Sunday, September 30, 2018

Washing Up

Dear Sawyer,

All the time now, you come up to me and say, "You know I love you all day?" I love you back all day, night, week and year!

Also, after you use the bathroom, I put the potty seat back on top of the toilet, close the lid and flush and while I am doing this, you walk over to the tub faucet and cup your hands underneath it, ready and waiting for me to wash your hands. You are always such a sweet, good little boy!

Love,
Mom

Thursday, September 20, 2018

All Day Long

Dear Sawyer,

I was in the kitchen and you came in and said, "Mama, I love you all day." How sweet are you? :-)

Love,
Mom

Monday, September 17, 2018

Why Oh Why

Dear Sawyer,

You have officially entered the "Why?" stage.

*sigh*

Love,
Mom

Thursday, September 13, 2018

Schooled

Dear Sawyer,

Cute things you did recently:

-Last night, we were sitting on the couch and you were giving me so many kisses. Daddy asked if he could have some kisses and you said, "No! You're not the mama."

-This morning, you saw me packing a bag of grapes in GuhGaw's backpack and you said you wanted some, too. I was so tired and said I would wash some for you but I needed to have some coffee first. You got impatient and started whining, "But I want grapes! I want the grapes!" I told you more sternly that I needed coffee and you snapped, "Fine!" But then you had a flash of understanding and said more gently, "Okay. I will wait."

-When I picked you up from school today, I asked you if you liked school and you said you did. And you really did: When we came back home, you sat on the staircase, put your head on your balled-up hands and pouted. I asked you what was wrong and you told me, "I want to go back to school."

Today was your second day of school and you did a great job, just like yesterday! Several of your classmates were crying and protesting at drop-off (one had to be carried into the classroom because she wouldn't let go of her dad) but you were silent and stoic. You knew to line up on the black line in the gym and you followed your teachers out as instructed. Ten minutes before class was over, I was waiting on the bench in the foyer and saw you walking to the bathroom with Ms. Keira; you were such a good boy and had asked to go to the bathroom when you needed to! You told me that you made a farm today, that "the girl in the white dress" made you dinner (a sandwich with three pieces of bread and cheese) and that you got two cupcakes (a classmate had a birthday party today). It sounded like an awesome day so no wonder you want to go back to school again!

Love,
Mom

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

School Days

Dear Sawyer,

GuhGaw and JieJie started school last week and with all the excitement over their new backpacks and first-day-of-school photos, you were visibly feeling left out. When we came back home after dropping them off at school, you sat down on the staircase and looked so sad and abandoned. But fear not, today was your turn! It was your very first first day of school and you were the star with your new backpack and first-day-of-school photos:



Since you have watched your older siblings go off to school for the past three years, you were very excited to finally go to school, too. We visited your classroom and met your teachers last week and you were looking forward to starting nursery school. You were in the same classroom and had the same teachers for your Moms & Tots class and you have always been pretty laidback, so I wasn't too worried that you would be scared on your first day.

That is, until PoiPoi came over this morning! She kept telling you, "You're going to school today! By yourself! By yourself! Not with Mama! You're going by yourself!" She probably thought she was helping but she repeated the "by yourself" part so much that I think it freaked you out. When it was time to eat lunch before we left for school, you suddenly started crying and shouting, "I don't want to go to school! I don't want to go to school!" You even stomped your feet for emphasis (and you were also wearing JieJie's old Frozen slippers, which made your indignation pretty cute). You cried for almost 10 minutes and I was finally able to console you when I said I would sit on a bench outside the classroom and wait for you there. You stopped crying and asked quietly if I could go into the classroom with you and I said I couldn't but I would be waiting right outside.

Daddy took you to school, too, and while we were waiting outside on the steps, you were happy again but also shy and nervous. A classmate named Mila came over and asked you what your name is but you stared down at the sidewalk and then buried your face in my leg. When we went into the gym to wait for your teachers, other kids were running or jumping around but you held my hand and stood quietly next to me. When your teachers arrived, you got into line, gave me a halfhearted hug and kiss and walked solemnly toward the classroom. You didn't smile and you didn't look back for me. Other kids were crying and I worried that their tears might set you off.

When I came back to pick you up after class, the teacher called your name and you came out. When you saw me waiting for you, your signature big smile lit up your face and you ran toward me holding out a hand print project you had made and a bag of graham crackers your teachers had given you. "Look what I got!" you exclaimed. I asked you if you had liked school and you said matter-of-factly, "Yes." Yay! Your first day of school was a success! I am so proud of you, sweetie!


Love,
Mom

Thursday, September 6, 2018

Wanted

Dear Sawyer,

For the past few days, when I tuck you into bed and ask you if you want Curious George, Narwhal or one of your other stuffed animal friends, you reply, "No, I want you. Can you stay all day?" Aww, I wish I could, sweetie!

Love,
Mom

Wednesday, September 5, 2018

Fingers Crossed

Dear Sawyer,

Back when you were a little bitty baby who was just a few months old, you would often take your middle finger and move it on top of your ring finger and leave it there. It was always this cute quirk you had. Fast forward to today when I was brushing your teeth. You were leaning over the bathtub and when I glanced down at your left hand, you had your middle finger resting on top of your ring finger, just like when you were a baby! How sweet! I wonder if this is something you will absentmindedly do even when you're an adult.

Love,
Mom