Hugging Sticks

Dear Mackenzie,

When I went to your school today to pick you up, you and your classmates were playing outside on the playground. When you saw me, you ran to the fence and shouted, "Hi, Mama! Hi, Mama! Mama, hi!" After 30 seconds of this, your teacher told you to go play. Ten minutes later, when she brought you all out for dismissal, she told me, "After I told Mackenzie to go play, she said to me, 'My mama is so beautiful.'" Whaaaaaaaat?! So sweet!

On the walk home, you found two sticks, one longer than the other. You said, "The big one is Mama, the little one is me." Then you made the sticks interact: "Hi! Hi! Hug hug hug."

I. Cannot. Handle. All. The. CUTENESS!!!

Love,

Mom

Excited Reunion

Dear Mackenzie,

I had a hair appointment in Manhattan today so Daddy took you and your siblings out around Madison Square Park while I had my hair done. When I said bye to you, you kept hugging and kissing me as if I was leaving you for three weeks and not just three hours. And then when we reunited afterward, you shouted joyfully, "Hi Mama! I'm so excited to see you again!" Thank you, sweetie, for always making me feel so loved!

Love,

Mom

Beautiful Day

Dear Mackenzie,

This morning, I was walking down the stairs when you came after me and said, "Wait for me, beautiful mommy." Whoa, when you ask me like that, I will definitely wait for you! And then later after school, when I bent down to help you with your pant leg, you looked into my eyes and said, "Mama, you look beautiful." Thank you so much, sweetie! You sure do know how to make a person feel good!

Love,

Mom

Friendly Encounters

Dear Mackenzie,

You seem to be very preoccupied with the concept of friendship lately. Here are some things you said to me recently:

-"When we get home, can we draw a picture together because we're good friends?"

-"Why you not share with me? I thought we were friends."

-"You don't have to say sorry. It was on accident. We still good friends."

So cute!

Love,

Mom

Thoughtful Gesture

Dear Mackenzie,

We were playing in the attic today and when I sat down in the rocking chair, I asked you to bring over a small chair so that I could put my feet on it. Not only did you carry the chair over, you made sure to place it so that my feet were exactly on top of it AND you brought over a toy box, put it right next to the rocking chair and put my water bottle on top of it so that I could easily reach it. You are so thoughtful!

Love,

Mom

Milk Does A Body Good

Dear Mackenzie,

Yesterday, when I asked you if you had finished your milk, you said "yes," then flexed your arms, grunted and said, "See? Muscles?" So cute!

Today, when I told you to come down from the attic to brush your teeth, you weren't happy about having to stop playing. As you grumpily walked down the stairs, you said, "Mama, I'm angry about you!" You were kind of yelling at me but still so cute!

Love,

Mom

Tummy Tickles

Dear Mackenzie,

This morning, you were sitting in the middle of the kitchen floor while I was packing Lila's lunch and singing the CUTEST song that you made up: "I want Mommy, yes I do, yes I do. I want Mommy, yes I do, yes I do. I love Mommy, yes I do, yes I do. I love Mommy, yes I do, YES I DO!" It made me smile so much!

Another thing that makes me smile is when I spray the shower head on your tummy during bath time. You've been asking me to tickle your stomach at the same time I spray it and you giggle the CUTEST giggles because it tickles so much. I stop when I think you've had enough but you always demand, "Tickle me again!" You love it! And I love hearing you laugh so much because you love it!

Love,

Mom

Questions & Answers

Dear Mackenzie,

I asked you some questions for fun and here are your answers:

How old am I? I don't know.

What is my favorite color? Purple and blue and pink.

What is my job? To protect me and make art with me.

What do I cook the best? Mushroom pasta soup.

What do you like to do with me? Cook.

Why do you love me? Because you're the best and I love you and you look beautiful.

What is something I say a lot? I love you.
What makes me happy? Hugs.
What makes me sad? Connor.
How tall am I? Six feet.

What am I good at? Protecting me from bad guys.
What is my favorite thing to do? Make art.
What is my favorite food? Pasta.
What is my favorite drink? Soda and oil.
If I could go anywhere, where would I go? To the hospital.
How do I do that bothers you? Nothing. Connor bothers me.
What is my favorite TV show? Ted Lasso.
What is my favorite music to listen to? BTS and 'Ackstreet Boys
How much do you love me? A lot.

Love,

Mom

Biker Chick

Dear Mackenzie,

On this Mother's Day, I am super thankful that, as crazy it was to have a fourth kid, Daddy and I decided to have a fourth kid because that fourth kid is pretty incredible! You are kind, thoughtful, silly, loud (oh my god, SO LOUD), brave, independent, friendly, bright, perceptive, beautiful--just so many amazing things and I am so grateful that I get to be your mom and watch you grow.

And it really is fulfilling to see you accomplish things both big and small. Yesterday, you started riding a big-kid bike with pedals and training wheels (you'd just been using your balance bike before that). Initially, I thought it was way too early to put you on a bigger bike and that you wouldn't be able to ride it but after an hour of Daddy helping you and pushing you around the park, you did it! You were able to pedal all on your own and even when I tried to help you, you said proudly, "I do it myself." I'm so sorry I doubted you. You are a rock star!

Love,

Mom

Whobody Said That?

Dear Mackenzie,

I love how you say "lemolay" instead of "lemonade" and that you still say "whobody" instead of just "who." And it's cute the way you pronounce your school name: "Cyoomee House" (Community House). I also love that when you called out to JieJie and Second GuhGaw when we were walking home, you shouted, "Sibalings! Wait for me!" In other lingual news, you have a classmate named Amelia but you used to pronounce it "Millia." Then last week, you were able to say her name correctly and when you heard yourself, you were so psyched! "I say 'Amelia!' I can say it now!"

Love,

Mom

Just Chill

Dear Mackenzie,

When I was bathing you tonight, you kept drinking the faucet water. I kept telling you to stop doing that and after the third time I told you to stop, you said, "Chill, Mama." Excuse me??? Haha!

Love,
Mom

Warming Up

Dear Mackenzie,

This past Monday was pretty bad for me in terms of tons of housework, fighting kids and kids who wouldn't listen so at the end of the night, I collapsed onto my workout mat in the fetal position. When you saw me, you covered me with the big Harry Potter robe that you love to dress up in and said, "I tuck you in." When I eventually got up, you put your arm around me, leaned your head against mine and said with a big sigh, "It been a long day. It been a long day."

Tonight, we were cuddling in your bed after I read to you when you rubbed your hand along my bare arms and said, "You cold? I warm you up." And then you snuggled in closer to me.

I love you so so SO much, Kenziebear! You are the sweetest!

Love,

Mom

Third Mama

Dear Mackenzie,

Daddy and I call JieJie "Second Mama" because she is so responsible and helpful and you are definitely "Third Mama" because you are also responsible, helpful--and bossy! You and Second GuhGaw were fighting over something tonight and he hit you. I called him into my room to scold him and then told him to apologize to you and give you a hug. After he did so, you pointed your little finger at him and said, "You better not do that again, Thawyer! Do you understand? You better not do that or Mama gonna take away your Minecraft shirt [which he was wearing] and your Minecraft Legos and your books and your paintings and your toys. Be better!" I had to try with all my might not to smile because it was so dang cute! Nobody better mess with you!

Love,

Mom