Dear Jake-o, Jakey bear, Jake-a, Jake,
It's been another wonderful year watching you grow up and learning to deal with the world around you. Just this weekend, we've spent time building up New Shanghai (our small village in the woods), making a grandfather clock for your room out of an old cardboard box, kayaking on Ayer's Lake with your new paddle and reading/listening to endless stories of the Magic Treehouse.
It won't be long till you're reading me those stories (and indeed, you're already bringing chapter books home in your school bag), so I relish each day that I get to be part of story time. To be fair, I can't see that wrapping up any time soon as you love books, both reading and writing them, and you definitely have a preference for non-fiction. The coolest thing about your reading is how independent you are, whether it's being able to read the selection of ice creams at Golick's or telling me interesting facts that you learned about whatever topic you're studying at school. If you get stuck on a word, you only need to be told about it once and you'll remember it next time. It's been a little while since you made a book (probably since the last vacation), but we've got a growing bookshelf of your first books, from Extreme Buildings to Wolves. Your focus and concentration on these works spans over many days, and the space and time of this upcoming vacation promises more stories to come. Maybe we'll even get you to write some more fiction stories about Marlowe and Kellogg!
Your sharp brain continues to amaze us. Each week, you bring home math homework (how are you old enough to have homework!) and you sit and do it independently. If there's a conversation that could involve math (like working out that you woke up 1 hour and 39 minutes after me this morning, or that you are 52 inches tall after hearing you were 4'4"), you'll work it out, and fast. On a car ride to see Molly, Tom and Henry, you sat and did two digit addition for fun, and have started working out that multiplication is just repeated addition; I don't think you'll find it hard to learn your math facts! You like to be smart, which is good, but you can sometimes get bummed out if you're not the smartest one, or if someone makes you feel less smart than them. You'll get used to this, and you need to remember that you are you, and that you are loved no matter what reading level you are or what score you get your on your tests.
Away from school, you're a total homebody. Even on the sunniest days (like today), you'd rather play inside, though when you're out there you remember how much fun stuff there is to do! You love Lego, mainly building Lego sets, and you'll munch your way through a new Lego set of instructions in an hour or two, completely independently. My favorite thing is to watch you then adapt and change the design, improving a bit here, extending a bit here and creating your own version of the models. You've got a good eye for engineering, and love projects that involve things that move. We spent ages making a pulley system for your teds over the bannisters, and created a zipline that ran almost the length of the house.
You've made some more solid friends this year. We've hung out multiple times with Jack and his family over the year, and more so as hiking season has arrived. You and he are goofy together, and just seem to have an easy time of it. You're learning how to solve social problems by using your words, but you can still come home upset from school if you feel that someone was unkind to you or that you were treated unfairly. This sense of justice runs strongly inside you, and it's becoming a way for you to stand up for yourself and others. Even with Jack in another class, you've collected some good friends in your own class, and it's been fun watching you bond with Brandon over the year. Who knows how the classroom shake up will turn out for second grade, but I'm confident that there will be some old friends as well as opportunities for some new buddies.
Finally, this has been the first year for organized sports (as well as some unorganized ones, like hiking and ice skating). Soccer, floor hockey and instructional baseball have all been fun and while I've not coached you, I can see you working out each sport and developing preferences. We even have an indoor floor hockey arena in the basement set up, perfect for snowy/rainy days. You hiked all the way up Mount Major last summer, making me think we can set our sights a little higher this summer. The view at the top seems less important than the journey for you, which is a good reminder to everyone who goes hiking with you. On our last hike, your environmentally conscious nature was horrified that people would leave trash, and this desire to save the planet will see us doing something to reduce, reuse or recycle over the summer.
Above all, you're just fun to hang out with. You have interesting things to think about, you're ready to talk about your feelings and opinions, and you have a great sense of empathy. While Mom's been hard at work this year learning to be a teacher, you have accepted that she's spent more time studying than hanging out, shouting the words "live your dream" up the stairs so many times that she and I use it as our family motto. So here's to the next year, little bear, and a hope that you live your dream too.
Lots of love
Dada.
Wednesday, 22 May 2019
Friday, 22 June 2018
Sophie at 3
Dear Sweetpea/Boots/Pope/Sofa,
It's funny writing the list of nicknames that we have for you at the moment, as you have learned your own name, and any attempt to call you one of these is met with "I not Sweetpea, I Sophia". Even cuter is your attempts at your surname (sorry about that - it'll get easier with time!), and you now pronounce yourself "Sophia FWolfson" - the Forbes part will come soon I promise.
This has been a massive year of growth for you, in many different and delightful ways. Most noticeably is your language, which we've always had concerns about, but since January you've made such amazing progress. For a long time, we had to repeat everything back to you to a) make sure we had understood you and b) let you hear how it should be said. More and more frequently, I can have a full on conversation with you without having to check in that I've got what you're saying. This makes me feel like I'm truly to getting to know you, and what a delightful journey that is turning out to be.
You are at once wickedly funny with a great sense of humor and also a kid with a true heart of gold (I would put "girl" instead of "kid", but you seem pretty insistent that you're a boy right now). You take pride in saying and doing things you know you're not meant to do, but knowing that you're cute enough to make people find you charming instead of rude. When we saw Mommy in the airport, you ran up to her, gave her a massive hug and said "Hello, Kelsey" because you knew it would get you a tickle. You laugh freely and easily, especially when Jake is involved and the two of you seem to have the best time playing together, even if you do sometimes refuse to share things with him.
Whenever anyone mentions helping, I can guarantee you'll shout out "me too" and you love to be involved in any activities from watering the plants to preparing the dinner. You can't stand to see people being upset, and when I rough house with Jake, I have to make sure you know that we're only playing and that I'm happy playing the game with him. We were at Granny and Grandpa's Italy house last week, and you thought it was the best fun to play "showers" with the grown ups. What made my heart melt was when you told me to turn around and close my eyes when you poured the water gently on my head, and then checked in with me "that ok, Daddy?"
You like to take your time, and you can play independently for hours on end. Walking with you when we don't have anywhere else to be is delightful as you'll stop and talk to me about all the things that you can see and hear. In fact, just spending any time with you is glorious as you take delight in the small things and you make everyone slow down around you to the point where they have to live in the moment with you. Please let this be a skill that you keep with you as you grow bigger and faster.
This year is a big change for you. You'll be going to Miss Gina's for daycare, and given that you already know a lot of the staff, I don't think this is going to be a big challenge for you. You're also going to another pre-school 2 mornings a week for help with your speech, and I can't wait to see the difference that all of these changes make. That's not until September though, which gives us the summer to relax and slow down together.
Love you my little munchkin,
Daddy
It's funny writing the list of nicknames that we have for you at the moment, as you have learned your own name, and any attempt to call you one of these is met with "I not Sweetpea, I Sophia". Even cuter is your attempts at your surname (sorry about that - it'll get easier with time!), and you now pronounce yourself "Sophia FWolfson" - the Forbes part will come soon I promise.
This has been a massive year of growth for you, in many different and delightful ways. Most noticeably is your language, which we've always had concerns about, but since January you've made such amazing progress. For a long time, we had to repeat everything back to you to a) make sure we had understood you and b) let you hear how it should be said. More and more frequently, I can have a full on conversation with you without having to check in that I've got what you're saying. This makes me feel like I'm truly to getting to know you, and what a delightful journey that is turning out to be.
You are at once wickedly funny with a great sense of humor and also a kid with a true heart of gold (I would put "girl" instead of "kid", but you seem pretty insistent that you're a boy right now). You take pride in saying and doing things you know you're not meant to do, but knowing that you're cute enough to make people find you charming instead of rude. When we saw Mommy in the airport, you ran up to her, gave her a massive hug and said "Hello, Kelsey" because you knew it would get you a tickle. You laugh freely and easily, especially when Jake is involved and the two of you seem to have the best time playing together, even if you do sometimes refuse to share things with him.
Whenever anyone mentions helping, I can guarantee you'll shout out "me too" and you love to be involved in any activities from watering the plants to preparing the dinner. You can't stand to see people being upset, and when I rough house with Jake, I have to make sure you know that we're only playing and that I'm happy playing the game with him. We were at Granny and Grandpa's Italy house last week, and you thought it was the best fun to play "showers" with the grown ups. What made my heart melt was when you told me to turn around and close my eyes when you poured the water gently on my head, and then checked in with me "that ok, Daddy?"
You like to take your time, and you can play independently for hours on end. Walking with you when we don't have anywhere else to be is delightful as you'll stop and talk to me about all the things that you can see and hear. In fact, just spending any time with you is glorious as you take delight in the small things and you make everyone slow down around you to the point where they have to live in the moment with you. Please let this be a skill that you keep with you as you grow bigger and faster.
This year is a big change for you. You'll be going to Miss Gina's for daycare, and given that you already know a lot of the staff, I don't think this is going to be a big challenge for you. You're also going to another pre-school 2 mornings a week for help with your speech, and I can't wait to see the difference that all of these changes make. That's not until September though, which gives us the summer to relax and slow down together.
Love you my little munchkin,
Daddy
Thursday, 24 May 2018
Jake at 6
Dear Jake-o,
What a year! I feel that I write that each time round, but it's crazy to see what each 12 months does for you all round. You're now well over 4 feet tall (which makes you taller than one of my 4th grade kids!) and you're becoming used to the fact that you're going to be one of the tallest kids wherever you go. You manage your height well, using those long legs to run fast and climb, and you're unbelievably wiry and strong for a kid of your age. It's currently t-ball season, and you absolutely love smacking the ball into the outfield, and then running as fast as lightning (your words, not mine!) around the bases. I hope that baseball continues to be a passion for you, though I'm not sure that I'll coach you when you start to get into the serious business! For now, there's nothing more fun than pitching balls to you at home and watching you crush them over the house, or into Sophie's window (good thing Papa bought us a bunch of soft balls).
Speaking of Sophie, this year has seen you really step up as a big brother to her. I listen to you playing with her, and you speak with such a kind and careful voice, changing your words and your tone to make her feel happy. You play lovely games with her, and you're so patient with her desire to play with the same toys that you play with. I love how you call her Sofa and help her out, especially getting yoghurts for dessert at dinner time. Long may this cuteness continue, and I think as she gets more and more words you'll find that she's an awesome playmate (most of the time!)
Speaking of playmates, our biggest pleasure this year has been watching you develop a set of close friends, all by yourself. Jack is your current favorite, and the two of you are hilarious together. You just seem to know how to make each other laugh, how to play sensible games together and how to generally have fun in each other's company. You like hanging out with Willy too, and you have a much more rough and tumble relationship with him. I'll treasure my memory of you two playing leaf monsters in the fall at the pumpkin launching farm forever.
School has been a wonderful experience for you. If I'm honest, I was worried that you'd find it tough, but you've really worked out who you are as a learner (hard working, a listener, a thinker) and how to make school work for you. You tell us all sorts of interesting math facts, and you're beginning to be able to work some stuff out that you're not being taught (you came down tonight and told Mommy that if you were 40, she'd be 70!). You've learned your alphabet so well that Mommy and I can't do our usual trick of spelling words that we don't want you to know because you sound stuff out in your head and make really good guesses! You can also read a whole bunch of sight words, and you read your first book (all about sea otters!) to me, and then to your class. I could not have been more proud of you on that day.
You are still a massive animal fan - peregrine falcons are your favorite bird, and jaguars are your favorite animals. However, you have interests in all sorts of different places - space, dinosaurs, monster trucks and art, to name just a few. You love to learn everything you can about these things, and find delight in the ridiculous details, like that chickens are dinosaurs in disguise or that you'd be 24 on Mercury. Our story times are a mixture of fiction and non-fiction (which you can tell the difference between) and most of our time is spent discussing the books and answering your questions.
To wrap it all up, you're a pretty smoochy kid. You've worked out how to tease people gently, how to play games with strategies to win and strategies to deal with losing, how to have fun and rein it in, how to ask for what you need and how to show kindness on a daily basis. What a year. It boggles my mind that you're 6, and that you can do all of these incredible things. Imagine what you'll have learned by the time I write again next year!
Love you, little bear.
Dad
PS your current life goal is to be a space scientist. Mom says you can't leave the planet without her. You're currently negotiating how many space rocks you will need to bring back to keep her on Earth. Dad says dream big, little bear!
What a year! I feel that I write that each time round, but it's crazy to see what each 12 months does for you all round. You're now well over 4 feet tall (which makes you taller than one of my 4th grade kids!) and you're becoming used to the fact that you're going to be one of the tallest kids wherever you go. You manage your height well, using those long legs to run fast and climb, and you're unbelievably wiry and strong for a kid of your age. It's currently t-ball season, and you absolutely love smacking the ball into the outfield, and then running as fast as lightning (your words, not mine!) around the bases. I hope that baseball continues to be a passion for you, though I'm not sure that I'll coach you when you start to get into the serious business! For now, there's nothing more fun than pitching balls to you at home and watching you crush them over the house, or into Sophie's window (good thing Papa bought us a bunch of soft balls).
Speaking of Sophie, this year has seen you really step up as a big brother to her. I listen to you playing with her, and you speak with such a kind and careful voice, changing your words and your tone to make her feel happy. You play lovely games with her, and you're so patient with her desire to play with the same toys that you play with. I love how you call her Sofa and help her out, especially getting yoghurts for dessert at dinner time. Long may this cuteness continue, and I think as she gets more and more words you'll find that she's an awesome playmate (most of the time!)
Speaking of playmates, our biggest pleasure this year has been watching you develop a set of close friends, all by yourself. Jack is your current favorite, and the two of you are hilarious together. You just seem to know how to make each other laugh, how to play sensible games together and how to generally have fun in each other's company. You like hanging out with Willy too, and you have a much more rough and tumble relationship with him. I'll treasure my memory of you two playing leaf monsters in the fall at the pumpkin launching farm forever.
School has been a wonderful experience for you. If I'm honest, I was worried that you'd find it tough, but you've really worked out who you are as a learner (hard working, a listener, a thinker) and how to make school work for you. You tell us all sorts of interesting math facts, and you're beginning to be able to work some stuff out that you're not being taught (you came down tonight and told Mommy that if you were 40, she'd be 70!). You've learned your alphabet so well that Mommy and I can't do our usual trick of spelling words that we don't want you to know because you sound stuff out in your head and make really good guesses! You can also read a whole bunch of sight words, and you read your first book (all about sea otters!) to me, and then to your class. I could not have been more proud of you on that day.
You are still a massive animal fan - peregrine falcons are your favorite bird, and jaguars are your favorite animals. However, you have interests in all sorts of different places - space, dinosaurs, monster trucks and art, to name just a few. You love to learn everything you can about these things, and find delight in the ridiculous details, like that chickens are dinosaurs in disguise or that you'd be 24 on Mercury. Our story times are a mixture of fiction and non-fiction (which you can tell the difference between) and most of our time is spent discussing the books and answering your questions.
To wrap it all up, you're a pretty smoochy kid. You've worked out how to tease people gently, how to play games with strategies to win and strategies to deal with losing, how to have fun and rein it in, how to ask for what you need and how to show kindness on a daily basis. What a year. It boggles my mind that you're 6, and that you can do all of these incredible things. Imagine what you'll have learned by the time I write again next year!
Love you, little bear.
Dad
PS your current life goal is to be a space scientist. Mom says you can't leave the planet without her. You're currently negotiating how many space rocks you will need to bring back to keep her on Earth. Dad says dream big, little bear!
Friday, 23 June 2017
Sophie at 2
Dear Pophins/The Pope/Menace/Widge,
You turned two yesterday, an event that just seems unreal in many ways. This last year seems to have flown by, which is unsurprising how busy our lives have become with you becoming a full grown toddler, instead of the definite baby that you were last year. Looking back at the pictures from this last year, I can't believe just how much you've changed, from your crazy curly hair to being able to walk (and dance, and run) and starting to talk.
The biggest change is obviously your ability to get around. This time last year, you were only just learning to crawl, and watching you trying to invade your brother's personal space when you couldn't get there in time was cute. However, now you've learned to walk, your life is so much easier, and it's much more tricky for Jake to get out of your way (to be fair, most of the time, he loves your attention and he's teaching you all sorts of useful friendship skills).
You absolutely love to dance, and while you might not have the words for it, you know the sign for music and have quickly got the idea of using the thumbnails on Youtube to pick your favorite songs. Both your mom and I are eager to see where this love of music takes you, as you have very distinctive tastes (at the moment, it's Korean boy band - your mom's fault!) and you are very clear when you want to have a different song on. However, when it's your jam, you run around the house with your hands in the air and the biggest smile on your face. We're signing you up for dance classes in September, so we'll see where that takes you.
It's been delightful watching your personality come out over this year. With us as your family, it's not surprising that you're a bit of a goofball, and it's charming to watch you gurning away over the dinner table, putting on your brother's shoes (you do this a lot!) or playing hide and seek with me in the rear view mirror. You have the most expressive eyebrows which you use to create the most wonderfully cute and funny faces. The problem that we're finding is that you can put on the cutest smiles that make it very hard to say no to you. We will, have no fear, but you're already learning how to charm people to get you what you want.
While you don't have many words at the moment (but they're coming; oh boy are they coming!), you definitely score highly in the being helpful department. Sometimes this is really useful, such as in the mornings when you'll get your shoes together and try to climb into your car sear for me. Sometimes you get in your own way, such as when you insist that mommy is wearing the wrong clothes and must change, or you try and feed yourself water from a cup and spill most of it on the table. We will always encourage your independence, however, and I feel that "me do it" will be one of your first sentences.
Above all, I just love being your daddy. I get to pick you up every day from daycare, and you run towards me with open arms, waiting for me to swing you up in the air so you can touch the ceiling and babble to me about your day. I get to get you up each morning and experience the glory of your morning hair, which is as wide as it is tall, and while you look super cute with your hair tied back, or even better in bunches (daddy's favorite!), there is something adorable about your hair in its natural state. I get to sit and read books on your bed (we had to take the rail off the side as you worked out how to climb out) , and you sit on my lap, absolutely absorbed by the words and the pictures. And the best part of all is that your birthday will always come at the start of the summer vacation, and I can't wait to spend it goofing around with you.
Love you Goober.
Daddy
You turned two yesterday, an event that just seems unreal in many ways. This last year seems to have flown by, which is unsurprising how busy our lives have become with you becoming a full grown toddler, instead of the definite baby that you were last year. Looking back at the pictures from this last year, I can't believe just how much you've changed, from your crazy curly hair to being able to walk (and dance, and run) and starting to talk.
The biggest change is obviously your ability to get around. This time last year, you were only just learning to crawl, and watching you trying to invade your brother's personal space when you couldn't get there in time was cute. However, now you've learned to walk, your life is so much easier, and it's much more tricky for Jake to get out of your way (to be fair, most of the time, he loves your attention and he's teaching you all sorts of useful friendship skills).
You absolutely love to dance, and while you might not have the words for it, you know the sign for music and have quickly got the idea of using the thumbnails on Youtube to pick your favorite songs. Both your mom and I are eager to see where this love of music takes you, as you have very distinctive tastes (at the moment, it's Korean boy band - your mom's fault!) and you are very clear when you want to have a different song on. However, when it's your jam, you run around the house with your hands in the air and the biggest smile on your face. We're signing you up for dance classes in September, so we'll see where that takes you.
It's been delightful watching your personality come out over this year. With us as your family, it's not surprising that you're a bit of a goofball, and it's charming to watch you gurning away over the dinner table, putting on your brother's shoes (you do this a lot!) or playing hide and seek with me in the rear view mirror. You have the most expressive eyebrows which you use to create the most wonderfully cute and funny faces. The problem that we're finding is that you can put on the cutest smiles that make it very hard to say no to you. We will, have no fear, but you're already learning how to charm people to get you what you want.
While you don't have many words at the moment (but they're coming; oh boy are they coming!), you definitely score highly in the being helpful department. Sometimes this is really useful, such as in the mornings when you'll get your shoes together and try to climb into your car sear for me. Sometimes you get in your own way, such as when you insist that mommy is wearing the wrong clothes and must change, or you try and feed yourself water from a cup and spill most of it on the table. We will always encourage your independence, however, and I feel that "me do it" will be one of your first sentences.
Above all, I just love being your daddy. I get to pick you up every day from daycare, and you run towards me with open arms, waiting for me to swing you up in the air so you can touch the ceiling and babble to me about your day. I get to get you up each morning and experience the glory of your morning hair, which is as wide as it is tall, and while you look super cute with your hair tied back, or even better in bunches (daddy's favorite!), there is something adorable about your hair in its natural state. I get to sit and read books on your bed (we had to take the rail off the side as you worked out how to climb out) , and you sit on my lap, absolutely absorbed by the words and the pictures. And the best part of all is that your birthday will always come at the start of the summer vacation, and I can't wait to spend it goofing around with you.
Love you Goober.
Daddy
Monday, 22 May 2017
Jake at 5
Dear Jakey Bear,
Today marks your 5th birthday, and also a whole year of your life spent in America. What a massive year it has been for all of us, but you have taken to your new life here like a duck to water. I think part of it is your love for Nana and Papa's house (and the tractor, and the dogs, and the constant supply of food and juice they have going there), where we lived for the first 6 months of this adventure. It was such a great move from a small house in rainy Leeds where you had to share your room with your sister to having your own room, plenty of space to play and then a whole summer's worth of outdoor play and swimming in the lake.
I love how much of an outdoor kid you remain. As winter recedes and the days get warmer, more often than not you ask to go out on your four wheeler or scooter in our front yard when we get home, and when presented with the choice of going home and relaxing or heading to the park after school last week, I was delighted when you chose the latter. Even though you're only 5, I can't wait to show you all of the outdoor fun that your new country has to offer you, including adventures in our brand new canoe!
The big change that we've seen in you this year is how you've grown socially. When we decided to move to America, we wanted to give you an extra year of play and time to learn how to be around other kids more, and boy have you learned that well! We had your birthday party yesterday and it was delightful to watch you disappear in the bouncy castle with your buddies, playing fun games and being right in the thick of the friendships. A lot of kids love to hang out with you because you are a sweet and friendly kid, and it made my heart swell with pride that it was your voice that I heard telling everyone not to fight and to play nicely with each other. Please be that voice of reason and calmness with your friends as you grow older.
Yours was also the voice that I heard telling your friends to be careful around your sister, and yours were the arms that gave her a massive hug later that day. I know at times you get frustrated by Sophie, mainly because she loves you more than anything and just wants to be near you (and to play with your toys all the time!), but you are also the kindest big brother there is to her. You are so careful to be quiet around her room when she's sleeping, and you pull her around in her wagon, much to her squealing delight. Even though she can't talk yet, you have great fun squawking at her across the table and in the back seat of the car, and as soon as she gets some more words, she'll become even more fun as a play mate.
We do so many fun things together, from T-ball to art to tickle fights to racing around outside, but my favorite activity is, and I think always will be, sharing stories with you. You have such a fantastic concentration for books, and whether its a doggie story or a fact book all about trucks or dinosaurs, you make reading to you so much fun with your comments and observations. You're also starting to learn to read a few words, and it's adorable watching you pick out letters and words that you know. I don't know if you know that we know you spend a good half hour after we kiss and hug you good night reading your books and playing with your blocks in bed - we will never stop you from doing this as it's one of the cutest things you do.
This year promises to be another big one. You start Kindergarten in the fall, and while I know that Mrs Gina has done an amazing job of getting you ready for school and that you're a big confident kid, there's a small part of me that worries for you going into a school that goes all the way up to 8th grade. I know you'll be fine, and you'll make friends and learn so many fun and interesting things, and we will do everything we can, as we always do, to make your life a success.
Lots of love as always,
Daddy
Today marks your 5th birthday, and also a whole year of your life spent in America. What a massive year it has been for all of us, but you have taken to your new life here like a duck to water. I think part of it is your love for Nana and Papa's house (and the tractor, and the dogs, and the constant supply of food and juice they have going there), where we lived for the first 6 months of this adventure. It was such a great move from a small house in rainy Leeds where you had to share your room with your sister to having your own room, plenty of space to play and then a whole summer's worth of outdoor play and swimming in the lake.
I love how much of an outdoor kid you remain. As winter recedes and the days get warmer, more often than not you ask to go out on your four wheeler or scooter in our front yard when we get home, and when presented with the choice of going home and relaxing or heading to the park after school last week, I was delighted when you chose the latter. Even though you're only 5, I can't wait to show you all of the outdoor fun that your new country has to offer you, including adventures in our brand new canoe!
The big change that we've seen in you this year is how you've grown socially. When we decided to move to America, we wanted to give you an extra year of play and time to learn how to be around other kids more, and boy have you learned that well! We had your birthday party yesterday and it was delightful to watch you disappear in the bouncy castle with your buddies, playing fun games and being right in the thick of the friendships. A lot of kids love to hang out with you because you are a sweet and friendly kid, and it made my heart swell with pride that it was your voice that I heard telling everyone not to fight and to play nicely with each other. Please be that voice of reason and calmness with your friends as you grow older.
Yours was also the voice that I heard telling your friends to be careful around your sister, and yours were the arms that gave her a massive hug later that day. I know at times you get frustrated by Sophie, mainly because she loves you more than anything and just wants to be near you (and to play with your toys all the time!), but you are also the kindest big brother there is to her. You are so careful to be quiet around her room when she's sleeping, and you pull her around in her wagon, much to her squealing delight. Even though she can't talk yet, you have great fun squawking at her across the table and in the back seat of the car, and as soon as she gets some more words, she'll become even more fun as a play mate.
We do so many fun things together, from T-ball to art to tickle fights to racing around outside, but my favorite activity is, and I think always will be, sharing stories with you. You have such a fantastic concentration for books, and whether its a doggie story or a fact book all about trucks or dinosaurs, you make reading to you so much fun with your comments and observations. You're also starting to learn to read a few words, and it's adorable watching you pick out letters and words that you know. I don't know if you know that we know you spend a good half hour after we kiss and hug you good night reading your books and playing with your blocks in bed - we will never stop you from doing this as it's one of the cutest things you do.
This year promises to be another big one. You start Kindergarten in the fall, and while I know that Mrs Gina has done an amazing job of getting you ready for school and that you're a big confident kid, there's a small part of me that worries for you going into a school that goes all the way up to 8th grade. I know you'll be fine, and you'll make friends and learn so many fun and interesting things, and we will do everything we can, as we always do, to make your life a success.
Lots of love as always,
Daddy
Wednesday, 22 June 2016
Sophie at 1
Dear Pophins,
You must think that your parents are crazy. Not only do we now have two kids, but we also uprooted ourselves from everything we know and love to move across the ocean to America. I guess for you, you'll never have memories of Leeds (even Jake will only have fuzzy recollections!), and while you'll always tell people that you were born in England (when you're able to talk - now that's a terrifying prospect!), I think you'll always see yourself as an American first, which is weird for me.
The bliss of being 1 is that everything is new for you, and you know that your heart is where your family is. We're currently living at Nana and Papa's house, and you couldn't be happier as there's an extra pair of hands to look after you and cheer you on as you begin to master feeding yourself and starting to crawl around their house. Your brother never crawled, so it's a brand new experience for all of us trying to keep an eye on you as you explore the world around you.
You don't mind being cuddled by just about anyone, but there's something special about the way you play with and look for Papa. I wonder if it's a girl thing, but I think it's a baby/grandbaby thing because he was exactly the same with Jake when he was your age. You're very curious and you've got this look on your face half the time like you're trying to puzzle something out. You were very confused by your birthday cake today, but then you smudged some of it in your mouth and you worked out that this was a Good Thing.
This coming year is full of unknowns for all of us. Your mom and I are looking for our first American house, but we've not really found anything that we like. Staying here with Nana and Papa would be no terrible thing, but at some point we want to stand on our own two feet (just like you're starting to!). We also need to think about daycare for you as your birthday party this year was family only, and we need to get you out in the world to meet some friends and other people.
If your second year on this earth is anything like your first, you'll handle all the changes that come at you with a wide smile, an infectious giggle and a wave of your fantastically curly hair. I can't wait to see what this year brings for you and know that I'll be there cheering you on as you meet those next milestones.
Love you,
Daddy
Sunday, 22 May 2016
Jake at 4
Dear Jake,
It feels strange to say that I have a 4 year old at home, and your mum/mom and I were talking last night about what we ever did before you. We certainly slept more (though that's more to do with Sophie!) but we're not sure what the pictures were of on our cameras and who we spent most of our time talking about. You are quickly growing up into a delightful boy, one who is kind and caring, who follows the instructions, one who has a great sense of humour and one who we love to bits on a daily basis.
It's been a big year for you (and for all of us) in many different ways. I'm typing this with a cup of coffee at Nana and Papa's house where we moved to 6 weeks ago, listening to your baby sister snuffle in her sleep (as I'm sure you are too). The way that you've accepted and enjoyed these changes has been incredible.
I think you were born to be in America in many ways. You love playing outside, especially on the massive dirt piles that currently litter Nana and Papa's garden. I hope you don't get too disappointed when they get used up on various projects, but the number of those that are planned with you and the other grandchildren in mind will more than make up for it. You love the space of the house and it's fun watching you work out the routines and patterns, as well as where everything goes. Whilst you won't naturally tidy up by yourself, you take a delight in putting things away in their right places.
Your sense of direction continues to amaze us. You learned all the shortcuts on our routes home in Leeds and would routinely scold me for not going mummy's way, which you were convinced was quicker (as was she...). This has continued over here and you're beginning to tell me which roads go where, which boggles my mind as I'm still not sure how much you can see from the back seat. You also love to spot "papa trucks" (pick up trucks) and spent a fantastic afternoon driving around with me saying "yes" and "no" to the driveways, depending on whether they had a papa truck or not. You came up with this game all by yourself (with Hobbes, of course!), which is something you're getting very good at. Your mum and I could sit and watch you play for hours.
The other big change, of course, is your sister. At times delightful, at times annoying, you've taken her arrival in your stride. I think up till a couple of weeks ago you saw her as an intrigue, someone who took attention from you, but was cute about it, someone who sometimes woke you up in the night by crying, but smiles at you constantly. This is until she started to crawl. Her love affair with you (and your toys) is made much easier by the fact that she can now scoot across the mat and get up in your business, which can be annoying. You're getting used to fobbing her off with toys, or getting me or mummy to help distract her. Maybe we'll convince you that playing on a table is a better idea, but it's much more fun to play on the floor.
Finally, we love talking with you. Your vocabulary has grown massively this year, and you're able to discuss so many things with us, from your feelings about Hayden dying, to feeling shy about new adults, to preparing you for small-but-big changes like putting your dody in the mail. This last one is a big step, and one that we earmarked for your 4th birthday. When we tried getting you to give it up before, it didn't really work, but now that you can talk and think about things, you went to sleep without it tonight without a fuss. We love your dedication to logic, especially trying to work out who has driven where in which car, and catching mummy out in a lie when we both stayed home to sort out the house. You're a clever kid.
What a big year Jakey Bear. This next one will see you start daycare, get some American friends, explore more and move into our first house, and as always we can't wait to see what happens next with you.
Love you
Daddy
It feels strange to say that I have a 4 year old at home, and your mum/mom and I were talking last night about what we ever did before you. We certainly slept more (though that's more to do with Sophie!) but we're not sure what the pictures were of on our cameras and who we spent most of our time talking about. You are quickly growing up into a delightful boy, one who is kind and caring, who follows the instructions, one who has a great sense of humour and one who we love to bits on a daily basis.
It's been a big year for you (and for all of us) in many different ways. I'm typing this with a cup of coffee at Nana and Papa's house where we moved to 6 weeks ago, listening to your baby sister snuffle in her sleep (as I'm sure you are too). The way that you've accepted and enjoyed these changes has been incredible.
I think you were born to be in America in many ways. You love playing outside, especially on the massive dirt piles that currently litter Nana and Papa's garden. I hope you don't get too disappointed when they get used up on various projects, but the number of those that are planned with you and the other grandchildren in mind will more than make up for it. You love the space of the house and it's fun watching you work out the routines and patterns, as well as where everything goes. Whilst you won't naturally tidy up by yourself, you take a delight in putting things away in their right places.
Your sense of direction continues to amaze us. You learned all the shortcuts on our routes home in Leeds and would routinely scold me for not going mummy's way, which you were convinced was quicker (as was she...). This has continued over here and you're beginning to tell me which roads go where, which boggles my mind as I'm still not sure how much you can see from the back seat. You also love to spot "papa trucks" (pick up trucks) and spent a fantastic afternoon driving around with me saying "yes" and "no" to the driveways, depending on whether they had a papa truck or not. You came up with this game all by yourself (with Hobbes, of course!), which is something you're getting very good at. Your mum and I could sit and watch you play for hours.
The other big change, of course, is your sister. At times delightful, at times annoying, you've taken her arrival in your stride. I think up till a couple of weeks ago you saw her as an intrigue, someone who took attention from you, but was cute about it, someone who sometimes woke you up in the night by crying, but smiles at you constantly. This is until she started to crawl. Her love affair with you (and your toys) is made much easier by the fact that she can now scoot across the mat and get up in your business, which can be annoying. You're getting used to fobbing her off with toys, or getting me or mummy to help distract her. Maybe we'll convince you that playing on a table is a better idea, but it's much more fun to play on the floor.
Finally, we love talking with you. Your vocabulary has grown massively this year, and you're able to discuss so many things with us, from your feelings about Hayden dying, to feeling shy about new adults, to preparing you for small-but-big changes like putting your dody in the mail. This last one is a big step, and one that we earmarked for your 4th birthday. When we tried getting you to give it up before, it didn't really work, but now that you can talk and think about things, you went to sleep without it tonight without a fuss. We love your dedication to logic, especially trying to work out who has driven where in which car, and catching mummy out in a lie when we both stayed home to sort out the house. You're a clever kid.
What a big year Jakey Bear. This next one will see you start daycare, get some American friends, explore more and move into our first house, and as always we can't wait to see what happens next with you.
Love you
Daddy
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)