Monday, October 30, 2023

Sweet Suggestion

Dear Mackenzie,

Yesterday was one of those marathon housework days (I had to Swiffer the floors, wash and fold two loads of laundry, clean the stove, etc., on top of feeding children, nagging them to study for tests, reminding them to pick up their toys over and over, etc.) and by the evening, I was wiped. I guess you sensed this because you came up to me and asked gently, "Mama, do you need me to do anything for you?" Just asking me that made me feel so much better! I told you, "Thank you, but no. I have to go cook dinner." You replied, "I can cook dinner so that you can sit down and rest." Thank you, sweet girl, for being so thoughtful! I love you so much!

Love,
Mom

Monday, October 23, 2023

Knee Pain Relief

Dear Mackenzie,

At dinner tonight, I stood up from my chair and banged my knee really hard on the leg of the dining table. I winced in pain and you immediately rubbed my leg and yelled at my knee, "Go away! Go away, boo boo!" OMG!!! How are you so cute?!?

Love,
Mom

Thursday, October 19, 2023

Cream of the Crop

Dear Mackenzie,

At art camp this summer, JieJie made a doll of herself out of yarn, fabric and popsicle sticks. You were playing with it and said, "I'm Lila, I wear crop tops." Hahaha! Yep, you captured all of JieJie's essence right there!

Love,
Mom

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

More Sweet Than Sour

Dear Mackenzie,

Please never stop pronouncing lemonade "lemolay."

Love,
Mom

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

My Perfect Girl

Dear Mackenzie,

Recent cuteness:

-We were watching a show the other day where the male character stormed away from the female character and you asked why he was mad. I told you that it was because the guy liked the girl and he was upset that she didn't like him back. You asked me why she didn't like him. I explained that you don't get to pick who you like, you just like who you like. You were silent for a few seconds and then said, "I like Mama."

-You have started giving me these prolonged kisses on my cheek where you keep your lips on my cheek and make exaggerated kissing noises. We have named then "juicy kisses" and when Daddy asks for one, you say, "Only Mama gets juicy kisses!"

-You love playing with your Calico Critters, small dolls and DC Super Hero Girls action figures in the three (yes, three!) dollhouses set up on top of your bookshelf. And I love listening to you while you play with them. The other day, you sang, "When you're mad, you stomp stomp stomp" and then you made Supergirl stomp down the stairs.

-A couple of nights ago, I was at the other end of the second floor but I could hear you in your room singing at the top of your lungs the song "Break Free." You only knew the one line from the chorus and just kept singing it over and over but you were singing it so loudly with such carefree abandon, which was just so cute!

-You have devised a stalling tactic when you don't want me to leave your room after I tuck you in at night--as I get ready to walk out of the room, you say, "Mama, I have a question" or "One more thing . . ." You don't always have a question or one more thing to tell me, but making me wait while you think of one buys you a few more minutes with me. Smart girl! Especially when you say, "Mama, one more thing . . . um, uh . . . you're beautiful!" Hahaha!

-Every night, I put you to bed in your room. Every night around 2 or 3am, you wake up, stomp down the hallway and crawl into my bed. You always climb in from Daddy's side of the bed, crawl across his legs and wiggle your way in between the two of us. The other night was a little different, though, because you put your arm around me and asked, "Mama, can you hug me?" Of course, sweetie! Anytime!

-You are a hefty 40-pound kid at this point and I am an aging 42-year-old mom, but I can still pick you up and hold you straight up in the air (for several seconds anyway). I did this the other day and said, "I can still pick you all the way up!" You replied, "Yes, it's because I'm perfect." I think you meant that you are still the perfect size for me to do that but yes, you are also absolutely perfect!

Love,
Mom

Monday, October 2, 2023

Told You So

Dear Mackenzie,

Your sassiness brings me such amusement! Overheard last night:

Second GuhGaw: I told you to finish your banana!
You: I told you to stop telling me what to do!

Hahaha!

Love,
Mom