Fun at Nickelodeon

Dear Mackenzie,

To celebrate JieJie's upcoming birthday, we went to Nickelodeon Universe yesterday. We also brought along two of JieJie's best friends and arrived right when the amusement park opened. Spending an entire day at an amusement park while taking care of two extra kids was exhausting and I was definitely feeling it by the early afternoon when we were all in line for the Dora train ride. The line was the longest one but it was actually a fun ride because the tracks were in the air and went all around the park, so you were able to see everything from a cool perspective (we even spotted Daddy and Second GuhGaw playing at the arcade and called down to them but they didn't hear us)--plus it was a slow, calm ride, which I appreciated! The best part of the ride, though, was when you looked around and then leaned against me, hugged my arm, smiled so sweetly and said to me, "I having fun at Nickelodeon." And suddenly all of my exhaustion (and slight nausea from a super fast and spinny roller coaster I had ridden earlier) was totally worth it! By the way, you also got to meet Chase! The way you smiled and hugged him--OMG!

In other cute news, I was cutting pieces of mozzarella for JieJie's favorite mushroom pasta dish today and not only did you eat practically half the ball because you liked it so much, you kept calling it "marmella."

Love,

Mom

Not A Good Good-Night Routine

Dear Mackenzie,

-This morning, you were in my room and I started walking downstairs. You called out for me to wait for you, so I walked back to the top of the staircase. When I met you there, you said to me sadly, "You forgot me."

-School starts exactly at noon for you, so when you hear the church bells ring at noon, you know it's time to go inside the school building. We took a little longer to walk to school today because we stopped to look at Christmas decorations so when the bells rang today, we were still about half a block away from school. You got this really concerned look on your face and started running toward your school. You were so worried about being late! A few weeks ago, we were also half a block away when the bells started ringing and you started screaming, "Ms. Kiera! Wait for me! I'm coming!"

-Speaking of screaming, when I picked you up from school today, you screamed at the top of your lungs to your classmates, "Byyyyyyyeeeeee! Byyyyyyyyyeeeeee!" You really are nothing like JieJie, who was so quiet at your age that her teacher barely heard her speak all year!

-Yesterday when I picked you up, your classmate Finn walked past you and you demanded, "Finn! Say bye to me!" #bossy

-Every night, I do the same good-night routine with JieJie and Second GuhGaw where I say, "Good night! I love you! Sweet dreams! See you in the morning! Who's my favorite Lilabear/Sawyerbear?" I started saying the routine to you when I tucked you in tonight but you interrupted me and said, "I don't like saying good night to you. Only JieJie and GuhGaw like that. I just want to go to sleep. Mama, can you go away?" Ew.

Love,

Mom

Masking Up

Dear Mackenzie,

Since you were born right before the Covid pandemic, you have grown up seeing people wear face masks. It has never not been a part of your life and when you were younger, you would put on a mask even when you didn't have to, just because you saw all of us doing it whenever we went out. Now that things are a little better, masks are no longer required in schools but your school sent out an email earlier this week saying that masks were recommended now that the flu and RSV are spreading so quickly. I don't love you wearing a mask at school because you are still so young, but I put half a dozen masks in your backpack and told you that your teacher might ask you to wear one at school so that you don't get sick or get anyone else sick. When I dropped you off at school yesterday, I didn't put a mask on you, as none of your classmates or even teachers were wearing them. But when I picked you up, you had one on and I asked your teacher if you had asked to put it on. She nodded and said that after you had hung up your jacket and backpack, you took out a mask and told her, "I have to wear a mask so that I don't get sick." Oh sweetie! You are so responsible! And more conscientious than half of Americans, many of whom are 15 times your age!

Other cute moments from yesterday:

-You have a comfy bed. You were in the living room literally next to our comfy couch. But you fell asleep on top of your wooden play table. I guess it's better for your back?

-We were watching TV and you saw a commercial where two men exchange holiday gifts and then kiss. You said, "Yuck! Two daddies kiss." I explained to you that men can kiss and women can kiss and that some families have two daddies and some have two mommies. You looked utterly astounded and confused by this revelation and I felt as I was blowing your mind. When you finally gathered your bearings and spoke, you said, "Can daddies go away? Can Daddy leave? I want another mommy!" Oh boy!

Love,

Mom

Giggly Girl

Dear Mackenzie,

I wish I could bottle up the sound of your laughter and listen to it whenever I needed a boost! I have videos of you laughing but it just isn't the same as hearing it in real-time. Little-kid giggles are the best and they are so contagiously happy! This morning, I went to the bathroom to moisten a small towel to wipe your face. When I went back to your room, you were laying on your floor so to be silly, I stood over you and dropped the towel onto your face. You erupted into a fit of giggles and when I took the towel off, you shouted gleefully, "Again!" Every time I dropped the towel on you, you giggled like crazy and shouted, "Again!" A few times, you caught the towel before it hit your face and threw it up in the air; when I caught it, you erupted with laughter. We must have tossed the towel back and forth two dozen times, until the towel was ice-cold and I said no more. *squeee!* The best!

Love,

Mom

Out With the Old, In With the New

Dear Mackenzie,

Notes from today:

-When you heard the front door chime go off, you said, "Eeek! Who home?"

-When I said you couldn't wear your Christmas pajamas yet, you asked, "Can me please wear dem?"

-After you woke up from your nap, you made your bed all on your own! I didn't even tell you to do that!

-You said "yep" and "nope" today and it just sounded so darn cute.

-I gave away a few things that you and your siblings haven't played with or even noticed in a very long time, including a small basketball hoop, baby activity table, Thomas the Tank Engine pillow and Snoopy lamp. I set these items in the living room and you of course started playing with them and declaring them your "favorite." I told you that you hadn't touched any of these in months, that you have plenty of other toys and that we need to make space for the new toys that you are going to get for Christmas. You seemed to understand . . . until the woman came to take the toys. When I opened the door, you were sitting at the top of the stairs and suddenly started screaming, "Don't give away my toys! Don't give away my toys!!!!!" You poor thing, you had the biggest tears streaming down your face. After the woman left (with your toys), I held you and talked to you until you were okay. I'm sorry I gave away your old toys but I promise you that you will love your new ones!

Love,

Mom

On Your Own

Dear Mackenzie,

A few nights ago at bedtime, you climbed onto your bed, took out your hair tie, put it back in the box, turned your llama night light on to the pink setting you prefer and laid down in bed--all by yourself. The next day, you knew to turn off the space heater when you left your room and when I asked you about it, you said matter-of-factly, "I turn it off because nobody in there." You also asked me, "Can I drop off myself to school?" And then yesterday, we went to a party at our friends' house and you were so good about asking to go to the bathroom every time you needed it. You were wearing underwear and you didn't have a single accident. I think maybe the third or fourth time you came over to us and said you needed to go potty, I asked Daddy to take you and he asked me to take you (even though I had taken you all of the other times!). We were still mid-debate when you turned around, walked toward the bathroom and said, "I take myself." Oh my! You're such a big girl now!

Love,

Mom

Getting Organized

Dear Mackenzie,

Memorable moments as of late:

-You like to keep me company in the kitchen while I am cooking and the other night while I was holding you and stirring the pasta, you said to me, "I love watching you cook. I love watching you do laundry. I love hugging you. I love kissing you." O.M.G!!!!!

-When I got a package from the porch and coyly said, "Oooh, there's a Christmas present in here!" you jumped up and down in the hallway so hard and shouted, "Kissmas! Kissmas! I so thited for Kissmas!"

-I went into your room and you had laid out two pairs of socks in a line on the floor. I asked you why you did that and you replied, "I organized my socks." My 3-year-old used the word "organized!"

-I was holding a cookie and feeding it to you. When I started talking to Daddy and got distracted, you said "Aaaahh aaaahh" and pulled my hand to put the cookie in your mouth. Hahaha!

Love,

Mom

Shooting For the Moon

Dear Mackenzie,

You are at that stage where anything you say is just so darn cute! I mean, you just have to look up at me with your big brown eyes and say, "Hi, Mama!" and I will seriously melt into a puddle of mush! Here is some recent cuteness:

-I told you that if you go outside without a jacket, you will get cold. You replied matter-of-factly, "That is true."

-JieJie offered you a toy you didn't want, so you wrinkled your nose and said, "No thank you."

-We play a game where you go to the other end of the room or hallway I'm standing in and I crouch down and say, "Three, two, one, HUGGIE!" Then you run toward me and I catch you in my arms and give you a big hug. The other day, I was in my room when you went to the end of the upstairs hallway and called out, "Mama! Come in the hallway! I want to run to you!"

-When I do something you like, such as play the aforementioned huggie game or spray your face with water during your shower, and you want me to repeat it, you say with the biggest smile on your face, "Again! Again!"

-Second GuhGaw wasn't sharing his toys so you came to me, put your hands on your hips and said, "Thoyer being mean." Then you waved your pointer finger up and down in the air and said, "He not being nice."

-We put up our Christmas decorations over the weekend and when we were done, you exclaimed, "Guys! Look at our living room! Look at our dining room! It so byoo-full!" 

-This morning, you were looking at the Christmas tree when you smiled a big sweet smile and said, "I so thited [excited] for Kiss-mas!"

-When we went to school today, your school had put up a giant 12-foot Christmas tree and when you walked into the room and saw it, your eyes lit up, your jaw dropped and you said, "Whoooooa." I mean, come on! Kids at Christmastime is the best! The joy and wonderment is sooooo heartwarming!

-Your current favorite book is Olivia and we read it every day at naptime and bedtime (you also always go to bed with your Olivia stuffie). We have read it so much that you can recite most of the pages. My favorite is when you say, "Sometimes she likes to bask in the sun." It just sounds so funny when you say it out loud for some reason. On the last page, Olivia's mom tells her, "You really wear me out but I love you anyway." Olivia responds, "I love you anyway, too." So now when you and I cuddle in bed, you say to me, "I love you anyway, too."

-By the way, you are finally sleeping in your own bed for the entire night! You slept with Daddy and me for the longest time, way longer than any of your siblings did, and while I loved the nighttime snuggles, I did not enjoy being jolted awake because you had headbutted me or jabbed my eye in your sleep. I also didn't like the fact that you always rotated your body until your head was against me and your feet were against Daddy, making us form a perfect H where you had all the space in our king-size bed while Daddy and I were pushed to the edges! You have slept in your room all night for five nights and so far, it's been good! You've woken up crying a few times but when I come in and comfort you, you usually go back to sleep. Wooo! I also got you a llama nightlight that changes colors and that seems to comfort you, too. When it arrived and I showed it to you, you were coming out of Daddy's office. Your face lit up and you ran back into Daddy's office and told him, "Daddy! Mama got me a--" Then there was a long pause and you ran back and looked at me because you didn't know the word "llama." You do now! And you actually like to carry your new nightlight all around the house with you during the day.

-As I was typing this post tonight, you were in my room looking out the window. You could see the moon clearly and started talking so cutely that I transcribed your words as you spoke them: "How you touch the moon? You need a very very very tall ladder? I can use my chair. It's a rocket ship. We can use it to touch the moon. It will work. [sticks thumb up] We will get that very very high moon." Is that just not the more adorable thing? And the part with you sticking your thumb up as confirmation. Where did you learn to do that? You are such a cutie!!

Love,

Mom

You Are Three Years Old!

Dear Mackenzie,

Last night, I asked you, "What is tomorrow?" You smiled a big cheeky grin and whispered with a twinkle in your eye, "Cake." You had spent the day watching me bake your birthday cake and asking me if you could have some. I kept saying no, but today you finally get to eat a piece of cake because IT IS YOUR BIRTHDAY! Happy birthday, Kenziebear! 

You are the cutest, sweetest, funniest 3-year-old and I absolutely love watching you grow up! First of all, you are the youngest kid in our family but by far the most independent, always wanting to do things on your own. Whether it's getting dressed or turning off the light, you often insist that you do it without anyone's help (strangely, you never insist on, ahem, cleaning up your toys by yourself!). Second of all, you are the smallest kid but definitely the loudest! You don't let your bigger siblings push you around at all and will yell at them if you believe they are being unfair or mean. I love that you stand up for yourself and that you aren't shy or timid. And you are quite the social butterfly! If we see one of your classmates on the way to school, you will scream his or her name as loud as you can. When your siblings have play dates, you tend to commandeer them and claim that the friend who is over is your friend and wants to play with you. Their friends don't mind this because they think you are so cute but as you can imagine, your siblings are not as thrilled with this!

You still love school and always walk in so happily and eagerly when your teachers open the doors. There were a couple days when you couldn't go to school because you were sick and you were so upset! You actually cried and said, "I want to go to 'cool! I not sick!" Your teacher told me that at school, you are super helpful and always want to assist with projects she's putting together. You also help your classmates, whether it's getting them a cup of water or leading them over to the rug for circle time. That is so sweet but, of course, I'm not at all surprised by that because you are super helpful at home, too! You constantly ask me if you can help me hang up the laundry, put away the folded clothes and mix whatever I'm cooking on the stove. You always rush to get my phone if I ask for it, to turn the TV on and off for me or to turn the faucet on and off when I wash my face. Sometimes when I have washed my hands and turn around to get the towel, you are holding it out for me! I often put on lotion after I finish cooking dinner because my hands are dry from being washed several times and now you bring my lotion to the dinner table before I even ask for it. You are so thoughtful and good at anticipating what others need!

You are the sweetest and you also have the biggest sweet tooth! You LOVE chocolate and ask for it constantly, sometimes first thing in the morning before you've even eaten breakfast! I have a sweet tooth, too, so there are always mint chocolate candies in the fridge or a bag of chocolates in the snack drawer and when I do say that you can have one, you run so eagerly to get it, unwrap it and pop it in your mouth! In addition to chocolate, you also love watching "Turning Red" and episodes of Peppa Pig and reading books together (current favorite titles are Olivia, Yummy Yucky, Tubby, I Like Fruit and your DC Super Hero Girls books). You love to dance and your current favorite songs to dance to are "Bad Decisions" by BTS, "Breakaway" by Kelly Clarkson, "You Drive Me Crazy" by Britney Spears and "Larger Than Life" by Backstreet Boys.

Like your mama and your older sister, you are a girly girl who enjoys playing with Barbies and baby dolls. You love dressing up with hats, scarves, sunglasses and other accessories and carrying bags stuffed with toys from room to room. You can tell which of your clothes are hand-me-downs from your brothers and when I try to dress you in them, you protest and say, "But I want to be a girl!" We have had many talks about how there are no boy clothes or girl clothes but just clothes. You don't seem convinced.

Other things about Mackenzie, age 3: 

-You know all of our routines for getting up in the morning, getting ready for school, going to bed, etc. and go along with them with minimal fuss. When I say it's time to brush, you brush. When I ask you to sit on the bottom of the stairs and wait for me to put your jacket on, you do it. 

-You make the CUTEST facial expressions! You are always so animated and adorable!

-You really like going shopping with me and have a bad habit of just pulling whatever catches your fancy off the shelf and plopping it into our basket without asking me first. Ahem.

-In your timeline, everything is either "now or tomorrow." If I say we're going to the zoo, you ask, "Now or tomorrow?"

-I am still impressed with how quickly you mastered potty training this past summer. Once I switched you into underwear, you had very few accidents. You wear underwear to school and you haven't had an accident yet (knock on wood). 

-You speak in such long sentences now. A recent example: "Let's go play in the attic after you finish the laundry."

-Sometimes, it can be a little frustrating talking to you because you'll be eating soup and I'll ask you how the soup is and you'll go, "What soup?" Or if you're playing with a teddy bear and I ask you what your teddy bear's name is, you ask, "What teddy bear?" Um, what?

-You are also in the "why" stage and asking why everything is the way it is. I am super excited to be going through this stage for the fourth time in my life.

I love everything about you, Kenziebear, and I ADORE being your mama. Happy birthday, sweetheart!

Love,

Mom

Your Budder

Dear Mackenzie,

Cute things you said recently:

Me: You can't get the eggs out of the fridge by yourself.

You: But I really strong! [flexes biceps] And I really big! [stands on toes]

Me: Do you want to cuddle with Daddy or with me?

You: Daddy and you. You my family!

You: Can I go near Doyer*? (because he was coughing recently and I told you to stay away from him so that you wouldn't get sick) He my budder**!

You, realizing the batteries in JieJie's toy camera are dead and trying to open the compartment where they are: I need to open this. Ugh, it really hard. I going to use my super powers to open it!

Me: Come eat breakfast.

You: I'm going to take my jacket off first so it doesn't get dirty. (oh my, such a good girl!)

*How you pronounce "Sawyer"

**How you pronounce "brother"

Love,

Mom

Mini Mama

Dear Mackenzie,

When you started potty training, you were scared to poop on the toilet and would cry when I made you do it. You thankfully outgrew that and are fine with it now but you clearly remember the days when I had to comfort you while you pooped on the potty. I was going to the bathroom this morning when you walked in and saw what I was doing (Going to the bathroom in private? What's that?). You walked right up next to me and said, "It gonna be fine. I here. I take care of you. You okay." Then you lovingly put your hand on my shoulder, patted my arm and looked at me with big, round, caring eyes. You continued the mom impression by then leaning on the tub and saying, "Let me know when you're done." And if that wasn't cute enough, you topped it by sighing, shaking your head and saying wearily, "I have so much work to do." Hahahaha! Who does that? Not your mom, does she? So stinkin' adorable!!!

Love,

Mom

Sweet Little Sister

Dear Mackenzie,

Whenever you leave a room, you have to bring as many toys of yours as I will let you. Even if we're just going downstairs for a quick drink of water, you insist on bringing a stuffed animal, blanket, sunglasses, flower girl basket and magnifying glass. Or your toy phone, pencil box, pumpkin bag filled with plastic Easter eggs and Wonder Woman action figure. You always tell me you neeeeed these things and the items you neeeeed change every time we leave a room. You never want to walk from one room to another empty-handed and as such, your toys are everywhere. On the couch, on my dining room chair, on top of the stairs, at the bottom of the stairs, in the hallway. I think JieJie also did this when she was your age but I can't remember your brothers doing it. Girls and their accessories, I guess!

Other cuteness from this week:

-The way you say "whobody" instead of just "who," as in "Whobody made this picture?"

-The way you pronounce lemonade "yemay."

-The way you say "darky" instead of just "dark."

-How much you love it when I bring you chicken meatballs when I pick you up from school. You ask for them every day I take you to school. Yesterday, I dropped you off and after you'd stepped inside the school doorway, you turned around and said, "Bye, Mama! You bring me meatballs when you pick me up?" And your teacher told me that later that afternoon when you were playing on the playground with your class, you were riding around in a Cozy Coupe when you stopped and asked her, "Is my mom going to bring me meatballs she she picks me up?" Hahaha! Yes, I got your meatballs! And I better tell Daddy to stock up on them when he goes to the grocery store!

-If you ask for something and I don't answer you right away, you widen your eyes, get really close to my face and ask me again.

-When I tell you to blow your nose harder, you blow while also bending your arms tightly at your side and stomping your foot.

-This is more ew than cute but one time you sneezed and when I looked over at you, a thick, 5-inch-long booger was dangling from your nostril!

-Second GuhGaw was being mean to you the other night and when he walked out of his room, he shut the light off even though you were still in there. You got scared and started crying. After I comforted you, I yelled at Second GuhGaw for doing that and he started crying. When you heard him, you ran up to him, hugged him and said, "I here! I take care of you! I go get a tiss-yoo!" You brought him a tissue and even wiped his face for him. You were so kind to your brother even after he had been mean to you!

Love,

Mom

Bang Bang

Dear Mackenzie,

When I was brushing Second GuhGaw's teeth tonight, you came into the bathroom with a toy gavel, gave me a side-eye and asked, "Mama, you want this for bang bang bang?" Hahaha! It was so random and funny!

Also, I gotta say, one of my favorite things about the little-kid stage is how you kids always dress up in the most eclectic ensembles. See below for most recent example!

Love,

Mom

Ever The World

Dear Mackenzie,

When I was brushing your teeth tonight, you looked up and said to me, "You the best mama ever the world." Your grammar left something to be desired but your sentiment did not! Day made! You the best little girl ever the world!

Love,

Mom

Little Caretaker

Dear Mackenzie,

I was watching a sad TV series this morning and started crying. You were next to me and immediately started comforting me, saying, "Mama, you sad? It's okay. I'm here. I take care of you." You hugged me and even stroked my head. Thank you for being such a sweetheart!

Love,

Mom

First Haircut

Dear Mackenzie,

One of your most impressive traits is the way that you handle everything like a boss! Whether it's going to the doctor for a shot, playing amid crashing waves in the ocean or starting your first day of school, you are always super confident and brave. Today, I took you to a salon for your very first haircut and you were so cool and unfazed, as if you have been getting haircuts for your entire life. You walked into the shop, sat in the fun convertible-shaped chair and just chilled and watched Peppa Pig on the TV while the stylist trimmed and blow-dried your hair. There was not even the slightest flinch. May you always look new experiences in the face like this and be like, bring it!

By the way, your newly trimmed hair is supes cute!

Love,

Mom

Me and U

Dear Mackenzie,

You woke up at 6:30am this morning and all morning, you asked me, "Is it school time? Is it time to get ready?" I love that you love school so much!

In other cute news, when I read you an alphabet book before school, I pointed out the letter u and said, "That's u." You replied, "That me?"

Love,

Mom

Pop It Up

Dear Mackenzie,

You love your junk food! You will never turn down chips or pretzels and you especially love popcorn. In fact, we went to the zoo today and I think that's all you ate! Before we left the house, you had maybe two bites of strawberry babka. Daddy packed a cheese quesadilla for you to eat at the zoo but I think you had maybe two bites of that as well. However, we met up with three different families at the zoo today, all three families bought bags of popcorn at various points throughout the day and you had several fistfuls of popcorn from each one of their bags! When Uncle David bought his popcorn, you kept holding out your snack cup for him to pour more popcorn in it. When Atina bought her popcorn, you kept holding out your hands for her to pour some into them. And when Connie gave you popcorn, you shoved your two handfuls of it into your mouth like a rabid squirrel. Hahaha!

Love,

Mom

Second Day of School!

Dear Mackenzie,

You rocked your second day of school as much as you rocked your first! When we arrived at school, your classmate Winston was already there and you walked over to him and showed him your Frozen backpack (you love your new backpack and even stopped on the way to school at one point to take it off and admire it). Then you reached for his hand and held it! So sweet!

When the teachers came out to bring you all inside, two of your classmates started crying but you just calmly walked into the hallway and looked at the crying kids with a slightly confused look on your face. It was like, guys! Why are you crying? There are toys inside!

Two other cute moments from today were when we were leaving the house and you exclaimed, "I forgot my school sign!" and when I picked you up and you exclaimed, "I forgot my chocolate!" I had to explain to you that the first-day-of-school sign and special chocolate treat from your teacher were just for the first day of school! Haha!

Love,

Mom

First Day of School!

Dear Mackenzie,

Today was your first day of school!! And after all those days of watching your older siblings go to school every morning, you were more than ready to do it, too! When we visited your school last week to meet your teachers (JieJie and Second GuhGaw went to the same nursery school and now you get their same teacher) and see the classroom, you had so much fun playing with the toy kitchen and toy food that you didn't want to leave so you could not wait to go back today. You woke up at 7am--when your usual wake-up time is closer to 9:30/10am--and kept asking me, "Is it time to go? Can we get ready? We go outside now?" Oh man, it was a looooong four and a half hours! Finally, at 11:30am, we left the house and walked to school. We still got there 10 minutes early and you kept saying, "I want to go inside. Can I go inside?" When your teacher finally opened the door, you walked straight in, looking back at me only once with a sweet smile on your face. I watched as you dutifully walked down the hallway and followed the teacher's instructions to wait on a colored circle. Not a tear, not a frown, not even (ahem) a wave or hug goodbye for your mama!

When I picked you up at the end of the day, your teacher said you had had a terrific day and acted as if you'd been there for years. You said you liked it and "colored and played with toys and ate a snack." You also liked the bag of Hershey's Kisses your teacher gave you as a first-day treat and promptly unwrapped and practically inhaled two of them! (You would have eaten the remaining three, also, but I wouldn't let you!) 

I'm so glad you had such a good day at school, Kenziebear! And I can't believe you have already started school! I really do feel as if Second GuhGaw was just in the same class but that was actually already four years ago!

Love,

Mom

Like A Baby

Dear Mackenzie,

This morning, you asked me, "Mama, can you hold me like a baby?" And of course I scooped you up and cradled you in my arms. I will hold you like a baby as long as I can, sweetheart, as long as I can!

Love,

Mom

Cookie Butter Monster

Dear Mackenzie,

You have a huge sweet tooth, just like your mama! You love cookies and candy and are always asking for chocolate. You hate peanut butter (just like JieJie) but you loooooove cookie butter! You always ask for a scoop of cookie butter on a spoon and when I give it to you, you lick the spoon clean!

Love,

Mom

The Best Ever

Dear Mackenzie,

Mackenzie-isms from this weekend:

-When you wanted to pick at a pimple on my face, I told you not to because it would hurt and you replied, "It gone be fine. It gone be fine, Mama."

-When JieJie and Second GuhGaw were arguing, you ran into the room and yelled at them, "Guys! Stop fighting! Stop fighting!"

-When I was dressing you, I put a pair of Second GuhGaw's shorts on you and you said, "I want to be a girl, Mama! I want to be a girl! I not a boy!"

-You were pretending the bench at the foot of my bed was your car and told me, "I go get go-sees." I asked, "Goat cheese?" You shook your head no. "Ghost pee?" Nope! I asked you what "go-sees" look like and you said, "Apples, bananas, bao-bao." Ohhhhhh! Groceries! Not ghost pee, haha!

-Yesterday, I showed you pictures of me when I was still pregnant with you and commented on the fact that you were so tiny, you could fit inside my stomach. Today, I told you to finish your milk so that you will grow bigger and you said, "I don't want to grow bigger because then I too big to fit in your stomach! I want to go in your stomach! Can I go in your stomach?"

-When we were cuddling in bed last night, you looked up at me and said, "You the best ever." Awww! You're the best ever, little girl!

Love,

Mom

Envious

Dear Mackenzie,

All of your siblings went through it and now you are, too: the stage where you keep talking about your genitals. It's totally normal, especially since you are potty trained now and noticing every time you use the bathroom that there are, you know, parts in between your legs. I realized we had to have a conversation about it when you were on the potty the other day and asked me, "Mama, do I have a peanuts?" Peanuts? Hahaha, you meant penis! I'm sure you heard that word from one of your brothers. I explained to you that boys have penises and girls have vaginas and now whenever you use the bathroom, you ask me, "Boys have penises and girls have 'ginas?" Today, though, you started saying, "I want to have a penis! Can I have a penis? I have a penis!" You even attempted to stand up and pee like you've seen your brothers do! Oh, dear. Now that is where you differ from JieJie because I don't remember her having penis envy!

Love,

Mom

Yum Yum Yum

Dear Mackenzie,

Cute Mackenzie-isms from today:

"I love straw-bees. They are yum yum yum." (said while rubbing your tummy)

"I need hair tie so you can see my boo-ful face." (whenever you ask me why I'm tying up your hair, I reply that I want to see your beautiful face!)

You: Are you hung-ee?

Me: Yes. Are you going to cook dinner for me?

You [looking at me with big eyes and your hand on your chest]: I just a kid! I can't cook dinner! I just a kid! I not a mom.

Love,

Mom

Boo-ful Day

Dear Mackenzie,

I love your signature dance! Whenever you hear a happy tune, you stick both of your pointer fingers up in the air and point them around while you bop your head from side to side. So cute!

Also cute was this morning when I was helping you wash your hands and you just looked up at me and said, "You boo-ful." Aww, thank you!

Love,

Mom

Training Day

Dear Mackenzie,

We were playing with your dollhouse this afternoon and I put one of the dolls in the living room. You said, "No, he go in da ain." I couldn't understand you and you said again, "He go in da ain." You said it a few more times and when it was clear I didn't know what you were saying, you said, "Ain. Too-too! Too-too!" It still took me a beat but then oooooohhhhh! Train! Choo-choo for train! Because that particular doll had come with the Fisher Price train. I love that you acted out "train" when I couldn't understand that you were saying "train!" Clever girl!

You are also clever because you are already potty trained! I started putting you in underwear a little over a week ago and you have only had three small accidents. The rest of the time, you have asked to go to the potty when you need to pee and have been able to hold your pee until you are on the potty. Even when we go out and don't have quick access to a bathroom, you are able to hold your pee for hours. There were also a couple times when you woke up in the morning and your nighttime diaper was completely dry. I am so impressed! I was dreading the process of potty training for the fourth time but you have been the easiest kid to train!

Love,

Mom

Staying Dry

Dear Mackenzie,

Yesterday, we woke up at 8am to get ready and catch a ferry to Governors Island. You peed on the potty before we left and then I put you in a pull-up diaper since we were going out and I didn't want to deal with accidents in the car or anywhere else. But you didn't pee at all the entire day! Your diaper was dry every time I checked it and when Daddy set up the portable potty for you after lunch, you sat on it for awhile but eventually said you didn't have to pee. When we got back to the car at 3pm, I thought for sure that I would have to change your diaper by then, but it was still dry! When we got back home around 4pm, still dry! I put you on the potty at home and then, wooosh! Lots of pee! I can't believe you held it in for eight hours!

Ironically, your diaper stayed dry the entire day but we did not! It was a hot, bright, sunny summer day except for two HUGE rainstorms. We actually lucked out during both storms. During the first one, we had just finished eating lunch underneath a gigantic umbrella in one of the outdoor eating areas. It had been super sunny and then suddenly, the sky turned gray and buckets of water starting pouring down on us. Well, not us, because we were safely seated underneath the big umbrella but we did watch dozens of other less-lucky island-goers scramble for cover under whatever building archways were closest to them.

That storm lasted about 15 minutes and then the sun immediately started shining again. We explored more of the island, enjoying the views of the Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty, walking around an old fort, getting Mexican popsicles and stopping in an open field to toss around a football. The sky started turning gray again and we decided to catch the next ferry back to Brooklyn. On our way to the ferry dock, it started to drizzle and then once we stepped foot on the dock, it started to POUR. We ran for cover under an awning and because we had gone to the dock a little earlier, we were near the front of the line and could therefore stand under the awning; people who came later were not so fortunate and had to stand at the back of the line directly in the rain. However, this second storm was so intense that we still got pretty drenched because it was raining so hard and the wind kept blowing that rain sideways onto us. It actually felt as if we were on a water ride at Disney World: The dock was rocking back and forth on the water and every time the wind blew rain on everyone, we all screamed and shouted! A woman commented that you had the best seat in the house because you were seated in your stroller with the cover over you and all of us standing around you to block you from the rain. You still got scared, though, and insisted on holding my hand. You cried out, "I want to go on the boat!" Thankfully, we were soon able to board the ferry and the storm stopped by the time we disembarked in Brooklyn. It was crazy but we were able to laugh about it once we were home, showered and dry!

Oh, and I have another Mackenzie-is-so-helpful anecdote: We actually went to Governors Island to meet up with Aunt Sarin and her daughter/your cousin Julietta. Julietta let you wear her helmet and ride her scooter and when it was time for us to say bye, you not only gave Julietta back her helmet, but insisted on putting it on her head and trying to buckle the buckle for her, too. You're always such a good helper!

Love,

Mom

Potty Training Star

Dear Mackenzie,

Last night, you asked to "go potty train" whenever you had to pee and didn't have any accidents. Then this morning, you woke up around 7am and asked, "Can I go pee?" I took you to the bathroom and when I took off your nighttime diaper, it was completely dry! Go Mackenzie! And as I was writing this blog post, you were playing on the floor next to me and asked to go potty. Today was another dry-diaper-accident-free day, woohoo! Are you already potty trained?! Are we done with potty training?!

Love,

Mom

Potty Time

Dear Mackenzie,

We officially started potty training today! I had been putting it off because I just didn't want to deal with the messes but you ROCKED it today! I put you in your first pair of underwear this morning, took you to the bathroom every half hour and you only had one small accident the entire day. In fact, it was such a small accident that I thought the tiny puddle of liquid on the floor was water (but you informed me that it was pee). By the evening, you were even saying, "I need to go potty train!" whenever you felt the need to go to the bathroom. Whoo! Yay Mackenzie!

When we are upstairs, you just use my toilet but for downstairs, Daddy bought a cute little Minnie Mouse potty seat. It has buttons that make cheering sounds and flushing noises and you were SO excited to use it that you whipped off your underwear before Daddy had even finished putting it together! We were in the living room watching him assemble it when I felt something soft fall on my foot. When I looked down, I saw your underwear and your naked tushee. You couldn't wait to sit on the new potty seat! So funny!

And here are some other recent funny (non-potty-related) moments from you:

-After we watched some BTS videos, you said, "Jungkook have something on his mouth." I told you that it was his lip ring; I have earrings that I wear in my ears but he has one that he wears on his lip. You scrunched up your nose in disgust and said, "That yucky. He should wear earring in his ear."

-You were wearing just underwear and your bee backpack, holding one of my face masks like a slingshot and creeping around saying, "I shoot monsters, piew piew! Go away go away! Mama, I shoot monsters away from you. Can I shoot your butt?" Huh? Were the monsters in my butt?!

-You often dress up in this particular outfit: Second GuhGaw's bucket hat, one Anna glove (just one because we can't find the other one), your Baby Shark fuzzy slippers and your bee backpack. Sometimes, you put on your red heart sunglasses.

-When you are fighting with one of your siblings over a toy, I often tell the older kid to give it to you since you are little. The other day, you did my job for me when you and Second GuhGaw wanted the same toy truck and you yelled at him, "I s'posed to play that! You s'posed to gimme dat! I little! I little!"

-A variation of the above is when I tell the older kids to give you something because you are the baby. And the other day when you were again fighting over a toy with Second GuhGaw and he wouldn't give it to you, you started crying and screaming, "I the baby! I the baby! I the baby!"

Love,

Mom

Say Cheese!

Dear Mackenzie,

You are a picky eater and there aren't a ton of foods you will eat but you do like CHEESE! Oh my gosh, you eat so much cheese! You used to wolf down string cheese (sometimes three in one sitting) but now you prefer sliced cheddar cheese and this afternoon, you ate NINE SLICES! I initially only gave you three slices but then you finished them and asked for more so I gave you one more slice--and then you kept asking for more until I finally cut you off at nine. Yeesh! Your Chinese zodiac sign is a pig but maybe you are actually a mouse?

Love,

Mom

Beachy Keen

Dear Mackenzie,

When it comes to the ocean, you have no fear! When we went to the beach a couple of weeks ago, you loved being in the water and couldn't get enough of it, even when some of the bigger waves crashed over you and knocked you down. We went to the beach again today and you were the same: You couldn't wait to get in the water and let the waves hit you! I love how happy you are in the ocean! I also loved seeing how much fun you had with JieJie in the ocean. At one point, she was sitting at the edge of the water with you facing her in her lap. Every time a wave came and picked you two up, you both squealed, laughed and joyfully clung to each other. It was such a sweet picture of sisterhood!

Also sweet was how helpful you were today! When it was time to go home and you saw me gathering up all of the beach toys, you immediately ran around and helped me collect the rest of them. You gave everyone their flip flops and when we were in the changing area, you held up the plastic bag for us to put our wet bathing suits in while we changed into our dry clothes. I didn't even ask you to do that; you just saw how you could be useful and did it. Thank you so much, sweetie!

Love,

Mom

Blessed Baby

Dear Mackenzie,

Cuteness of the day: You were playing in the living room while JieJie and I were talking in the dining room. When you sneezed and neither one of us said anything, you called out, "Anybodeee say bess you me?" I'm sorry, sweetie! Bless you!

Love,

Mom

Kind Kid

Dear Mackenzie,

I think empathy is one of the most important qualities a person should have so I'm incredibly proud when one of my kids shows empathy towards someone else. This was the case over the weekend when you, JieJie, Second GuhGaw and I were playing in the attic. All three of you wanted to play with me separately and were all vying for my attention and when JieJie couldn't play Barbies alone with me, she got really upset and started to cry. When you noticed, you immediately began climbing off the balance bike you were riding (which wasn't easy--it's still a little tall for you, so you fumbled with it for a few minutes but told JieJie reassuringly, "I coming! I be right dare."). You then ran over to JieJie, patted her on the shoulder and say, "I make you happy." You hugged her a few times and my heart was simultaneously sad that I didn't have more time to spend with JieJie individually and full because of how you were looking after your big sister. I hope you will always be this kind and compassionate!

Love,

Mom

Turning Back Time

Dear Mackenzie,

Cute things you did recently:

-Said "watermelon." This probably goes under the only-cute-because-I'm-your-mom category, but you said watermelon for the first time and it sounded SO adorable!

-You went into JieJie's room and found half a dozen hairclips. You brought them to me so I put them all in your hair and told you to go to my mirror and look at yourself. You went into my walk-in closet and I heard you say, "I look byoo-full." Yes, you did!

-You can now identify all of the members of BTS! Daddy is so proud, haha!

-I hate giving your siblings Covid tests and they hate getting them. I have never given you one but I have used a Q-tip to extract a booger out of your nose, so I think that's what you thought I was doing when I stuck a Covid test swab up JieJie's nostril the other night. And whereas she whimpered while I did it, you came toward me with nostrils flared and said, "Mmmm, Mama, peas. Mmmm, Mama, peas." As in, "Mama, please do that to me, too." Haha! You always have to be included, no matter what it is!

-Whenever GuhGaw misbehaves and I yell at him, you often stand next to me and mimic everything I do, right down to the scrunched face and angry foot stomps.

-Whenever you want me to read to you, you say, "You read me." Your current faves are Dear Zoo, Quiet Loud and Spot Loves His Mommy.

-I showed you a video of a two-month-old you breastfeeding and now you want to reenact that all of the time. You come up to me and say, "Baby!" I then cradle you like a little baby and you suck the air and pretend to breastfeed. Awww! It feels as if you were just two months old but you are already turning three this year!

Love,

Mom

Happy Reader

Dear Mackenzie,

I had jury duty today (uuuugggghhhh) so I was rushing around last night trying to finish up the housework I wouldn't be able to do today. You asked me to read your current favorite book, Dear Zoo, to you and I said I would but that you had to wait until I finished folding the laundry. You waited patiently in your crib, occasionally shouting out, "Mama! I want zoo book!" (though it actually sounded more like, "Mama! I want Starbucks!"). When I finally came into your room, you smiled and said happily, "Mama! You came my room!" I brought you over to my bed and was about to sit down but realized I still had to blow-dry my hair. I did that and when I sat down next to you and picked up the book, I asked you, "Okay! Are you ready to read?" You beamed and shouted, "Yay yay yay!!!" Then you rested your head on my shoulder and said in the sweetest voice, "Thank you, Mama." Oh, my baby girl! I'm so sorry it took me so long to read to you! And I love how happy and excited you were to read!

Love,

Mom

Say What Now?

Dear Mackenzie,

Ahhhh, toddler-ese. It's so cute and also so hard to understand sometimes. I feel so accomplished when I can decipher what you're saying but when I can't, I feel like such a failure, especially when I keep guessing but you just shake your head and frown!

Here are a few recent phrases I *was* able to figure out after I made you repeat them several times!

do oatley = [get down on all fours and] do horsey

wodder ohding = the water is boiling

I pay yeyyo! = I'm playing Lego!

If only you came with a Google Translate function!

Love,

Mom

Caring Creature

Dear Mackenzie,

Last night, you were in my room when Second GuhGaw woke up from a nightmare and came into my room crying. He sat down on my bed and you scooted next to him, put your arm around him and said, "GuhGaw, it okay! Mama here. Mama here." When you cry, I always comfort you by saying, "Mama's here. Mama's here" and it was so sweet watching you do the same for your big brother!

Love,

Mom

Super Slider

Dear Mackenzie,

Due to the pandemic, I didn't take you to a playground for the first couple years of your life. Now, we are going to them more often and you LOVE them! You seem to get more excited about going to the playground than your siblings did at your age, I guess since it is more novel to you. This morning, I woke you up and you were so groggy until I said we were going to the playground. Then, you immediately sat up and shouted, "I go payground!" You practically leaped out of your crib and when I set you down on the floor, you ran toward the hallway. I said you had to get dressed and eat breakfast first and you said, "No! I go payground!" Haha!

At the playground, there was a set of really tall slides and they were beckoning to you the entire time. You kept walking to the top of them but then going back to the safety of the shorter slides. Eventually, you went down the big slide and the look on your face was clearly one of fear. But then when you got to the bottom, you stood up and said, "More!" When you went down a second time, you still looked terrified but you still wanted to go down again! So fearless!

Love,

Mom

Miss Manners

Dear Mackenzie,

As the littlest one in a family of six people, you probably feel as if you have to be louder and more forceful than your siblings in order to be heard. I am proud of the way you speak up for yourself but you can be a bit aggressive, so I have been teaching you how to be kinder. For example, when someone is in your way, you say, "Move!" but I tell you to say, "Excuse me."

Last night, Second GuhGaw and I were reading together on his bed and you wanted to squeeze in between us. You pushed him and yelled at him, "Move! Move! Move!" I told you to be nice so you switched gears: You pushed him and yelled, "CUE ME! CUE ME!"

Umm, that's not quite how we do it . . .

Love,

Mom

Say My Name, Say My Name

Dear Mackenzie,

Cute things you did while we were out today:

-When I asked you what your name is, you chirped, "Ma-KENSEE!" It was the first time I heard you say your own name!

-We bought some treats from a chocolate shop and when you saw the bag, you said, "Let me hold it!"

-I was carrying you back to the car, but you insisted, "Let me walk!"

-At the end of the day, I asked you what we did. You happily answered, "I pay payground!"

-At said playground, I watched as you slowly became more confident and eventually went down the slide by yourself without asking me to hold you.

You are so brave and independent!

Love,

Mom

Big Kisses

Dear Mackenzie,

Current cute behaviors:

-When you see a photo that you're not in, you inquire about where you are by asking, "Me go?"

-The other night, you got your toy camera and took a selfie of the two of us by standing next to me, holding the camera up, wrapping your arm around my neck and yanking me (kinda hard, btw) close to you.

-Sometimes when you talk to me, you get superclose to my face so that the tips of our noses are touching. I think it's your way of making sure you have my undivided attention!

-You really love when I read to you. Whenever we finish reading a pile of books, you say, "More! More!" Your favorite books at the moment are Blankie, Potty, Mommy Hugs, Daddy Hugs, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo (which you call "Bobby Boo") and Elmo Can Use the Potty. (Two potty books! Guess you really are ready for potty training.) 

-You love to hide (whether it's under a blanket or just behind your hands) and then come out and scream, "Boo!" When I act scared, you giggle so cutely!

-You often pretend to be a cat, crawling into my lap and meowing.

-Yesterday, you were helping me make baked oatmeal and I let you mix the batter. When you were done, you pumped your fists in the air and shouted, "Yay! I did it! I mixed Mama!" Also yesterday, when I cracked the egg, some raw egg shot across your face and onto your hair. Aaaggh! Sorry!

-When Daddy takes your siblings to school, you like to run to the window and watch them drive away. This morning, you held up your bunny and said, "Bunny see." Then you made the bunny wave its arm and say in a high-pitched voice, "Bye! See you later!"

-You were drawing at my desk and I asked you put the pencil back. When you did, you again cheered yourself on and said, "Yay! I did it! I Mama pencil back!"

-You often give me the most passionate kisses! You press your lips on me so hard that your head shakes back and forth! Love it!

Love,

Mom

Bathroom Behavior

Dear Mackenzie,

You often follow me into the bathroom when I have to use it (who needs privacy?) and sit and lean against the bathtub until I'm done. Yesterday, though, you started a new thing: When I sit down on the toilet, you walk over to the other side of the bathroom, pull down your pants, squat over the kneeling pad that Daddy uses when he bathes you and say that it's your "baby pee-pee." You did that again today. I guess you're ready for potty training! (Ugh, but I am so not, it's so much work!)

Love,

Mom

Giving Thanks

Dear Mackenzie,

The way you softly say, "Thank you, Mama!" Oh my goodness!!!!! So cute!!

Love,

Mom

Table for Three

Dear Mackenzie,

Daddy and I had extreme cabin fever so after your older siblings went to school this morning, we put you in the car and we drove all the way to Yonkers for pizza (Daddy had watched a show recommending this old-school pizza place there and figured we could try it. Final verdict: The pizza was definitely not worth the drive to Yonkers but at least we had a change of scenery.) You hadn't ridden in the car for exactly one month and I think you forgot what it felt like because when we got onto the highway and started going faster, you started whimpering and cried out, "Oh no, Mama! Oh, no!" I had to twist around in my seat and hold your hand to calm you down.

So today was your first car ride in a month and your first time eating in a restaurant ever! After you were born, we took you to a couple restaurants where you napped mostly and then the pandemic hit and sitting in a restaurant and having a meal became a big no-no. I wonder what it was like for you today, going to the pizzeria, sitting in a booth, watching the waitress bring food and drinks for us. I have eaten in a restaurant a few times post-pandemic with my friends but this was my first time going out with you and it was strangely foreign yet refreshing having to once again find ways to entertain a little kid while we waited for our food. Your favorite game was when we balled up the straw wrappers and blew them across the table at each other; you laughed so much! You definitely liked the game more than the pizza, of which you only ate the crust!

After lunch, I went into Bed, Bath & Beyond to pick up a few things while you waited in the car with Daddy. Later, when I asked you what you did in the car, you said, "Shhh! Daddy wait Mama." (Translation: Daddy told me to be quiet and that we had to wait for Mama." You love seeing school buses so I asked you how many school buses you saw and you held up two fingers and said, "Two." Good job!

Other Mackenzie cuteness from today:

-I told you to play in your room while I showered Second GuhGaw. After I finished, I peeked into your room and saw you sitting by the gate, making your stuffed Elmo eat the figurine of King Roland.

-When I told you to clean up your toys, you obediently put them back in the bag and even sang the "Clean Up" song while you did it.

-I was nibbling on your torso to tickle you and you were giggling so much! And every time I stopped, you said, "More! More!"

Love,

Mom

Speaking Up

Dear Mackenzie,

I love the way you are surprising me every day with new words that you suddenly know how to say (i.e. meatball, doorbell, school bus) and stringing together longer and longer sentences to communicate what you are thinking. The other night, Daddy told you to put your toy back in your room and when you ran into your room to do so, the baby gate shut on you and locked you in the dark room. A few days afterward, you recounted what had happened by saying, "Me gate dark now light Daddy!" And when you saw an episode of Paw Patrol where a bird took Mayor Goodway's phone out of her hand, you said, "Phone hand bird bird Mama!" (You call all grown women "Mama" and all grown men "Daddy.")

I also love the fact that you want to wear your Elsa dress every day and that when Daddy says, "Elsa, make snow," you smile, look up and throw both hands into the air. So cute!

Love,

Mom

Happy Day

Dear Mackenzie,

You were in Daddy's office with him and when he carried you out, I was in the hallway. When you saw me, your face lit up and you shouted, "Mama! Happy!" As in, "It's Mama, I'm so happy!" When Daddy put you down, you ran into my arms and gave me the sweetest hug. *melt!*

In other news, you have graduated from saying "Dada" to  saying "Daddy." You also sometimes call me "Mommy" instead of "Mama." It sounds so cute!

Love,

Mom

Hush Hush

Dear Mackenzie,

You were watching "Peppa Pig" last night and when I started talking to Daddy, you actually put your fingers to your lips and shushed me! You! Sushed me! How rude! I mean, I guess I was talking over your favorite show, so I guess I was the rude one. Sorry!

Love,

Mom

Chocoholic

Dear Mackenzie,

Some recent developments:

-You probably say, "Mama up-eee!" more than anything else. You always want me to carry you!

-When you see Paw Patrol, you exclaim, "Ba-doo! Ba-doo!"

-You constantly identify what things belong to who. When clothes are on my drying racks, you point to them and say "Lila," "Mama," "Ngaw Ngaw" or whoever the clothing belongs to. In the bathroom, you point at the row of toothbrushes hanging over the sink and said, "GuhGaw, Lila, Me, Mama!"

-I ate some spicy food and my nose started running. When you saw me, you asked, "Mama, sue?" And then you ran and got a tissue for me!

-On Christmas morning, Daddy told you that Santa had come. You jumped up and down on the bed, pumped your fists in the air and shouted, "Yay!" I'm not sure you understand who Santa is but I think you were feeding off of your siblings' enthusiasm.

-When the candle on JieJie's birthday cake tipped over, you said, "Oh no happy bir-day!"

-You can sing along to the "Happy Birthday" song and even do the "Are you one? Are you two?" thing at the end by saying, "One! Two! Teee!"

-When something really upsets you (like seeing that your toy Olaf's arm had broken off), you put both hands on your cheeks and shake your head back and forth while lamenting, "Oh no! Oh no!"

-When you accidentally hit my head, you asked, "Mama, tay?" Then you hugged me with a sad, sympathetic look on your face.

-You saw your Elmo towel hanging in the bathroom and said, "Towel mine Elmo."

-I asked you where your necklace was and you replied, "Dada," followed by a few seconds where you moved your mouth silently but determinedly before you managed to slowly emit the word "awwfff"--as in office! 

-I love how you can not only sing along to "Let It Go" but also imitate all of Elsa's dramatic hand gestures.

-By the way, you can finally say "Elsa" now!

-When you want me to show you something, you shout, "I see! I see!" You also really love seeing our neighbors' Christmas lights and often pull me to the window and say, "See light! See more light!" Att this point, some of our neighbors have taken their lights down and when you noticed this, you said, "Oh no! Light go?"

-Other phrases you have learned to say: Dada bite me, hold me, help me, Dada eat nunu mine (Daddy is eating my noodles), Mama egg me (Mama, give me an egg).

-After Daddy said you couldn't eat anymore grapes (which you call "blue" because you think they are blueberries), you told me, "Dada no more blue," while solemnly wagging your finger and shaking your head.

-You love the Sandra Boynton book, Blue Hat, Green Hat, and can point out where the turkey has incorrectly put the article of clothing on each page and tell me where that article of clothing is supposed to go.

-When JieJie or someone else is hugging me, you often run over and throw your arms around both of our legs to form a group hug. This afternoon, you were sitting next to me on the couch when you put your arm around my neck and smiled so lovingly at me. I love how affectionate you are!

-I was giving you butterfly kisses on your cheeks and you were giggling so much! You kept covering your cheeks so I couldn't get to them but then you'd remove your hands and say, "More!"

-You are really good at puzzles! You can easily match the pieces on the transportation puzzles and like doing them over and over again. When you put all the pieces in, you say, "More!" And then you take the pieces out and start over.

-You can stack nine shape blocks on top of each other and make a tall tower without it falling over. Nice motor skills!

-When you do a countdown, you go, "Too-tee fofo nine!" And then you run or throw a toy up in the air.

-I packed a bag of chocolates for PoiPoi and didn't realize you had snuck one from the box until I had put the box back in the fridge and then turned to see you running into the kitchen with a big smile on your face--you gleefully pointed at your mouth, which was covered in chocolate! Then you proudly showed me the empty chocolate wrapper that you had taken off the chocolate all by yourself. I asked you, "Where did you get that chocolate?" You replied, "Mouf." (mouth). Then when I asked, "You took a chocolate?!?" you smiled such a happy, naughty smile! You love your chocolate!

Love,

Mom