A Bang-Up Job

Dear Sawyer,

My bangs were bothering me tonight so I clipped them up with a hair clip, which I don't usually do. You immediately noticed, smiled and said, "Mama, you look beautiful." Night. Made.

Love,
Mom

Strong With It

Dear Sawyer,

Two things that made me smile:

1) You managed to carry JieJie's doll crib all the way from your room to her room last night. The thing is made of plastic and pretty light but it's longer than you are tall, so I was impressed. When I asked you incredulously if you carried it by yourself, you replied, "Yes, I be strong with it."

2) The radio was on in your room and I saw you dancing. You were jumping around and moving your shoulders to the beat. Your big move is laying on the ground and sticking your leg all the way up in the air, like a breakdancer. So cute!

Love,
Mom

Lots of Love

Dear Sawyer,

I was cuddling with you at bedtime tonight when you whispered to me, "Mama, I have something to tell you. I love you, then Miss Keewa [Miss Kiera, one of your teachers], then Mila and then Ella." The latter two are your classmates. I'm glad I'm still first!

Love,
Mom

Boo Who?

Dear Sawyer,

Earlier tonight, you were playing in your room by yourself while Daddy, GuhGaw, JieJie and I were in JieJie's room reading together. You thought Daddy was in his office, though--the four of us heard you run into Daddy's office and then shout, "Boo!" But surprise, there was no one in there! Then you ran into JieJie's room and saw us and we all laughed so hard. So funny!

Love,
Mom

Singing Sawyer

Dear Sawyer,

Awhile ago, I was watching an interview with Reese Witherspoon and she said that she believes that people sing when their hearts are just so full of joy, it comes out in song. If that's true, I am glad that I always hear you singing! So often you are playing in your room or just walking around the house singing whatever song that has popped into your head. For the past month, it was a mash-up of the holiday songs you learned for your school's holiday concert. Our house was filled with the sounds of you singing a few lines from each song, sometimes on repeat: "Twinkle twinkle Hanukkah lights! Shining bright for eight long nights! Rockin' around the Christmas tree, have a happy holiday! You will get a sentimental feeling when you hear! Voices singing 'Let's be jolly! Deck the halls with balls of holly!' The red candle shines, the red candle shines, when it's time for Kwanzaa, the red candle shines!"

I heard "The Wheels on the Bus" several times this week and this morning, you were singing "The itchy, itchy spider went up the water spout." I love it! May your heart always be so full of joy that it comes out in song.

Love,
Mom

Big Boned

Dear Sawyer,

One of your teachers is a little bigger and when you were talking about her one day, you said she was fat. I told you that that wasn't a nice thing to say about someone and that statement has really stuck with you because not only have you never again said she is fat, you won't say the word at all or even let anyone else say it. When we were looking at your dinosaur book, I commented that one of the dinosaurs was so fat and you immediately called me out on it: "That's not nice. Don't say 'fat.'" And at dinner the other night, we were talking about bacon and GuhGaw said it's full of fat. You jumped right it: "That's not nice. Don't say that." Yes, sir!

Love,
Mom

Mrs. Manners

Dear Sawyer,

You came into the kitchen this morning and shouted, "I'm thirsty!" I constantly have to remind you and your siblings to ask for things nicely because, ahem, I am not your slave, so I said, "How should you ask for something? 'May I please . . .'" You replied, "May I please I'm thirsty!"

*sigh* I try.

Love,
Mom