Dear Lila,
You have mentioned to me that you want to be a teacher and you have already started practicing for your future profession. You were sitting on the foyer bench after school yesterday while I was helping GuhGaw shower and when I came downstairs to get you, you were holding a book up and reciting the story in a calm, lilting voice. You said you were pretending all of our shoes on the floor were your students and you were reading to them. I love it!
Love,
Mom
Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Sunday, January 21, 2018
Food for Thought
Dear Lila,
We spent the afternoon at the American Museum of Natural History yesterday and you said you liked seeing the dinosaur bones, animal dioramas and miniature displays of Native American villages. Food is never far from your mind, though, so as we made our way to the Hall of Ocean Life or Hall of North American Forests, you kept spotting decals of a fork and knife on the floor and asking if we could follow those to the cafe instead. Sure, the sea otter diorama is interesting, but where's the ice cream? :-P
Love,
Mom
We spent the afternoon at the American Museum of Natural History yesterday and you said you liked seeing the dinosaur bones, animal dioramas and miniature displays of Native American villages. Food is never far from your mind, though, so as we made our way to the Hall of Ocean Life or Hall of North American Forests, you kept spotting decals of a fork and knife on the floor and asking if we could follow those to the cafe instead. Sure, the sea otter diorama is interesting, but where's the ice cream? :-P
Love,
Mom
Sunday, January 14, 2018
Star Reader
Dear Lila,
One of the truly magical things I have witnessed has been watching first GuhGaw and now you learn how to read. I have been a passionate reader ever since I was little (I had to start wearing glasses when I was 8 years old because I constantly read in the dark after I was supposed to go to sleep) and I am so happy that all of my kids love to read as much as I do. You have always enjoyed looking at books and being read to and I am so excited for all of the books that will become accessible to you as you become a better reader.
I am also excited to see how excited you are about becoming a better reader. Your school regularly tests your reading level and you came home the other day and proudly told me that you are now reading at a C level (A is the first level and then you move up from there). You said, "Before my birthday, Mrs. Ryf asked me to read this book but I couldn't. Then after my birthday, my real birthday*, she asked me to read it and I could! She gave me a hug and said I was an amazing reader!"
I am so proud of you, sweetie!
Love,
Mom
*For your 5th birthday, we had a birthday party with friends and family in early December, a birthday party at school the week before winter break started, a small cake at home on your actual birthday and then our celebration at American Girl Place the day after your birthday, so you got a little confused as to when your "real" birthday was, haha!
One of the truly magical things I have witnessed has been watching first GuhGaw and now you learn how to read. I have been a passionate reader ever since I was little (I had to start wearing glasses when I was 8 years old because I constantly read in the dark after I was supposed to go to sleep) and I am so happy that all of my kids love to read as much as I do. You have always enjoyed looking at books and being read to and I am so excited for all of the books that will become accessible to you as you become a better reader.
I am also excited to see how excited you are about becoming a better reader. Your school regularly tests your reading level and you came home the other day and proudly told me that you are now reading at a C level (A is the first level and then you move up from there). You said, "Before my birthday, Mrs. Ryf asked me to read this book but I couldn't. Then after my birthday, my real birthday*, she asked me to read it and I could! She gave me a hug and said I was an amazing reader!"
I am so proud of you, sweetie!
Love,
Mom
*For your 5th birthday, we had a birthday party with friends and family in early December, a birthday party at school the week before winter break started, a small cake at home on your actual birthday and then our celebration at American Girl Place the day after your birthday, so you got a little confused as to when your "real" birthday was, haha!
Monday, January 8, 2018
Sleeping Arrangements
Dear Lila,
We went to IKEA yesterday and bought a cute doll bed for you. I said we (meaning Daddy, haha) would build it and then you could put it next to your actual bed. You said you would rather put it on top of your bed and I said your doll might fall on the floor then. You got this serious look on your face and said matter-of-factly, "It's just a doll, Mama."
Schooled.
Love,
Mom
We went to IKEA yesterday and bought a cute doll bed for you. I said we (meaning Daddy, haha) would build it and then you could put it next to your actual bed. You said you would rather put it on top of your bed and I said your doll might fall on the floor then. You got this serious look on your face and said matter-of-factly, "It's just a doll, Mama."
Schooled.
Love,
Mom
Saturday, January 6, 2018
Spirit Animal
Dear Lila,
At bedtime tonight, you asked me if everyone dies. Here is how the conversation went:
Me: Yes, everyone dies eventually.
You: Even God?
Me: Well, no. God doesn't die because God isn't a person.
You: What is he?
Me: He's kind of like . . . a spirit.
You: Like Elena [of Avalor]'s spirit fox?
Me, out loud: Sure.
Me, in my head: Hahaha! Yes, God is exactly like a spirit fox.
I love talking to you and hearing the creative things you say!
Love,
Mom
At bedtime tonight, you asked me if everyone dies. Here is how the conversation went:
Me: Yes, everyone dies eventually.
You: Even God?
Me: Well, no. God doesn't die because God isn't a person.
You: What is he?
Me: He's kind of like . . . a spirit.
You: Like Elena [of Avalor]'s spirit fox?
Me, out loud: Sure.
Me, in my head: Hahaha! Yes, God is exactly like a spirit fox.
I love talking to you and hearing the creative things you say!
Love,
Mom
Friday, January 5, 2018
15 Questions
Dear Lila,
For fun, I asked you a bunch of questions at breakfast this morning and these were your unfiltered responses:
What is something I say a lot? I love you.
What makes me happy? Me.
What makes me sad? GuhGaw. (Hahaha! You probably said this because GuhGaw had been misbehaving all morning and I had yelled at him.)
How tall am I? 40.
What is my favorite thing to do? Hang out with me.
What is my favorite food? Coffee.
What is my favorite drink? Coffee.
If I could go anywhere, where would I go? Vacation.
How do I annoy you? (When you didn't understand that, I rephrased it to "What do I do that bothers you?") Nothing. (Awww!)
What is my favorite TV show? Cooking shows.
What is my favorite music to listen to? Classical.
What is my job? To take care of kids.
How old am I? 100. (Umm, not quite!)
What is my favorite color? Purple.
How much do you love me? You stretched your arms out as much as you could and said, "This much!" (Right back at ya, babe!)
Love,
Mom
For fun, I asked you a bunch of questions at breakfast this morning and these were your unfiltered responses:
What is something I say a lot? I love you.
What makes me happy? Me.
What makes me sad? GuhGaw. (Hahaha! You probably said this because GuhGaw had been misbehaving all morning and I had yelled at him.)
How tall am I? 40.
What is my favorite thing to do? Hang out with me.
What is my favorite food? Coffee.
What is my favorite drink? Coffee.
If I could go anywhere, where would I go? Vacation.
How do I annoy you? (When you didn't understand that, I rephrased it to "What do I do that bothers you?") Nothing. (Awww!)
What is my favorite TV show? Cooking shows.
What is my favorite music to listen to? Classical.
What is my job? To take care of kids.
How old am I? 100. (Umm, not quite!)
What is my favorite color? Purple.
How much do you love me? You stretched your arms out as much as you could and said, "This much!" (Right back at ya, babe!)
Love,
Mom
Tuesday, January 2, 2018
Tapped Out
Dear Lila,
After you came home from school today, I changed you into your tap class leotard and tights and took you to class. When we arrived at the building, the elevator that takes us up to the dance studio had an "out of order" sign on it. So we walked to the door that leads to the stairs that go up to the dance studio and that door had a sign on it that said the buzzer to the dance studio was broken. So, um, there was no way to get to the studio or let anyone in the studio know that we were downstairs waiting. And it was FREEZING outside. Two of your classmates soon showed up and their parents were equally confused as to how we were supposed to get to class. I found the number to the reception desk and called . . . and called . . . and called. But no one answered. Another mom checked her emails and there it was: We had missed the part that said that the dance school's winter break was through January 2; classes would resume on January 3. The public schools started up again today so I had assumed that your dance class would, too. *sigh* I dragged you out into the freezing cold afternoon for nothing!
Then, on the walk back home, you suddenly had to pee very badly, even though you had gone before we left the house. We were nowhere near home or even PoiPoi's apartment, so I had to sneak you into a nearby grocery store's employee bathroom. We technically weren't supposed to be in there, plus the bathroom is the size of a postage stamp--there's barely room for the toilet and sink, much less two people wearing puffy winter coats and carrying bulky purses and backpacks. So we're in this crawl space of a bathroom and I somehow have to take off (and find somewhere to put) your parka, scarf, hat and backpack and oh yeah, you can't even just pull down your pants and go because you are wearing a FRIGGEN LEOTARD, so I also have to find the room to bend down and pull down your pants, tights and leotard, all while you are wiggling and whining and I am freaking out because I don't want you to wet yourself and then go back out in the cold . . . there was really no room in the bathroom, so I ended up throwing all of the winter gear and bags on a hummus display next to the bathroom and I had to leave the door open while I peeled off your clothes because that was the only way I was going to have room to bend down and reach them. I don't know if any customers or employees saw but I was too stressed out to care at that point.
Good news, I took off everything in time and you peed in the toilet and not on yourself, we didn't get in trouble for using a non-public restroom and the manager didn't approach us afterward and ban us from the store. But gah, all of that when we didn't even have to leave the house!
Love,
Mom (who will check school vacation dates more closely from now on)
After you came home from school today, I changed you into your tap class leotard and tights and took you to class. When we arrived at the building, the elevator that takes us up to the dance studio had an "out of order" sign on it. So we walked to the door that leads to the stairs that go up to the dance studio and that door had a sign on it that said the buzzer to the dance studio was broken. So, um, there was no way to get to the studio or let anyone in the studio know that we were downstairs waiting. And it was FREEZING outside. Two of your classmates soon showed up and their parents were equally confused as to how we were supposed to get to class. I found the number to the reception desk and called . . . and called . . . and called. But no one answered. Another mom checked her emails and there it was: We had missed the part that said that the dance school's winter break was through January 2; classes would resume on January 3. The public schools started up again today so I had assumed that your dance class would, too. *sigh* I dragged you out into the freezing cold afternoon for nothing!
Then, on the walk back home, you suddenly had to pee very badly, even though you had gone before we left the house. We were nowhere near home or even PoiPoi's apartment, so I had to sneak you into a nearby grocery store's employee bathroom. We technically weren't supposed to be in there, plus the bathroom is the size of a postage stamp--there's barely room for the toilet and sink, much less two people wearing puffy winter coats and carrying bulky purses and backpacks. So we're in this crawl space of a bathroom and I somehow have to take off (and find somewhere to put) your parka, scarf, hat and backpack and oh yeah, you can't even just pull down your pants and go because you are wearing a FRIGGEN LEOTARD, so I also have to find the room to bend down and pull down your pants, tights and leotard, all while you are wiggling and whining and I am freaking out because I don't want you to wet yourself and then go back out in the cold . . . there was really no room in the bathroom, so I ended up throwing all of the winter gear and bags on a hummus display next to the bathroom and I had to leave the door open while I peeled off your clothes because that was the only way I was going to have room to bend down and reach them. I don't know if any customers or employees saw but I was too stressed out to care at that point.
Good news, I took off everything in time and you peed in the toilet and not on yourself, we didn't get in trouble for using a non-public restroom and the manager didn't approach us afterward and ban us from the store. But gah, all of that when we didn't even have to leave the house!
Love,
Mom (who will check school vacation dates more closely from now on)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)