Mind the Gap

Dear Mackenzie,

It's out! You lost your first tooth today! When I saw you after school, the first thing you showed me was how loose your tooth was--you could practically push it all the way down. Then when I was showering you, I was worried that it might fall out then and go down the drain, so I asked you if I could try to pull it out. You said yes and with just the slightest tug, your tooth came right out! There was no blood, there were no tears--just a cute little gap in your mouth!

Love,

Mom

All You Need

Dear Mackenzie,

When I tucked you in last night, I asked you if you needed anything. You replied, "I need Mama. I don't need anything else except for Mama." My sweet girl! You always make my day and I love you so much!

And oh my goodness, the first thing you told me when you saw me this morning: "Mama! Six days until I turn 6!" It's going by way too fast!

Love,

Mom

Wiggly Jiggly

Dear Mackenzie,

You were eating cereal this morning and complained that biting the crunchy cereal hurt. When I checked your mouth, I discovered the reason: You have your first loose tooth! Your bottom baby tooth is just the teensiest bit wiggly. I can't believe you are going to lose your first tooth soon!

Love,

Mom

Noted

Dear Mackenzie,

You recently told me that you want to learn how to play piano. I said that we have a piano in the play attic. You replied, "Yeah, but someone messed up all the letters." It took me a second, but then I realized that you were talking about the note stickers we'd placed on the keys when GuhGaw took piano lessons. Oh, sweet girl! I never told you that music notes are not alphabetical! But that's one of my favorite things: seeing something I've seen hundreds of times in a new way from a little kid's perspective.

Love,

Mom

First Grade!

Dear Mackenzie,

Yesterday was your first day of first grade! You were so excited to start school again and if you were nervous, you didn't show it. I walked you and Second GuhGaw into the front lobby of the school and then you guys just hugged me, said bye and matter-of-factly went down the stairs to the cafeteria to wait for the rest of your class. I don't know what I was expecting since it's not as if it was your first day of school ever, but it was like, okay, I guess that's it!

Later, when I picked you up from the bus stop, you were wearing a paper hat that had a fish on it and said "I am 0 fish ally a first grader." What on earth is a zero fish ally? Nothing, because I read the hat wrong and it actually said "I am o-fish-ally a first grader." I missed the (lame) pun!

Anyway, you had a great first day! You said it was very exciting and that you had so much fun, you wished it was already the next day so that you could be going back to school. You miss your kindergarten teacher but you like your first grade teacher and while you have many new classmates, the important thing is that you are still in the same class as your bestie Taylor. Taylor's mom and I even dressed you two in matching outfits, jewelry, hair accessories and sneakers yesterday--so lucky that your new teacher didn't mix you guys up and send you home on the wrong buses, haha!

I am so happy that your year started off well. I hope you learn lots and have so much fun this year!

Love,

Mom

Making Music

Dear Mackenzie,

While I was helping you in the bathroom this morning, you informed me, "Sometimes when I fart, I make music with my farts."

Cool.

Love,

Mom

Hit and Run

Dear Mackenzie,

What Daddy said: "I'm going out to run errands."

What you told me: "Daddy left. He said he's going to run over Erin."

Hahaha!

Love,

Mom

On a Roll

Dear Mackenzie,

Me: Mackenzie, did you drop that blueberry on the floor?

You: It didn't want to be eaten, so it rolled away.

#nicespin

Love,

Mom

Breakfast Buddies

Dear Mackenzie,

This morning, I asked you if Daddy had gotten you breakfast. You said, "No, I wanted to wait and eat breakfast with you." Then you told me, "When other people do get me breakfast, I take tiny bites so that I can still eat with you when you eat breakfast. Because I like to eat with you." Oh, sweetie! I love that you cherish our time together so much!

Love,

Mom

Meeting in the Middle

Dear Mackenzie,

We were at a grocery store yesterday when a man in the same aisle as us knocked a bottle of mustard off of the shelf. I don't know if he noticed, but he didn't pick it up. I noticed that you noticed, though, and that you picked up the bottle and put it back on the shelf.

A little later on, we were going back home when you stepped off your scooter and walked back a little to move several fallen branches to the side of the sidewalk. You had already scooted past them but you wanted to move them out of the way so that no one would trip on them. I am so proud of you for being so conscientious and thoughtful!

In other news, we were in bed with Daddy last night and we were "fighting" over who got to be in the middle. I said, "Why do you always get to be in the middle? Is it because M is for Mackenzie and middle?" You replied, "Yes! And you have an E, so you get the end." Hahaha, fair point!

Love,

Mom

Tough Love

Dear Mackenzie,

You and JieJie were playing with Barbies and the story was that JieJie's Barbie was at an office party and your Barbie was her Barbie's sister. Your Barbie was at the party but wasn't allowed to be since she wasn't an employee and the security guard was making her leave. JieJie made the security guard fire her Barbie for sneaking your Barbie into the party and then the following conversation happened:

You: "JieJie! Make the security guard like Mama."

JieJie" "What does that mean?"

You: "You know, a little nice but a little mean."

JieJie: "What?!"

You: "Mama love us but she yells as at us a lot."

Hahahaha! I didn't know whether to laugh or cry at that. I yell at you guys because I love you!

Love,

Mom

Yard Work

Dear Mackenzie,

We were in the yard today and you were playing with your toy "mow lawner" (lawn mower). It's so funny that you call it that, especially since Second GuhGaw also called it that when he was about your age!

Love,

Mom

Freedom of Speech

Dear Mackenzie,

You call the famous NYC landmark in lower Manhattan "The Liberty of Statue" and I'm never going to correct you.

Love,

Mom

Pick Me Up

Dear Mackenzie,

Lately, you have been asking me to pick you up a lot. When you walk into the room, you often come up to me and request, "Upee!" I love picking you up and snuggling with you but I did ask you why you have been asking me to pick you up so much. You replied, "I want you to pick me up before I get too big for you to pick me up anymore." OMGEEEEEEE. I promise I will pick you up for as long as I can!

Love,

Mom

Staying Up

Dear Mackenzie,

Whenever it's the weekend or you have a day off school the next day, you get excited and say, "Yay! We can stay up early!" You mean stay up late but I will never correct your cute mistake.

Love,

Mom

Morning Moments

Dear Mackenzie,

Sweet moment from this morning: I gave Second GuhGaw a bowl of muesli that I had bought from a bakery in Montreal and said we were almost done with the muesli and that we couldn't get more since we're not going back to Montreal anytime soon. You said, "When I'm a grownup, I'm going to go to Montreal to get more for you."

Funny moment from this morning: After you ate your breakfast, you were thumping your fist on your chest. Before I could tell you to stop, you said, "I'm making myself burp!" And then you immediately burped SO LOUDLY. We all laughed because the timing was impeccable but ohmygod, please don't do that again because next time, you might make yourself throw up.

Love,

Mom

No More Lullabies

Dear Mackenzie,

You had an eyelash on your cheek today so I told you about how some people make a wish on a fallen eyelash. You closed your eyes and said, "I wish for love!" So sweet!

Later at night, you asked me why some statues are missing parts. I said that statues, like the ones in museums, can be thousands of years old and have broken because they are so old. You asked, "If they're broken, why don't they throw them out?" Valid point.

And then later later at night, I was putting you to bed and started the lullaby playlist on the iPad like I do for you every night. On this night, however, you informed me, "Mama, I don't need the lullabies anymore." I guess I made a face because then you asked me, "Mama, why you do this?" and then kind of scrunched your face up. I did it because I'm sad that you are growing up so quickly! You just graduated from kindergarten--slow down, Kenziebear!

Love,

Mom

Pizza Fatigue

Dear Mackenzie,

We have been to a LOT of birthday parties lately (seriously, were ALL of your friends born in May and June?!) and you know it's been a bit much when a 5-year-old complains about too much pizza. When I told you that your friend Gianna's party is this weekend, you replied, "I hope they have sandwiches. Why do parties always only have pizza? It's always pizza and that's boring." Whoa.

Love,

Mom

How You Doin?

Dear Mackenzie,

What you meant: "Ms. Lily asked me how Lila is doing."

What you said: "Ms. Lily tells how Lila is doing to me."

Hahahaha!! So cute!!

Love,

Mom

The Next Step

Dear Mackenzie,

Today's cuteness:

-You were playing with my lotion, which is in a pretty pink and silver bottle. You said it was special wish lotion, so you squeeze some into your palm, make a wish and the wish will come true!

-While I was cooking dinner, you were standing next to me on the step stool, which you always like to do. I was making a new recipe (Marry Me chicken, which you all liked) and leaned over to study the recipe. I asked, "What do I do next?" You leaned in front of me so that my lips were touching your cheek and said, "You have to kiss me next! And then I have to give you a hug next!" OMG, you are so cuuuuuuuute! It is so awesome being your mama!

Love,

Mom

Making the Bed

Dear Mackenzie,

You asked me if you could write notes on my phone while I cooked dinner and I said you could. When I picked up my phone later, you had written a note for me that said, "You are the best." OMG, YOU are the best!

Another time, I asked you if you needed anything. You perked up and said, "Yes! Mama hugs!"

Yesterday, you woke up before me and were already in full chatty-loud-ball-of-energy mode before I'd even changed out of my pajamas. I was in my closet sleepily brushing my hair when you popped in and said, "Mama! You have to make your bed!" I was tired and groggy and said, "Mackenzie! I just got up! Can you please give me a minute!" But when I walked out of my closet, I saw that you had actually already made my bed for me! And you were standing next to it, giggling because of your "joke." Oh Kenziebear, you are so amazing!

Love,

Mom

Helping Out

Dear Mackenzie,

You told me that during a Word Work exercise at school, your teacher instructed your class to write about someone who has helped you. Then you told me that several of your classmates asked you how to spell your name. That is so amazing! You are so kind and thoughtful. You have told me several stories over the year where you helped a classmate clean up water from a spilled bottle or opened milk cartons and muffin wrappers for others during breakfast because they were having trouble. I am so proud of you for being such a good helper!

Love,

Mom

Lucky Mama

Dear Mackenzie,

I'm not sure if it's because you are recovering from a cold, but when you stepped off the school bus yesterday afternoon, you looked beat. Your eyes were so droopy and Second GuhGaw told me that you were falling asleep on the the bus. After we got home and you took a shower, you passed out in your bed around 5pm and didn't wake up until 8pm. I was downstairs when you woke up and heard you crying in the upstairs hallway. I asked you what was wrong and you bawled, "I have to do my homework!!!" Oh my goodness, my sweet, conscientious little girl! I explained to you that your teacher would totally understand that you needed rest yesterday and that you could complete it over the weekend to turn in on Monday. What a good student you are!

And what a good daughter you are! Last week, Daddy asked you, "What is better, ice cream or chocolate?" You replied, "Mama and Daddy!" And when I presented you with a new drawing pad, I apologized that it was blue because they didn't have a purple one (purple is still your fave color). You said, "It's okay. I am lucky to get whatever you give me."

I am lucky to have YOU, Kenziebear!

Love,

Mom

Loving School

Dear Mackenzie,

When we were getting ready for bed last night, you told me, "I love going to school. When it's time to pack up, I feel sad. When it's the afternoon, I feel sad because I want the day to start over from the beginning. I don't want it to end." It was the sweetest thing! I'm so happy you enjoy school so much! I told you that at least you do start a new school day again the very next day, except on weekends. You replied, "I don't like waiting two days. It takes forever!" May you always be this passionate about your studies!

Love,

Mom

Favorite Mama

Dear Mackenzie,

This morning, you sang a song that went like this: "I love Mama, I love Mama, she is my favorite, she is my favorite, she is my favorite Mama!" A couple of weeks ago, you told me, "I can't stop looking at your face, it's too pretty!" You are always so sweet!

Love,

Mom

Playground Drama

Dear Mackenzie,

There was some drama at recess yesterday. Your friends Taylor and Adriti each wanted to play a different game with you and not with each other, so they apparently spent the period fighting over who got to play with you. You said that Taylor was yelling at you to play with her at one point, so you said, "If you keep yelling at me, I'm not going to play with you and I'm just going to go play by myself." Whoa. You told me that they couldn't come to a decision and then recess ended. I hope today's recess went more smoothly!

Love,

Mom

Comfort Zone

Dear Mackenzie,

I like the way you say "meet-ium" for the word "medium." I also like that you always want to hug me! You constantly ask me, "Can I hug you?" and it is so sweet. Yesterday, we were hugging after you came home from school and when I tried to let go, you held onto me and said, "I'm not done yet!" Then you closed your eyes, pressed your face against my stomach and looked so content while we hugged for several more minutes.

At night, you are doing really well sleeping on your own in your room, though you do wake up at least once every night and call out for me. I often wake up in the middle of the night to you calling, "Mama, can you come?" You always sound scared, but you calm down as soon as you see me enter your room. I usually hug you and tell you to go back to sleep and you smile at me and say, "Okay, Mama." Sometimes, you ask to do our nighttime routine again:

Me: Good night! I love you!
You: Good night! I love you!

Me: Sweet dreams!

You: Sweet dreams!

Me: See you in the--

You: Morning!
Me: Who's my favorite little girl?

You: Me!

Me: Who's your favorite mama?

You: You!

And then we link our pinkies and kiss them. I love how our mantra calms you down. I also love that my hugs, kisses and even just appearance can make you feel better--and I hope they always will.

Love,

Mom

Big Reader

Dear Mackenzie,

Oh my goodness, you say such cute things! All of the time! Here are the latest examples:

- "Mama, if I had a different mama that wasn't you, she would not be as good as you."

- "I knew there were Mickey Mouse pens in Ms. Gruber's bag because the bag was seeable."

You are the most adorable little girl--but you are not so "little" anymore. First of all, you are suddenly very tall. I blinked and you seemed to have sprouted several inches! Your size 5 shirts are like crop tops on you and you fit comfortably into size 7 clothes. You started sleeping in your own bed at the beginning of the month and within two weeks, you slept through the entire night without waking up and calling for me. In fact, when you did wake up one night and Daddy laid down next to you, you asked him, "Can you go?" When I talked to you about that in the morning and asked you why you had kicked Daddy out, you told me, "Because I'm a big girl."

And if that wasn't enough, on February 9, I found you in your room with a pile of flashcards. You were carefully sounding out each word and READING!! Baby girl, you can READ by yourself!!! It is always so magical to witness you and your siblings reading for the very first time and you rocked it, reading out words such as "not," "if" and "it." (And I like how your teacher has taught you to tap each letter sound on your fingers as you verbalize it--it's just so sweet.) A week later on the 17th, I heard you reading Can I Play Too? out loud all on your own--amazing!!!

In addition, your handwriting has gotten so neat! Even your teacher commented on how much better it is. You are growing up so quickly!!

Love,

Mom

No More Diapers!!!

Dear Mackenzie,

You reached a big milestone on February 1: You wore underwear to bed instead of an overnight diaper! Your overnight diapers have actually been dry when you wake up in the mornings for a couple of months now, so as you finished your last pack of overnight diapers, I didn't order more!

As you noticed less and less diapers in the bag, you got excited but also nervous. Excited because you could start wearing underwear to bed, be more comfortable and be a "big girl." Nervous because no overnight diaper meant that you could no longer come to my bed in the middle of the night and sleep with me. You have been sleeping with me every night since you were born, but I explained that if you had an accident with underwear on, it would be a huge mess--Daddy and I would get wet and would have to take showers, plus we have more pillows and bed linens, so it'd be a lot more laundry.

You understood that you couldn't sleep with us anymore but on your first night wearing underwear, you were very anxious about sleeping in your bed on your own all night and kept saying, "I'm scared! I'm not ready!" You cried but I reminded you about the many brave things you have already done (started a new school, ridden fast amusement park rides, gotten shots without a whimper). I told you that you couldn't get into bed with me if you woke up and got scared, but that you could definitely knock on my door and talk to me. And oh boy, you knocked on my door five times that first night. And you behaved and didn't climb into my bed or ask to. You even asked to use the bathroom one time. I walked you back to bed each time and tucked you back in and when morning finally came, you were dry!

It's been two weeks now and you've done so well with sleeping in your own bed and waking up and asking to use the bathroom when you need it. I'm so proud of you! And I'm so smitten with all of your cuteness! Here are some recent gems:

- "I spy with my little eye something beautiful that I love very much." (It was your turn while we were playing "I Spy" and you were talking about me!)

- When we were reading Corduroy, a Ken doll on your bookshelf fell over. You wanted to go pick it up and asked me, "Can you pause the book?"

- Whenever I ask you what you want for breakfast, you often chirp, "Mama hugs!"

- We were walking up the stairs when you just randomly said, "My mama is so beautiful and I love her so much." Awww!

- You say "I love you" to me all of the time and you constantly want to hug me and hold my hand. You often want to stay in whatever room I'm in and always insist on sitting next to me at restaurants. If there is an option of going somewhere with someone else or somewhere with me, you always choose me. Thank you, baby girl, for loving me so much!

Love,

Mom

Game Time

Dear Mackenzie,

I love the little games that we have invented, like "Find My Dimple!" For that, you try your best to make a serious face (which you make by scrunching up your nose and trying not to smile) and I tickle you and make you laugh so that I can see your dimple!

I do not love our unofficial game of "How Old." For this "game," you ask me, "Mama, how old will you be when I'm [fill in random age here]." I usually don't like the answer, especially if you say an age like 95! Hahaha! 

Love,

Mom

Staying Put

Dear Mackenzie,

Daddy and your siblings were all out this morning so the two of us were just chilling at home and cuddling on the couch. It was so peaceful and sweet just chatting together and you said, "Let's never get up!" A tempting suggestion, baby girl!

Love,

Mom

Making Up

Dear Mackenzie,

You told me that when you and your buddy Adriti get mad at each other, you make up by shaking hands, saying "Best friends again?" and then laughing. I love it! If only all disagreements could be so easily and quickly resolved!

Love,

Mom

Little A-Splosion

Dear Mackenzie,

Yesterday, you used the bathroom, washed your hands and asked me if you could go on ABC Mouse. I said you could but to make sure your hands were dry before touching my computer. You replied, "You can't put batteries in water because then they will a-splode!" You threw your arms up in the air when you said the word "a-splode" and I just soaked in the moment. One day, you will say all your words correctly but for now, I will savor your cute mispronunciations!

Love,

Mom

Zoning Out

Dear Mackenzie,

Recent cuteness:

-When something, like a sad commercial, makes me cry, you immediately jump up, make silly faces, wag your tongue and jump back and forth to make me laugh! You are the sweetest!

-You told me that some of your classmates keep "chopsticks" (translation: Chapstick) at school to use when their lips get dry.

-Last night, I was getting you ready for bed and giving you a talk about not having to eat all of your food if you're full. I explained that if you are actually full, you don't have to finish your dinner, but you can't just say you're full if the real story is that you just don't want to eat your vegetables (which I suspected you did at dinner when I made vegetable soup and you only ate all of the pasta in it before saying you were full). You said, "Okay, Mama" but then I asked you what I had just said and you got a guilty look on your face before answering, "I got tired, Mama." Hahahaha! You totally weren't listening to me, but I gave you a pass since it was so late. And because you're so cute!

Love,

Mom

Chatterbox

Dear Mackenzie,

You have become good friends with two girls in your class, Taylor and Adriti. When I asked you who you play with more, your face lit up and you tilted your head, clasped your hands together, pressed them against your cheek and said, "Adriti, because she's so cute and tiny!!" Funny, I also like you so much because you are so cute and tiny!

You always do and say the most adorable things and I love how joyful, energetic, playful and outgoing you are. I also love how talkative you are! You even told me once, "Mama, I can't really go a long time without talking." Hahaha, oh I know, sweetie! Our whole family knows! Sometimes, I do need/want you to be quiet and you are always kind enough to oblige. There are instances, though, when you cannot contain your thoughts--when I ask you for a few minutes of quiet because I need to concentrate on something, you ask me, "Okay, Mama . . . but can I say one more thing first?" Hahaha! The best is when you whisper the "but can I say one more thing" part, as if you're trying to sneak it in before quiet time has to start!

Love,

Mom

Freshly Brewed

Dear Mackenzie,

I slept in this morning and when I got out of bed, I heard you walking outside of my room and then going downstairs and telling Daddy, "Mama's awake!" When I went downstairs to the kitchen, I saw a just-brewed pot of coffee on the counter and my favorite Paris coffee mug next to it. Daddy had asked you to tell him when I woke up so that he could brew a fresh pot of coffee and have it ready for me when I came downstairs. So so sweet!! Later, Daddy told me that when you came downstairs, you said excitedly, "Mama's awake! Go go go! Make the coffee now! Hurry! Hurry!" Hahaha!

Love,

Mom