Cushioning the Fall

Dear Sawyer,

When MuiMui takes a nap, I usually stay with her until she falls asleep. Today, the two of you had been playing together so nicely all morning so when it was time for her nap, she asked you to stay with her and you did. You laid in bed next to her and when you eventually came downstairs after she'd fallen asleep, you told me that you had looked at how long she was and put a barrier next to the bed in case she rolled off. Later, after MuiMui had woken up and I went into your room, I saw exactly what you had done: You had set four seat cushions on the floor next to the bed and they were aligned with where her body had been on the bed. That way, if she had rolled right off the bed, she would have landed exactly on the cushions. You are such a good big brother! I am so proud of you for protecting your little sister!

Love,

Mom

Lights Out

Dear Sawyer,

When I tuck you in every night, we do our good-night routine and then I put your bedroom light on the dimmest setting before leaving your room. When I was about to dim your lights tonight, though, you said, "I don't need the light. You can shut it off." #growingup #nomorenightlight

Love,

Mom

Mother-Son Time

Dear Sawyer,

You were ready for bed early yesterday so I told you that we had time to read a book together. You love Dog Man books so I thought you were going to pick one from your collection but you picked a book we'd never actually read together called Mommy's Little Boy. In it, the mom and son do different things together that you and I have done many times: shop for groceries, go to the park, get ice cream. To my surprise, you started crying when I read the page about getting ice cream. When I asked you what was wrong, you said it made you sad because it made you remember when you were little* and you and I used to do things with just the two of us, like get ice cream together. I told you that I know we don't have that much Mama-Sawyer quality time these day but reminded you that we still have our moments, like when we went to Ithaca and you and I went on a hike by ourselves to see Lucifer Falls and now on Fridays, after we drop JieJie off at her swimming class and hang out on Austin Street before we have to pick her up afterward. I love our alone time together and will try to carve out more time for it!

Love,

Mom

*I love how you always refer to yourself as "when I was little" and "when I was younger" because you are still so little and young in my eyes!

Sweet Second Grader

Dear Sawyer,

You are a second grader now! And you started the school year on such a nice note. You told me today that your teacher passed out origami paper for everyone in the class as a reward for behaving but she accidentally skipped the girl who sits next to you. When the girl commented that the teacher hadn't given her origami paper, you told her that she could have yours and gave it to her. When your teacher asked if everyone had paper, you raised your hand and said you didn't because you'd given it to your classmate. Your teacher then called you up to her desk and gave you two extra sheets of origami paper for being so thoughtful. I am so proud of your kindness, baby bear!

Love,

Mom

Master Builder

Dear Sawyer,

It has been a pretty busy summer! In the past two months, you have gone to summer camp and our family has traveled to Ithaca, Legoland, the beach a couple times, Governors Island and Kalahari Resort. We have had so much fun and this morning, you told me, "Thank you for giving me the best summer ever." Awww, you're welcome, sweetie! I'm so happy you are enjoying your summer break!

We have been so active that we actually stayed home today just to chill. I asked you what you wanted to play with me and you said you wanted to build with Keva planks so the two of us ended up making a housing complex with two houses and a large yard with benches, trees and a swimming pool. While we were building the houses, you told me, "Master builders build carefully, not quickly." Wise words! And I had fun playing with you today!

Love,

Mom

Sawyer-O-Lantern

Dear Sawyer,

You lost ANOTHER tooth! It was the other top middle one and it came out when you started eating breakfast yesterday. You now have so many gaps in your mouth! You look so cute!

Love,

Mom

Mind the Gaps

Dear Sawyer,

When you started eating dinner last night, you lost another tooth! It was the front top one this time, so now you have one gap in your upper teeth and two gaps in the bottom, giving you the cutest jack-o-lantern smile ever!

Love,

Mom