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

Cooking with Chef Vinny

Dear Vinny,

You are really interested in everything that Mama and Daddy do, and cooking is no exception. Obviously, you can't yet use the stove or cut things up or anything, but I give you some age-appropriate tasks to do.

Today, you stood on a chair in the kitchen and helped me make breakfast: pancakes, scrambled eggs, and sausage. I measured out the flour but let you help me dump it into the bowl. You're really fascinated by eggs so I let you keep your hand on the egg while I broke it into the bowl, and then you whisked the scrambled eggs and also the eggs that went into the pancakes. You did a remarkably good job of it, too! I let you pull the wrapper off the butter and put the stick of butter into a cup to melt. You mixed the eggs and milk for the pancakes, too. And I let you help me mix the wet and dry ingredients for the pancakes.

I've stressed to you that the griddle is hot (or, as I've said it and you repeat, "HOT HOT HOT") and you haven't tried to touch it. While I'm making the pancakes, I make a few small ones for you to eat while we're cooking.

I usually try to involve you in my cooking if I can. Last week I made a crock pot stew and I let you help me put all the ingredients in the crock pot. I have also made rolls, cranberry bread, and chocolate chip-banana bread with you. You're very interested in cooking and I think that someday you will be an accomplished cook!

Love,
Mama

Big Boy Bed

Dear Vinny,

We set up your big boy bed on New Year's Day, and it has been quite a hit.  The first night, you slept quite soundly in it and I was so glad.  One problem is that it takes up more room than your crib/toddler bed, so we've had to clean out your room.

You spent Saturday afternoon and overnight until Sunday morning with Tia and Uncle, which gave Mama and Daddy some time to clean up your room.  Mama removed all the boxes of clothes that were too small for you, resorted the clothes, and put them away.  We still need to get some storage containers for your toys, to place in the closet where the boxes of clothes were.

A couple of nights ago, you were crying and calling for me in the middle of the night, so I went into your room and lay with you on your big boy bed.  I can say, it is pretty comfortable, so I understand why you like it.

Love,

Mama

Fun Day Together

Dear Vinny,

Today, we went shopping together, to give Daddy a chance to take a nap. You really like to talk to people and you flirt with everyone you encounter. You also thanked the salesperson helping us, who remarked that you are very polite.

You are amazingly polite, and just about always thank people for giving you things. I suppose that's because Mama and Daddy always thank you and you've just picked it up from us.

Then, this evening you and I cooked dinner. You really love to cook. We whipped up some pancakes, sausage, and scrambled eggs. You helped me with the pancake batter and the scrambled eggs. We cooked 5.5 eggs because you were really excited about the eggs and I mistakenly allowed you to hold one. You then cracked it against the side of the bowl (just like Mama) and then crushed it in your hand (not like Mama).

Something else you love to do is to take the wrapper off the butter. I have to watch for pieces of wrapper that you might have missed.

I have to also be extremely vigilant the whole time we're in the kitchen together. You can get into things before I know what happened. But I do enjoy cooking with you nonetheless!

Love,
Mama

Fun with Tia and Uncle

Dear Vinny,

You spent yesterday afternoon and all night at Tia and Uncle Adam's house. You had a great time with them!

Tia cooked you some quesadillas for dinner. You played a lot with Tia and Uncle's dog, Fox. You went to bed easily and when you woke up, the first thing you said to Tia was, "What a beautiful lamp!"

You had a great time and I hope you can spend another night with them soon!

Love,
Mama

Long Lapse

Dear Vinny,

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

Happy 2nd Birthday!

Dear Vinny,

Today is your second birthday! It is hard to believe that you are two years old already, but when I look at you I know that you are. You're still a very happy boy, and your powers of speech continue to amaze me. Speaking of amazing, you are amazed by a lot of things still. You see something interesting, and you exclaim, "Oh, wow!" How I love to hear you say that!

Today we went to Chuck E. Cheese with Tia and Uncle. You enjoyed the pizza but you also enjoyed running around the restaurant and looking at all the blinking lights.

We brought some frosted brownies to serve as a cake for your party. Daddy gave you the candle to lick, but you didn't understand that you were supposed to lick it, and took a big bite out of it instead. I don't think you enjoyed the taste of wax very much, but you wouldn't let me get the wax out of your mouth. You just chewed it and swallowed it.

For your birthday, Mama and Daddy got you an iPod Shuffle because you love to listen to music so much. You've been listening to Daddy's iPod a lot, and you will even sit for 15 minutes at a time, just listening. I loaded it up with your favorite songs.

It was a lot of work giving birth to you two years ago, but the joy you have brought into our lives was well worth the effort!

Love,
Mama

Fun with Grandpa and Grandma

Dear Vinny,

You had a great time with Grandpa and Grandma. Grandpa said that when you two dropped Mama and Daddy off at the airport, you didn't cry at all. While you were there, Grandpa took care of you during the day while Grandma was at work, and he took you on a lot of different outings.

One day you went to the Lexington Children's Museum, which you really enjoyed. He also took you to his office to help him clean it out. Grandpa and Grandma took you to the pumpkin patch over the weekend, where you rode on a little train and enjoyed it immensely. You also went to Grandpa's departmental picnic together, along with Aunt Vaughan and Cousin Maya, and got a chance to play with a lot of other little kids.

Grandpa told me a couple of funny stories about you. The first was that you are very geographically aware. He and Grandma had taken you out for pizza one night, but accidentally left your sippy cup there. So the next day, he went back to the pizza place with you to retrieve the sippy cup. Apparently you recognized the restaurant and said, "Pizza? Eat pizza?"

Another time, Grandma did something clever and Grandpa congratulated her by calling her a genius. You then did something clever and said "I'm a genius!"

You were happy to see Mama and Daddy when we got back, but I think you had a really good time with Grandpa and Grandma. They are looking forward to another visit from you in November!

Love,
Mama