My little girl,
Papa got a new job in Seattle. This is our chance to leave Texas, something we've been wanting and trying to do for a long time. Papa left yesterday on a 3.5 day drive, his car packed with essentials. He is sad to be apart from us, and laments that he'll miss out on your growth and on the fun - flying you like an airplane on his long legs, watching you get excited while viewing Dora, chasing you around the house as you yell "I'm running naked," practicing the alphabet with you in the bathtub, and the list is long.
All other life form is staying behind - you and I, Alcatraz, and the plants. I'm looking for ways to join papa without having to quit my job. At some point we'll just go, with or without a job, and be all together again. Until then, it will be challenging for us all.
On the way home from daycare yesterday, we got stuck at every possible red light. It had been a long day. I was tired, not feeling well, and I was sad with papa gone, and still feeling the effects of surgery. At one of the lights I turned around and said "I love Zoe." Your unexpected reply "I love mamma" made up for everything. Of all the good things that happened to us, you are the best of them all.
And in fact, many good things happened to us this year. Only a year a go we were living on the creepy East side, concerned about income and expenses, and the future looked bleak. Then I got a good job, we moved to a nice neighborhood, papa found an exciting job in a beautiful city... Too bad things can't be perfect. But we'll get over this and be all together.
Love,
Mommy
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Little things to remember
Little Zoe,
Here are a few of everyday scenes to remember:
We were having dinner at a friends' house who own a big dog that loves to eat human food. It was getting late, so while waiting for dinner, I gave you a piece of chicken. You ate it with appetite as you explored your surroundings. The dog, in the meantime was following you around. When you were done, I gave you another piece. The dog snooped closer, and quick as a flash, snatched the chicken from your hand. Shocked, you started crying, "my chicken, my chicken." We held you and explained that the dog was hungry too. Later you were playing with Victor's toys, pretending to make soup. I asked about the ingredients, and whether you added chicken as well. You said, "no, dog ate chicken."
When you saw the gift I bought for Oona's birthday, you got excited: "open! open!" you said. I explained that it was for Oona, and I knew you understood, but you kept insisting with that little smile of yours that I open the box. As a kid, I remember buying gifts for friends' birthdays, and wanting to keep it. I figured most kids are the same. When you insisted, I pulled out a second box, with the same toy, and gave you your gift. You were happy. Later I learned that Charlotte's mom did the same.
On Charlotte's birthday I asked if you wished your friend a happy birthday. You faced Charlotte, and started singing "Happy birth day to Charlotte." Charlotte's mom and I were spellbound at how beautifully you sang the song. We went quiet and listened to you, teary eyed.
When I had a surgery, Papa brought you to the hospital after daycare. When you saw me, you understood it was serious, but you weren't scared. You just wanted to be close to me. I explained that I was hurting, and that I had a booboo. At night you both stated in the room with me. In the morning, I woke up to your voice calling "mammina, mammina" and your foot steps, running toward me. You got off your bed, climbed up next to me, cuddled, and fell asleep again.
Friday, May 4, 2012
Me, Mine, I
Baby Love,
Lately Me, Mine and I have become the words of your choice. Based on my readings about child development, this is supposed to be normal, but I wonder if you are taking it too far. Maybe because you're a first born. But I think the other culprit is daycare. They don't do a good job at teaching you about "sharing." We try to counterbalance this at home, and I hope you'll grow out of it at some point.
On the other hand, sometimes you're very conscious of others. When you notice that a dish is missing on my or papa's plate, you put it on, and you even share your very last olive, which is your favorite thing in the world.
On another topic, here are some cute things you've been saying lately:
”I need help” - when you want assistance with something you are doing, such as putting on my pajamas. "I do it. I do it" - when you want to do things on your own, without help.
"For me?" - When you see something you like, such as a soap bar, a brochure, or anything else.
Patting the space next to you in bed, you say "Sleep right here." - When you want mommy to lie down next to you until you fall a sleep.
Love,
Mommy
Lately Me, Mine and I have become the words of your choice. Based on my readings about child development, this is supposed to be normal, but I wonder if you are taking it too far. Maybe because you're a first born. But I think the other culprit is daycare. They don't do a good job at teaching you about "sharing." We try to counterbalance this at home, and I hope you'll grow out of it at some point.
On the other hand, sometimes you're very conscious of others. When you notice that a dish is missing on my or papa's plate, you put it on, and you even share your very last olive, which is your favorite thing in the world.
On another topic, here are some cute things you've been saying lately:
”I need help” - when you want assistance with something you are doing, such as putting on my pajamas. "I do it. I do it" - when you want to do things on your own, without help.
"For me?" - When you see something you like, such as a soap bar, a brochure, or anything else.
Patting the space next to you in bed, you say "Sleep right here." - When you want mommy to lie down next to you until you fall a sleep.
Love,
Mommy
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
New class
My little baby,
Today was your first day in your new class, and a new teacher.
For the last two weeks you've been spending a little time each day in this class, with the "older" kids, to get acclimated to your prospective environment. And today you made the ultimate move. Your new class is called "The Ducklings." I've been preparing you as best I could, by telling you how much you've grown, and that you'll be moving to Ms. Erica's class with Charlotte, Ellie, and Oona, because you're not a baby anymore. I've been telling you that you'll still see Ms. Elena in the playground and around the building... Ms.Elena will still be teaching the Lady Bugs class.
I was nervous dropping you off today. You looked sad, a little confused, and didn't want me to leave, although you didn't resist either. Ms. Erica offered to take you to the window to wave goodbye. I think that's a very sad scene. I know you miss Ms. Elena, and it will take some getting used to the way Ms. Erica runs her class. But you'll be learning more things by being with your peers and older kids.
You already know most of the kids in your new class, because when you first joined daycare, you were together. Slowly each child moved up a class. You were the youngest, so you joined them last. We could have waited two-three more months, but you are so far ahead of everyone else, and the new kids that joined Ms. Elena's class are younger and so much shorter than you, you looked like their babysitter. And now, you are the youngest again.
When I came to pick you up, you were playing with Jacob. You all ran to me. Alexander started screaming "Zoe's mom, Zoe's mom," and pointed at my picture on the door. All the kids asked for their mommy. Some got tears. I told each one that I came a little early today, and that his/her mom will come very soon. Then we all played together.
Love,
Mommy
Today was your first day in your new class, and a new teacher.
For the last two weeks you've been spending a little time each day in this class, with the "older" kids, to get acclimated to your prospective environment. And today you made the ultimate move. Your new class is called "The Ducklings." I've been preparing you as best I could, by telling you how much you've grown, and that you'll be moving to Ms. Erica's class with Charlotte, Ellie, and Oona, because you're not a baby anymore. I've been telling you that you'll still see Ms. Elena in the playground and around the building... Ms.Elena will still be teaching the Lady Bugs class.
I was nervous dropping you off today. You looked sad, a little confused, and didn't want me to leave, although you didn't resist either. Ms. Erica offered to take you to the window to wave goodbye. I think that's a very sad scene. I know you miss Ms. Elena, and it will take some getting used to the way Ms. Erica runs her class. But you'll be learning more things by being with your peers and older kids.
You already know most of the kids in your new class, because when you first joined daycare, you were together. Slowly each child moved up a class. You were the youngest, so you joined them last. We could have waited two-three more months, but you are so far ahead of everyone else, and the new kids that joined Ms. Elena's class are younger and so much shorter than you, you looked like their babysitter. And now, you are the youngest again.
When I came to pick you up, you were playing with Jacob. You all ran to me. Alexander started screaming "Zoe's mom, Zoe's mom," and pointed at my picture on the door. All the kids asked for their mommy. Some got tears. I told each one that I came a little early today, and that his/her mom will come very soon. Then we all played together.
Love,
Mommy
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