$25 kids' meal

At a Japanese restaurant in Seattle, we ordered some sashimi and sushi samplers, and some pieces with cooked fish for you. When the plate with colorful raw fish arrived, you dug in, picking one piece after another, dipped each in the spicy soy-wasabi, and gobbled it down, the previous piece still hanging from the side of your mouth. We attempted to take a few pieces, but quickly found the effort futile and ordered another plate to share between me and papa.

Papa took you to your very first soccer game, wearing the Seattle team jersey he bought for you online. At the game you watched people kick the ball, and ate chips. Meanwhile I took advantage of a rare chance to be alone, rented a bicycle and explored the town. In the afternoon i took you to a playground where you pretended to drive me to a soccer game. You gave me a soccer shirt, and chips to eat.

Not that you ever want to go to bed. But when we go to Seattle, it's even worse. Anything to get between a private moment between me and papa.

At daycare, Ms. Elena taught you about Beethoven. When you hear classical music, you point at the space between your ear and where the music flows and say "this is Beethoven."

We've been potty training. First day without diapers you had three accidents at daycare. Ms. Elena looked worn out and frustrated when I picked you up, and at night she told her husband about you. Since then, you made progress. Days when I come home with a bag of dirty laundry are getting lesser and lesser. Some days, you make it through daycare with no accident at all. Unfortunate at home it is a different story. With me, you act as though potty training never existed. When papa is around, you tell us when you need potty. Why not when it's only the two of us? Today I bought a box of dried cranberries. I decided to bribe you. For every potty you will get three cranberries. You've already proven that you are smarter than me. When you wanted to eat cranberries, you said you needed potty, although only one drop came out. Later you peed in your diapers again.

You love listening to stories from when you were a baby. "Tell me a story about baby Zoe." "Tell me another story..."

Kiss,

Mommy.