I get to be your Mom – How do I rate?!?!

Okay, enough babble… I love you Peanut!

Big, beautiful snow flakes, a labrador puppy, Hannah and her snow tower, Park Avenue, snow blankets on trees, and nice old ladies…

…another wonderful day

Okay, so this picture pretty much sums up today’s adventure:

What in the world are you people doing to me now?

We took you tubing at a local snow tubing place. The website says that it is great for all ages – even babies – as they have different hills, etc. So we planned and organized and packed and…

then drove about an hour (while you and Daddy napped). We got you, Daddy and me all suited up, paid our admission, and headed off for our adventure – all of us a bit unsure about what we were getting ourselves into. The three hills looked pretty much the same and teenagers were loving them (which made us wonder whether we were in the right place); there was no orientation or introduction to the process; we started by pulling you on a tube up to this person who attached your tube to these hooks to tow you up the hill. The plan was that I would get in the tube before that happened, but the worker hooked you up so fast that I had to chase it and jump on it, saying “We’re not ready!” (which did not give any of confidence about what was to come). We got to the top of a pretty large hill, they sternly told us to get off faster. Another teenage worker explained, “You just have to throw her off when you’re nearing the top.” Yeah, uh huh. Right. (Clearly, no clue). Then we asked around for which run down this big hill was for babies… no one seemed to know. Finally, this other person said that we wanted the first hill – they get steeper as you go. Okay, so we were definitely going down the first hill… Neither you nor I was sure about this. Yet another teenage worker gave us a push and off we went… as we neared the top of the drop off, I couldn’t see the bottom…. I just squeezed you tight and hoped we stayed in that round piece of rubber! I cheered reassuring things as I inwardly prayed… We got to the bottom, and we were both done.

I pulled you around in the tube by another Mom who was pulling around her 2 little girls. You enjoyed watching them, but you never decided you loved it.

We asked for a refund, and went inside to change clothes and have a snack.

We met this sweet little girl and her parents who were also from our town.

You ended up playing with her for a bit… then we went to the YMCA in Batavia to salvage a little play. After having some funning running around a gym, we headed home.

All in all, it was quite a day. It was fun to spend the day outside and with each other. I think we will hold off on the tubing for another year or two…

By the way? I love your adventuresome spirit! You really are an awesome kid!

Love you Peanut,
*a tired Mommy

I walked in the door after teaching Monday night, and you were grinning ear to ear, kicking your little legs as Daddy held you, and you said “Happy Day Mama!”

That is your way to say Happy Birthday. I actually much prefer it. Happy Day! Indeed!

Yesterday, your Mommy turned 40 years old. It’s strange to say and stranger to write. I don’t feel 40… whatever that means. But people have very strange reactions to the news. Many look at your sympathetically. “Ohhhh,” they say with a sad and concerned look on their faces, as if you told them of a diagonsis of an illness.

I want you to know that many beautiful things come with getting older… You are able to empathize with others in more thoughtful and compassionate ways. You are wiser about how to spend your energy and time. You can integrate aspects of your life in ways that make you better at all of them. You can connect people you have met along different paths as a means to support them (and the cool thing is that you usually grow too). You can be much more patient and supportive of people who are still learning what you have learned. You can ride the waves

Also, getting older doesn’t happen on birthdays. It happens when you aren’t looking. You notice the after-effects – sure, the wrinkles show up, but also you notice the things you care about have changed… and I feel, for the better. You give less power to people who you have less respect to, regardless of their “position.” You choose people to spend time with who, just by spending time with them, help you to be a better person. You know that an afternoon with your daughter in a sled is not wasted time… it’s a much better investment than most anything you can do. You do more based on the person you want to be, and less based on how others will react. You are better able to appreciate beauty – in the snowflakes, in your server’s personality at a restaurant, in the kindness one driver shows another, in eloquent words of a pastor, in the amazing voice of a Gospel choir soloist or the collective voice of 1000 people.
without getting as beat up by them.

I had an AMAZING “Happy Day!” It started with breakfast with you and your class – we brought in oatmeal, craisins, cheeries, raisins, bananas, strawberries, brown sugar and syrup. We got to read to you and watch you with your friends. (You really love it at daycare- what a blessing that is!!)

Then, after a little work, Daddy and I went to the bookstore and browsed… how fun! Then we picked you up and took you to the museum. You and I rode the choo choo train and giggled and giggled and giggled. We had SUCH a great time.

After dinner, you helped me open presents from both Grandma and Grandpa’s, took a bath and you snuggled in for bed. Daddy and I went out to dinner with Aunti Judi and Uncle Jim. What a perfect Happy Day!

Thanks for making my day so very special! I love you Peanut, with all my heart!
*Mommy

Last Saturday, you and Daddy had a playdate with one of Daddy’s friends and her daughter, Marissa. She is a couple months younger than you. When you came back home at 1:30pm you were out like a light. Daddy was all smiles… said you all had a FANTASTIC time!! This is what Daddy has to say about the day:

You made a new friend today, Marissa. Marissa is the daughter of one of dad’s coworkers. We went over to her house and you two played all morning long. You played with the Barbie ATV and the dancing Dora. You played in her room, bouncing on the bed and playing with the Dora kitchen. Then you two silly girls went downstairs and let me spin you around and around in a chair. You two giggled and giggled. It was a lot of fun to watch. Then you two ate some lunch together. When we left you gave Marissa a big hug and kiss. It was great. We are hoping to go over and play sometime soon.

We love you very much, Daddy

Here are some pictures from the day: