You're a Cousin!

Dear Vinny,

On the Sunday when Grandma and Grandpa were here, your newest cousin, Samuel, was born.  You were really excited about him being born because you wanted to hold him and shush him soothingly.  That next Wednesday, you got to do just that.

It was a big contrast to see you next to Cousin Samuel, and to think that four years ago, you weren't much bigger than Samuel is now!  You held him and kissed him and told him that you loved him, in addition to shushing him.

This was the first time you got to meet him, but you'll be seeing a lot more of Cousin Samuel.  I hope that the two of you will grow up to be great friends!

Love,
Mama

More Birthday Celebrations

Dear Vinny,

Yesterday we had your big birthday party for your friends.  You wanted it to be held at the children's museum, just like last year.  So we did.  There were about twenty kids at the party.

We had pizza, beverages, cake, and ice cream for the guests.  Everybody had a good time at the party.  You received a lot of nice presents from your guests.

At the end of the party, Granny and Granddad arrived, and also, the fire alarm went off and we had to evacuate the building.  You got to see the fire trucks, which was pretty exciting, and you spent most of the time we were evacuated out on the playground.

After we were done cleaning up from the party, we went home.  We took Granny and Granddad to the same Chinese buffet we went to last weekend with Grandma and Grandpa, and they liked it a lot too.  Then we came home and you got your gifts from Granny and Granddad, which included a Buzz Lightyear, Woody, and the horse from Toy Story, all of which you really enjoyed.

Today, you and Daddy went to visit Aunt Mary and Uncle Wayne with Granny and Granddad, while I stayed home.  I think you are having a good time with them!

Love,
Mama

Visit from Grandma and Grandpa

Dear Vinny,

Grandma and Grandpa came for a visit on Saturday.  They got here in the afternoon and we had fun talking to and playing with them.  Then we all went out for dinner at a super good Chinese buffet.  We came home and had some cake (chocolate zuh-cake, made in the Dora the Explorer cake mold but not decorated like last time) and then you opened your presents from Grandma and Grandpa, which included books about pumpkins, trees, and insects, and some actual insect specimens preserved in acrylic blocks.  They also got you some new clothes, which you weren't quite as enthusiastic about as the other stuff.

The next morning, we ate Special Oatmeal (oatmeal slow-cooked overnight in the crock pot) before going on a hike with Grandma and Grandpa on one of the local greenways.  You walked quite far -- the hike was almost four miles and you walked the majority of it, always on the lookout for the "hiking boys" (little placards nailed to the trees to help you navigate the path).

You had a blast with Grandma and Grandpa and were sad to see them go.  But you have decided to stay with them next month when Mama and Daddy go to New Orleans, so you'll see them again soon.

Love,
Mama

Vacation Time!

Dear Vinny,

Last weekend, we went to Memphis for a little vacation/getaway.  You had a great time.  We stayed at a hotel that had a swimming pool, and you and I went swimming one evening.  Unfortunately, the water was pretty cold so we didn't swim again.

You had a great time at the Children's Museum of Memphis on Saturday.  You enjoyed the whole museum, but especially the wind tunnel with the airplane in it.  It had some big fans that would turn on when you flipped the switch, and then you could move the flaps on the airplane around to make it lift into the air.  You also enjoyed the airplane cockpit, and the railroad tracks display.

After the museum, we went to a place called Incredible Pizza where we enjoyed a big pizza buffet and some games.  You rode with me on the go-karts.  We were winning the race when somebody hit us and spun us out.  Oh well, we still had fun!  You also did some mini bowling and played a few driving simulation video games.

The next day we went to Graceland.  You enjoyed it at first but got a little bored with it after a while.  I think Graceland is a place that adults probably appreciate more than kids.  You did like the grilled peanut butter and banana sandwich for lunch, and the milkshakes that we shared.  Daddy snapped a cute picture of you and me sharing a shake.  Ever since then you've enjoyed sharing drinks with two straws.

Then on Monday we headed for home.  On the way home we stopped at a battlefield, which wasn't the most exciting thing for you, or for me either for that matter.  But Daddy enjoyed it a lot.

We had a fun trip together.  Thanks for being such a good sport and having fun with me and Daddy!

Love,
Mama

Happy Birthday!

Dear Vinny,

I can hardly believe that four years ago today, you were born.  You have grown into such an amazing little boy with a good sense of humor and fun personality!

We celebrated your birthday on Sunday, because today is a weekday.  I baked you a Dora the Explorer cake, as you requested.  It took me a really long time to decorate it, though.

For dinner we had homemade pizza.  You got to video chat with Cousin Theo for a little while, which was lots of fun.  Then you got to blow out the candles on your cake, eat some cake, and then open your presents after we were done video chatting.

The highlights of your gifts included Lego Rock Band, plus the instruments needed to play it; a book of the complete Curious George stories; a remote-controlled car; and a set of interlocking gears.

Happy birthday, sweet boy!

Love,
Mama

Spinner for Dinner

Dear Vinny,

We bought you a fun dinner game when we were traveling but we didn't get it out of the box until this week.  You are kind of a picky eater and don't like to try new foods.  We bought this game that consists of a plate that's kind of like a cafeteria tray from elementary school, except that in each part of the tray it has a picture.  Then there is a spinner with those pictures, and which ever one you land on when you spin, you have to take a bite of the food in that part of the tray.

You absolutely loved playing "spinner for dinner" as you put it.  You even tried a food that we thought you would like but would not have tried without "spinner for dinner."  And sure enough, you liked it!

Love,
Mama

Catching Up

Dear Vinny,

I am so embarassed that I have not written to you in more than a year.  So much has happened over this time that I hardly know where to begin!

You are now almost four years old.  Last September and part of October we went on a long trip to the Black Hills and Nebraska.  While we were in Nebraska we went to every single children's museum in the state.  Your favorite, which you still talk about, was the one in Omaha.  It had a great big room with a Rube Goldberg-like machine that transported balls up to a bin at the ceiling in various ways -- using a crank, pneumatically, with a vacuum, etc.  Then, periodically, a siren would go off, the bin would open up, and all the balls would fall back down to the floor.  You often ask to go to the "ball room" in "Beraska" still!

I got a Roomba for Christmas and you love using it.  You help me to clean it and clear the floors of obstacles before we run it.  You call it "robot vacuum."  When it starts running, you enjoy watching it and screaming and getting out of the way of it.

You've been potty trained for 10 months.  That was a big deal and we were all so proud of you when it happened.  After that you were able to start school at the local Montessori school.  You love it there.  You have such fantastic teachers, Miss Mandy and Miss Candie.  And you've made a lot of friends.  Your best friend this past year was Catherine, whose daddy has become good friends with your daddy.

I will try to fill in some of the blanks over the past year but more importantly keep up with this better.  I love you sweet boy!

Love,
Mama

Mothers Day

Dear Vinny,

We had a fun Mothers Day. I spent the morning playing with you. We got out some tinkertoys (hand-me-downs from your cousins), which you really enjoyed playing with. You could make things that went round and round -- what's not to love about that?

Daddy cooked me a special feast this afternoon, including steak, chicken, corn on the cob, and several other items. I made the dessert -- strawberry shortcakes. We ate outside on the deck -- it was a nice day (the first in over a week). It was nice to get a chance to enjoy some sunshine with our meal.

What a great, leisurely day with my boys!

Love,
Mama

Amelia's Birthday

Dear Vinny,

Tonight we went next door to celebrate Amelia's third birthday.  You gave Amelia some flowers and a card.  She really enjoyed the flowers, and she gave you a big hug.  During the embrace, you exclaimed, "I love you, baby!"

You fell asleep during dinner but woke up to eat some birthday cake and ice cream.  You had a really fun time playing with Amelia and were sad to come home.  It's nice to have friends nearby like that!

Love,

Mama

Atlanta/Aunt Laura

Dear Vinny,

We are spending this week in Atlanta, where Mama has a conference. When I told you we were going to Atlanta, you were very excited -- overly excited, perhaps. You said, "I see Grandpa too?"

I then realized that you thought we were going to see Aunt Laura, not Atlanta. But I think you're having fun here anyway!

Love,
Mama

Mother-Son Evening Out

Dear Vinny,

This evening Daddy was taking a watercolor course so you and I had an evening out on the town together.

We started by going to the "Pizza House" (as you call our local pizza buffet restaurant) for dinner, and they gave you a balloon. We saw an older woman there whom we recognized, sitting alone. I invited her to sit with us, and she did. I asked her about her past, and she told me she had a masters degree in mathematics, and that she'd worked as a programmer on my workplace's first supercomputer. I thought this was just about the coolest thing ever, and I asked her quite a few additional questions about her computing experience, and then told her a little about what things are like now.

After dinner, we went to play on the playground, but we didn't stay long because the sun was setting. We came home and it was soon time for bed. I tucked you in just before Daddy came home.

Love,
Mama

Bedtime Routine

Dear Vinny,

I put you to bed just about every night (the exceptions being when I'm on travel or so exhausted that I crash early). We have a bedtime routine, in which we brush teeth, pee-pee in the potty, put on a diaper and a sleeper for the night, and then go in your room, read three books of your choosing while sitting in the rocking chair together, and then sing two songs of your choosing while you're lying in bed with the lights out, before I finally kiss you goodnight and leave.

For some reason, you feel obligated to tell Daddy that you brushed your teeth, so there's always that interlude in the routine where you shout to Daddy about brushing your teeth.

Sometimes, we read the same book three times. You go through phases of liking some books above the others, but some of your favorites include Goodnight Moon, On the Day You Were Born, Ten Minutes to Bedtime, and The Little Engine that Could. We get books every month courtesy of Granny, and also one book a month from Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. The Little Engine that Could was the first book we got from that program.

I used to sing you actual songs, but nowadays you request songs about various topics, such as sirens, the letter X, and Grandma Marvis. So unless I know a song that has that word in it (which is highly unlikely, since I know very few songs), I just make something up.

Finally, I give you a kiss and leave the room. Lately, we've started doing a funny little ritual where upon leaving, when I get to the foot of your bed, near the door, you say, "Another kiss!" and I go back and give you another kiss. It is the funniest thing ever, at least in the mind of a two-and-a-half-year-old.

You fall asleep pretty well, provided that I go downstairs immediately after putting you to bed, and wait for about an hour. Otherwise, you know I'm still there and I hear shouts of "Hey, Mama!"

Love,
Mama

Another Sad Occurrence

Dear Vinny,

Sadly, your other great-grandma, great-Grandma Laura, has also passed away.  She was over 100 years old!  It's nice that she was able to live such a long life, but I am sad to see her go.  She was the grandparent I felt the closest to when I was growing up, especially as a teenager.  I hope that your relationships with your four grandparents are similarly close and rewarding.

Love,

Mama

Change over Time

Dear Vinny,

I was gone most of last week, and in that time you have grown tremendously.  You're bigger physically, but more striking is the way that your speaking ability has expanded.  Your sentences are more complete, and you're using articles.  This is something new in your development.  I never cease to be amazed by the big changes that take place over the short times that I am away!

Love,

Mama

Telephone Conversation

Dear Vinny,

Yesterday, you and I had a rather lengthy telephone conversation.  I had called Daddy on his cellphone to see if I could pick anything up from the grocery store, but you two were already at the grocery store at that time.  Daddy let you answer the phone, and we had the following conversation:

[Phone Rings]

Vinny: Hi, mama!

Mama: Hey Vinny, whatcha doin'?

Vinny: I'm at Kroger!

Mama: You are?

Vinny: I see fans!

Mama: You do?  What else do you see?

Vinny: I see apples, grapes, pears...

Mama: Wow.  Lots of fruit.  Are you in the produce section?

Vinny: I see blinking lights!

Mama: Blinking lights!  Wow!

Vinny: Hey mama, I go playground today!

Mama: You went to the playground today?  Did you have fun?

Vinny: Uh huh!  I play playground.

Mama: Wow, sounds like fun.

Vinny: I see crackers!

Mama: That's fantastic.  Say, is Daddy there?

Vinny: Yup.

Mama: Can I talk to Daddy for a minute, please?

Vinny: I don't think so!  I see bagels!

Mama: ... Wow, bagels!  Can you give the phone to Daddy for just a second, please?

Vinny: Uh uh.  I don't think so.  I see fan!

It went on like this for several more minutes until Daddy finally wrestled the phone from your grasp.  I did enjoy the conversation, though!

Love,

Mama

Fun and Games

Dear Vinny,

You and Daddy have come up with a fun game, in which you sing,

Oh, I'd like to be (a/an) ____
Oh, I'd really like to be (a/an) ____
Because (a/an) ____ (does/has/goes) ____

For example, "I'd like to be a cow, because a cow goes moo" or "I'd like to be a tree, because a tree has branches." Generally you decide the subject of the verse, come up with the action of said subject, and then you and Daddy act it out.

Yesterday, you sang

Oh, I'd like to be Mama,
Oh, I'd really like to be Mama,
Because Mama goes "No, sir!", "Stop right there!", and "I missed you all day long!"

(At least one of the three is positive!)

Love,

Mama

Sunny Saturday Afternoon

Dear Vinny,

Today was so beautiful that we had to get out and do something. After a week of below-freezing temperatures, today was sunny and warm and there was no excuse not to spend some time outdoors. So we went to the Museum of Appalachia, a 60-acre living history museum about the history of Appalachia.

They have a large collection of historical buildings brought in from across the region, and historical artifacts from the era. They also have a lot of animals, including sheep, turkeys, chickens, and peacocks. You enjoyed running around and looking at the animals and buildings. Unfortunately there were a lot of really interesting objects everywhere that you were not allowed to touch, which detracted from the experience for you somewhat.

But it was a lot of fun to get out and enjoy family time in the sunshine on a leisurely Saturday afternoon.

Love,

Mama

Potty Progress

Dear Vinny,

You have now pee-peed in the potty twice!  But more importantly, you're starting to recognize the signals from your body. Last week, during an evening bath, you told me you needed to pee, so I took you out of the bath to sit on the potty. Unfortunately, I didn't leave you on the toilet long enough, because you peed right after I put you back in the bath, but I was pleased that you seemed to know that you needed to pee. Similarly, on Saturday night you said you needed to go poo-poo, so I set you on the potty and a little tiny something came out. I was really proud of you for that.

Love,
Mama

Swimming

Dear Vinny,

We traveled to Evansville, Indiana last week under sad circumstances.  Sadly, your great-grandma Mary passed away the previous weekend, and we went to Evansville for her funeral.

We were staying in a hotel with a pool.  On Friday evening, I persuaded your Grandpa John to borrow some swim trunks from one of his brothers and help me take you on your first swim, in the hotel swimming pool. At first, you didn't quite know what to make of the swimming pool, so we just sat you on the side and let you kick and splash. But after you saw Grandpa get in the water, you decided to try it too. Mostly, Grandpa and I just held you and jumped up and down in the water. We also let you "swim" between us by passing you from person to person. You had the greatest time, and cried a lot when it was time to go. The next morning, you were asking to go swimming again. This tells me that I need to sign you and myself up for baby/parent swimming lessons!

Love,

Mama

Important Breakthrough

Dear Vinny,

I am pleased to report that you pee-peed in the potty for the first time tonight.  It was just a tiny trickle, but it definitely happened!  I am so proud of you!

Love,

Mama