It has been quite some time since I last wrote a letter to you. I'm sorry that I've been so busy with other things. I will try to fill in some of the gaps here.
First, we had a wonderful birthday party for you the weekend of October 17-19. We invited your four grandparents down to spend the weekend all together at a cabin at Big Ridge State Park. We all had a really good time and you were the center of everyone's attention. Your grandparents brought you a lot of presents, including a Vinny-sized table and two chairs, a submarine bath toy, and a whole new fall/winter wardrobe. We had a nice birthday party for you, complete with a chocolate cake with raspberry filling made by me, and party decorations supplied and put up by Grandma Marvis.
We took you trick-or-treating on Halloween, which you enjoyed, but you didn't quite understand. We dressed you in a park ranger outfit that we had bought for you at the Grand Canyon. You thought that the purpose of knocking on doors or ringing doorbells was to enter people's houses, so you did, several times. I had to chase after you many times, and I got to see the interior of some neighbors' houses.
In November, you spent a week with Grandpa and Grandma, while Mama and Daddy went to Austin, Texas for Mama's supercomputing conference. You had a good time with Grandpa during the day. The day before Mama and Daddy left, we all went and saw your Great-Grandma Laura who had just turned 100. While you were there with Grandpa and Grandma, Grandpa took you on a trip to see his mother, your Great-Grandma Mary. He said you really enjoyed the trip, pointing out all the bridges that you saw.
We stayed home for Thanksgiving so it was just the three of us for Thanksgiving dinner. You have become fascinated by the mixer, so I took the opportunity to have you help me make rolls for Thanksgiving dinner using the mixer. You got a big kick out of turning on the mixer, except for the time that you turned it on high and the flour was thrown out into your face. "I finished!" you declared. Unfortunately, the rolls burned, so I whipped up some cornbread instead. You ate only cornbread and cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving dinner. You are a huge fan of cranberry sauce. That's my boy!
You love going to the children's museum here in town. Aunt Laura and Aunt Anne renewed your membership to the museum for your birthday, which was just wonderful of them, because you love that place. The major highlights include a room with nests recessed in the floor, which you can push buttons and illuminate (it's the push-button/light combination that you love!); a room full of trains and an elaborate model train layout that you love to watch; and an exhibit about Appalachian life with various instrumental parts playing "Turkey in the Straw" at the push of a button -- you particularly enjoy the string bass part. You have been known to run down the hall squealing in excitement. If you could live in the museum, I think you would!
The first weekend in December, we took you to the museum twice, and in the evening after it closed we took you to see the outdoor train garden there illuminated with Christmas lights. Although it was really cold, you enjoyed the trains a lot and were very disappointed to leave.
You've become interested in the potty (which you pronounce "polly") but you haven't yet figured out when you need to use it. You really enjoy watching the "Elmo Potty Time" DVD, and sitting on the toilet reading the Elmo potty book complete with buttons to push that make various sounds. And speaking of television, you really love the show "Oswald." Your love of Oswald has eclipsed your love of "Jack's Big Music Show" and "Lazytown." You've also started watching "Blue's Clues" sometimes, which led to the following funny incident. Daddy was playing a computer game, and suddenly you started shouting, "A clue! I see clue!" We didn't know what in the world you were talking about until we saw a pawprint in the game. You are a very observant boy!
Another thing that shows your advanced powers of observation is that today, when we were watching Oswald say goodbye to his pet fish, you said "I feel sad Oswald" -- Vinny-speak for "Oswald is sad." I was impressed that you noticed Oswald's sadness and possessed that kind of empathy for him.
For Christmas, we went to Kentucky. During the week before Christmas, we were at Grandma and Grandpa's house, and got to see your Aunt Rachel, Uncle Scott, Cousin Byron, and Aunt Laura. Also we saw your cousin Maya, Aunt Vaughan, Uncle Austin, Aunt Kristin, and Uncle Andy. You also got a chance to meet Mama and Daddy's friends Carrie and Chad, and their kids Alex and Annika, and to jump on their bounce house in the basement. You really enjoyed that jumping. You also enjoyed helping Grandpa cut down and decorate a Christmas tree.
On Christmas Day, we went to Granny and Granddad's house, and got to have dinner with them and Aunt Ginger and Uncle Johnny. Then, Aunt Mary and Uncle Wayne came for a visit too. You had a great time with all those relatives, and your presence gave great joy to them too.
You got all kinds of presents for Christmas. From Mama and Daddy you got a big boy bed, although we haven't set it up for you yet. It's a twin mattress, plus sheets, a blanket, and a comforter, and some decorative pillows. The sheets, comforter, and decorative pillows are an underwater theme, with sea creatures playing musical instruments. It seems like the perfect theme for you, because you love fish and music.
From Grandma and Grandpa, you got a fish tank. We also haven't set that up for you yet. They provided the tank and accessories, but we need to get some fish. Aunt Laura and Aunt Rachel's family both gave you some books. I know you will love to read them, because you are an avid reader. From Aunt Ginger and Uncle Johnny you got some more Curious George stuff (book and video), to go with the book and Curious George stuffed animal they gave you for your birthday. And Granny and Granddad gave you many gifts; your favorite one was a set of eight bells upon which one could play tunes. But you prefer just ringing them as fast as you can. Fair enough.
Your vocabulary has expanded a lot. You are pronouncing words better and better, and you are forming more advanced and complicated sentences. You are very polite and basically always say please and thank you. Also, when you ask for things, you generally say "I'd like some [whatever], please." You're repeating more and more of what Mama and Daddy say to you, such as "Let's do it!" and "That's a boy!" (which is Grandpa's influence, not ours).
Every day you bring such joy into my life, sweet boy. Thank you for all your love.
Love,
Mama
