Captain Underpants

Dear Sawyer,

Official potty training has begun! Hello undies!

Love,
Mom

Brotherly Love

Dear Sawyer,

My little sweetie pie! Cute things you did recently:

- I was getting you ready for bed last night and you said, "I need to play." I said you could play for a few more minutes while I went to the bathroom. You started playing with your cars but I guess you were more tired than you thought because before I even finished in the bathroom, you called out, "I done playing!" When I went back to your room, you had already climbed into your bed and pulled the blanket over your lap!

- We went to a birthday party today and came back home a little late. JieJie had fallen asleep in the car and woke up cranky and crying. She was standing in the foyer crying and you immediately began comforting her. You told JieJie softly, "You okay. Don't be sad. Hug?" Then you stretched out your arms and she moved in close to you for a hug. Then you looked up to her and asked, "Kiss?" You kissed her on the cheek and capped it all off with, "I love you." Oh my god, soooooo sweet!

Love,
Mom

Happy Lunch

Dear Sawyer,

Recent activity:

- You count like this: 1 2 3 4 5 6 11 14 19 12 19 12 19 12

- You have a bossy side. Sometimes, you say things like, "Sit up, Mama. 'Sit up,' I said!" Whoa, there.

- We started a new music class and the other boys in the class can get a little rowdy. They like to run around the classroom, touch toys in the corner that they're not supposed to touch, bang the drumsticks on the mirror and not listen when their moms and nannies tell them to sit down. But not you! You don't copy their behavior at all. Instead, you obediently sit in my lap for the entire class and follow all of the teacher's instructions. Thank you for being such a good boy!

- You like to put emphasis on the things you say by shaking your hands up and down with your palms turned upward. It's so cute!

- You call armpit hair "grass."

- When you want to sit on my lap, you say, "Lap lap, please!"

- You are so helpful! Whenever you see me Swiffering the floor, making my bed, folding laundry or cooking dinner, you say, "I want to help you!" If I'm cooking something easy like soup, I will hold you up with one arm and you will help me add seasonings or stir the soup. You look so happy when you get to assist me and you always tell Daddy and your siblings, "I help Mama. I do a good job. I'm a good chef!"

- I went out yesterday and you told me today, "I miss you yesterday. I so sad." Awww!

- You were eating your lunch when you smiled sweetly as you dipped your carrot stick in your pasta soup and said cheerfully, "I so happy!" Day. Made.

Love,
Mom

Left Behind

Dear Sawyer,

I took you and JieJie to the park today, where we met up with our friends Ellie, Bernie and JoJo. JieJie and Ellie were riding their scooters around the track and you were desperately trying to keep up with them but you are still a scooter newbie and kept fumbling and tripping over your own feet. You tried so hard but they were going so much faster, so you got a little frustrated, abandoned your scooter and ran after them, calling out, "JieJie! JieJie! Wait!" She and Ellie were too far ahead, though, and you couldn't catch up so you started crying. Oh, sweetheart! It was sad but also a little funny at the same time. When JieJie and Ellie came back around, they saw how upset you were and we spent the rest of the afternoon playing on the jungle gyms in the playground, where you were better able to keep up!

Love,
Mom

Mr. Sun Is Awake

Dear Sawyer,

Funny things you have said or been saying recently:

- "Waterlemon" (instead of "watermelon"--it's so cute how you switch the two consonants!)

- Sometimes you stand with your hands on your hips or your arms crossed and declare, "I'm a man!"

- You ask me questions but then dictate how I should answer them. Examples: "Mama, can I have a cookie? Say 'yes.'" or "Do I have to nap? Say 'no.'"

- "The man say 'I love you.' The man in the music box." (It took me a beat but I eventually realized you were talking about the stereo; you had heard the man on the Music for Aardvarks CD singing the "I Love You, I Love You" song!)

- "Mr. Sun awake!" (At bedtime, I tell you that you have to go to sleep because Mr. Sun is asleep and that you can wake up when Mr. Sun is awake. So now when you wake up in the mornings, you yell out, "Mr. Sun awake!" to let me know that the day has started and you can get up now!)

Love,
Mom

Hide and Poop

Dear Sawyer,

When I started semi-potty training you (we will go into full training mode soon), you were good about pooping in the toilet but now when you have to poop, you go into hiding! The other day, we were in the living room and you slinked behind the foyer wall. I asked you why you were behind the wall and you said, "I'm sad." Worried and then suspicious, I went over to you and asked you if you were pooping. You insisted, "No! I sad!" but then grunted a telling grunt. Caught ya!

Then yesterday, we were in the kitchen when you suddenly ran behind the stairway door and peeked out. I asked you what you were doing and you said, "I peeking at you." My mom-Spidey sense kicked in and I knew that you once again had to poop and were just trying to hide it from me! Sneaky little guy!

Love,
Mom

Missing You All Day

Dear Sawyer,

Cute things you said today:

-When I asked you what you wanted for your snack, you replied, "I want junk." I said that eating too much junk would make you sick and reminded you, "Remember the book 'Yummy Yucky'? 'Ice cream is yummy. Too much ice cream is yucky.'" You said, "Too much ice cream is my favorite!" Haha!

-After JieJie came home from school, you hugged her and said, "I miss you all day." So sweet!

Love,
Mom