To Sonia

First Day of Bumblebee Class

2011-09-01T07:50:00.005-04:00

Dear Sonia,

Yesterday was your first day of school this year. You are in the Bumblebee Class this year. Look!

You have a very cute bag to take to school with you. It looks like you could ride in it, it's so big!

You did great this year. No tears, no worries. Just dropped off, a hug from Mom and Dad, and off you went.

I'm sure you'll have a fantastic year in the Bumblebee Class!

Love,

Auntie K

The Best Roommates

2011-08-21T19:46:00.003-04:00

Dear Sonia,

You and I were roommates for 5 nights this past week while you and your family were visiting Nana and Papa's house in Massachusetts. It was decided that we were the best roommate pair in the house. We are both just normal sleeper-people while Mommy and Daddy got Sage, who has been having trouble sleeping well, and Nana gets Papa, who snores and yells in his sleep sometimes. Other than you having an occasional bad dream and whimpering or asking for Mommy in your sleep (which was quickly silenced with a "Shhhh. Go back to sleep." from me), we were happy, quiet roommates.

Until about 7:20 a.m. each day. Which is when your little voice said "Auntie Karen, I'm ready to get up now," to wake me up. I would reach over and check my phone and sure enough, it was between 7:20 and 7:30 - my little Sonia alarm clock.

This morning, I knew you were awake when I woke up having to pee - I could tell from how you were moving and breathing. I checked the phone and it was only about 6:30. I got up and you looked up at me in the dim morning light. I told you I was going to the bathroom and I'd be back. You nodded. When I got back, I asked you if you were ready to get up and you said No. I asked if you were going to snuggle for a while and you said Yes. So I got back in bed. A few minutes later, I invited you to join me in my bed, but you turned me down. So I asked if I could get in bed with you, and you said Yes and moved over to make room for me.

You and I spent close to an hour in bed together. We talked and snuggled and faced each other on the pillow with our noses touching and our eyes too close together to see each other properly. I tickled you a little, and at one point, you turned over and put your head on my shoulder and burrowed into my armpit to get a closer snuggle. You held my hand and squeezed my index finger with both your hands, telling me I would never get free.

We talked about names and families and how some ladies change their names when they get married. We talked about how your Bear (who is named Elvin and the other Bear named Lily was left in Houston. Lily is 4 and Elvin is 10, but they are twins because they look the same.) is too young to get married. I asked you if I had a husband and you said no. You asked if I was too young. I told you nope, I was plenty old enough, but I just hadn't found the right person. You noted that Elvin hadn't found a husband either. And we talked about what might happen to your name IF you got married.

Two days ago, you woke with your regular precision, and was swept off by your mother to get ready for the day. I stayed in bed reading for a while. About 40 minutes after you'd gotten up, at 8am, you started down the stairs with Nana. As you looked into our room and saw me still in bed you said "I don't know what her problem is. Is she going to stay in bed all day?" This, of course, was hilarious. I said back without missing a beat, "Dude, it's not even 8 o'clock yet!" We told everyone this story for the rest of the week, since nobody has any idea where you learned that phrase.

So this morning, during our snuggle, we talked about staying in bed all day. I told you I'd done that before and you got the most amazed look on your face. Your mouth was a round O and your eyes got as big as saucers. "Why?" you asked. I explained that sometimes when you are sick you stay in bed and sometimes you do it just because you feel like it. You said you were going to do it and I told you you couldn't, lest your Mommy have an inane fight on her hands someday soon. I explained that your Mommy wouldn't let you and that you'd get bored. You seemed to buy that. (Call me when you are in college and spending all day in bed for the first time - it's glorious!) Anyway, finally, I tried to sing Lazy Song by Bruno Mars and couldn't, since I can't carry a tune, so we got out of bed to listen to it on YouTube, which led to the discovery that it is the weirdest video ever. (See it here)

I truly loved being your roommate, Sonia-ita. I told you we'd be roommates again at Christmas. And Santa came up. The assumption in the family is that you are not going to be thrilled about Santa coming into the house while you are sleeping given your reaction to the Easter Bunny. (See this) You asked if I'd be in "that bed" the night Santa came and I told you yes. And you clarified that we would not see Santa. I told you nope. Nobody gets to see him. He's magic that he can bring all the kids their presents in only one night. You seemed fine with that. Glad I can be your roommate and your sentinel all rolled into one.

It's quite an honor.

Love you so much,

Auntie K

Counting Your Swings

2011-08-01T14:42:00.002-04:00

Dear Sonia,

Hey girlfriend. Here's a cute video of you counting while you swing next to your sister.

Love,

Auntie K

Red Marker Madness

2011-07-01T19:53:00.002-04:00

Dear 'ita,

It's your slacker Auntie K, who has been remiss and hasn't posted in a while. I started a new job four weeks ago, so I've been busy.

During this time, you finished your first year of pre-school and you began your first stint at summer camps. You went to brain camp! You actually have some more of it to go. Apparently, you do activities to make you even more cognitively smarter than you already are. Very cool. Also, somehow this involves a lot of legos, we aren't sure why.

You are also going to piano lessons. After the first day, when you cried a lot, you've been liking it. I asked you why you cried, and you said, with complete conviction "Because the other kids were!" I hope you aren't around a bunch of kids jumping off a bridge anytime soon. (Sorry, that was snarky!)

Then there was the red marker incident. Mommy went upstairs for only 10 minutes to put your sister to bed. She left you downstairs hanging out with yourself. (Silly Mommy, right?) When she came back, you had colored all over your face with a red marker. All over it. Now, this really isn't that bad, because of course you only have access to water-based markers that come right off with some soap and a scrub, but you didn't know that. So Mommy asked you what you had done, and you simply said "Wrote on my face with marker." (You are so honest and so matter-of-fact, girly.) So Mommy said it might not come off, and you looked worried for about a second and a half and then you said "No, Mommy, we can use alcohol and it will come right off." When I asked your mom about this, she said that she uses rubbing alcohol to take off the marker labels on the baby food jars, and you know that. Clever. Really, though, soap and water later, you were all set.

You are helpful with making sure your newly-mobile sister doesn't fall off something. "Careful, Sage! You'll fall off the bed!" you said, as you held her back. Such a nice girl.

I hope you have a great 4th of July and enjoy the parade. You are coming to Boston next month and I can't wait to see you.

Love you,

Auntie K

Sister are the best!

2011-06-14T11:09:00.000-04:00

Dear Sonia,

Sisters are the best. Check these two out!

Love,

Auntie K

John Hancock

2011-05-13T15:18:00.004-04:00

Hey Sonester,

I was just looking back through some of your posts, and figured I'd give the people who frequent this blog, and the future you (as some day you'll read this too) an update on you writing your esses and your name.

Check this out:

You wrote this on April 23. Four days after your third birthday. I was pretty impressed. Good job!

Love,

Auntie K

You Can Get Lost Now

2011-04-27T19:39:00.002-04:00

Dear Sonia,

Today, you and Mommy were at the zoo and were discussing how many people there were and how crazy it was. So Mommy decided it was time to teach you her phone number. At three years old.

And so, young miss, you now know it. If you ever get lost, you can go up to someone, and tell them you are lost and then begin singing for them, to the tune of Frere Jacques:

Mommy's Phone Number, Mommy's Phone Number, XXX, XXX, XXX, XXX, XXXX, XXXX

You performed it twice for me over the phone on speaker. The first time I had no idea what you were saying, so hopefully if you ever get lost, you don't have to talk into a speaker to get help. Then, once I knew the story, I could understand you clear as day.

Your Mommy is smart. Wicked smart. Almost as smart as you.

Love,

Auntie K

Lock the Doors, The Bunny is Coming!

2011-04-27T15:25:00.005-04:00

Dear Sonia,

Last weekend was your sister's feeding ceremony (her anaprasana) and we all came to town for it. I surprised you all. Nobody knew I was coming until you arrived back home and found me sitting on the swing in the yard. That was great fun! It was also Easter weekend. You'd had quite the week - egg hunts and goodies and such. Finally, the night before Easter arrived. Mommy got your easter basket (and Sage's) and showed it to you and told you that you would leave it out and the bunny would bring treats.

You were okay for a minute. Sure, you must have thought. That's what happened with Santa, too. But then you asked if he'd come while you were sleeping. We all assured you, that yes, that's when he'd come. You waited a couple of beats and then asked if he'd come in the house. Well, yes, we said. But not in your room, someone assured you.

Finally, you looked at your Mommy and said that the baskets could be outside and the Bunny would bring things there. And we'd lock the doors and he couldn't come in. Mommy readily agreed that this was a good plan. You got up to put the baskets out right away, lest anyone forget. On your way by your papa, you said "We're going to lock all the doors, Papa." As if this was something new - that usually, you all go to bed with a wide open house.

People were asking your mommy questions like "Was this a problem with S-A-N-T-A?" and your mom was guessing things like, "I wonder if someone told her it is a H-U-G-E bunny." You weren't even remotely listening to all the spelling going on, since you were so fixated on the baskets being outside.

Your mommy let you know that the baskets would be inside when you got up in the morning, since she had to bring Nana and Papa and Uncle S to the airport early and she would bring them in. You were okay with that.

It was pretty freaking hilarious, I have to say. And logical as hell. I remember when I was little, wondering how the heck the Bunny got in the house. If Santa comes down the chimney...? I seriously think I decided that the Bunny was magical enough to pass through walls. And why didn't that scare me into insisting that our baskets go outside? Your guess is as good as mine. No idea. You are perhaps way smarter than we all think.

Anyway, the Bunny was super good to you and Sage. You got a bunch of hair bows and tattoos and stick on sparkle earrings and a puzzle. Very little candy - the Bunny must be familiar with your parents.

Hopefully by next Christmas, you'll be okay with Santa sneaking in for a minute to leave you some stuff. I have no idea what happens if Santa leaves the gifts outside - even in pretty-warm Houston, TX!

Love,

Auntie K

Happy 3rd Birthday!

2011-04-19T14:14:00.008-04:00

Dear Sonia-ita!

Happy happy happy third birthday, my dear little niece!

Things you should know about your third birthday:

- You had a butterfly shaped birthday cake in your backyard while you and your cousins and your friend Taj went swimming.
- Your Nana and Papa were in Houston with you on your big day!
- Every time I asked you what day it was - you said TUESDAY! And then after being prompted, said "MY BIRTHDAY!"
- You brought cupcakes to school to share with the other kids.
- Your daddy drove you to school and you called me on your way and I sang Happy Birthday to you.
- When Mommy and Daddy came up in the morning to bring you your gifts, you said "I can't stop smiling smiling smiling!"
- When you went down to get your more presents from Nana and Papa, you reported to them that upstairs, you "couldn't stop smiling, smiling, smiling!"

I'm very sure there are way more things to report about your third birthday, but as of right now, this is what I know. I'm so glad you love your birthday. I love mine too. It's a pretty cool thing to have a day just for you.

I love you very very much, 'ita!

Love,

Auntie K

Peek!

2011-04-14T14:25:00.002-04:00

Dear Sonia,

You are so beautiful.

Almost 3!

Love,

Auntie K

Goodbye Rudy

2011-04-01T13:08:00.003-04:00

Dear Sonia,

I just want to commemorate Rudy's trip to the no more boo boo place yesterday. You said a very nice goodbye to him, and you chose to read a book at school about animals and had some tears about it. You are doing okay, mostly, with the departure of your best buddy.

Your mommy is very sad about this. Partly because she liked Rudy and had him for 14 years, but partly because he was your best buddy and you'll miss him. Last night you said your regular prayers. And then at the end you added:

"And please God, take care of Rudy in the no more boo boo place."

Such a sweet girl. Made Mommy have to flee the room since she was crying so much at that point.

Rudy had a great life. He got to live on the mean streets of Los Angeles and then got adopted by your Mommy and me. He had a great brother named Noah and then a fantastic life as an only kitty. He got to live in Houston after LA and then in Massachusetts and and then in New Jersey before he moved back to Houston. Quite the travelled kitty! He got to keep his claws and grow fat with satisfaction. He got to have an attitude and punish your mommy by peeing in her laundry and on her head once and then in a last hurrah, on her lap the day he went on to the no more boo boo place. He got to demand to be petted and then demand that your mommy go to bed with him when he wanted to go to bed - and she did it! And best of all, he got to have you as his best buddy! All in all, Rudy had a pretty rockin' 14 years. And I've heard the no more boo boo place is pretty great too.

We'll all miss Rudy, Sonia.

Love,

Auntie K

S-U-N's Fruity Snack Heist

2011-03-28T10:11:00.005-04:00

Dear Sonia,

You are really doing awesome learning your letters. Anything put in front of you, you spell out. "Look, Mommy. M-I-L-K." Very smart, darling. You will not be 3 for another 23 days!

You have a new sticker chart to help you do better with your demanding behavior. You are doing pretty well, actually. Last week - Mommy closed the shower door so you could splash around in the bath and then when you said you were done splashing, she opened the door. Normally, this might have elicited a fit of you screaming about wanting to do it yourself which might dissolve into a crying jag. But this time, you looked at your mom and said "Excuse me, Mommy, but I wanted to do that myself." So Mom closed the door again and you opened it and all was well. You got TWO stickers for that awesomeness.

Anyway, you needed to put a sticker on your chart yesterday for some other awesome thing, so you said "What day is it, Mommy?" And she told you it was Sunday. "Look for S-U-N" she said. And you did. And then you put your sticker in the box. Not only can you recognize your letters and use them for things, you are also learning the days of the week! Nice one.

That same morning, you were all trying to get out of the house for something. Your mom had to go upstairs for a minute for something, so she asked you to sit next to Sage and give her toys and play with her. Then she went upstairs. She came right back down, more or less, because she decided leaving the two of you alone might not be such a great idea. And there you were, coming out of the pantry closet with one hand behind your back.

"What are you doing, Sonia?" Mommy asked.

"Nothing," you said.

"What is behind your back?" Mommy asked.

"Nothing," you said.

"Nothing? Something is in your hand. What is it?" Mommy asked.

"I don't know," you tried.

"You don't know what is in your hand? Really?" Mommy asked. I can't remember if she implored you to tell the truth at this point or if you just cracked. But crack you did.

"Fruity snacks," you said, showing them to Mommy.

"What are you doing with them?" Mommy asked.

"I was going to sit at my little table and eat them," you claimed. Um, really? Right where Mommy could see you when she came back down?

Your mom confiscated the snacks and almost put them in her bag to give them to you later before coming to her senses, telling you to put them back where they belong and taking away your fruity snack privileges for the rest of the day. She made sure to tell you why.

"You get no fruity snacks today because you were sneaky and you lied about it," she said. Good mommy, doling out relevant punishments and explaining them. Good for development.

Course, you had a fit. Crying like someone told you you couldn't have fruity snacks for the rest of your life instead of a day. Yeah, girly. Sucks when you get caught. But usually, not doing stuff you know you shouldn't do works better than trying not to get caught. That just turns into a wicked web.

So, while it is awesome that you can probably read F-R-U-I-T-Y right on the box and not accidentally sneak a pack of oatmeal or something, you should stick to waiting till it's snack time. Sound good?

Love,

Auntie K

Your News Debut!

2011-03-18T09:20:00.001-04:00

Dear Sonia,

Look! You were in the local paper!

Almost famous at 2 years old!

Love,

Auntie K

Esses are hard

2011-03-14T16:25:00.004-04:00

Dear Sonia,

Yesterday, you were having a frustration fit over the fact that you cannot successfully make an S. Mommy suggested you switch over and do something you are very good at to feel better for a while. You were having none of that. You were making an S or you were being a cranky-pants, those were the only options. Mommy was not too thrilled with this.

Just so you know, making an S is something that many 4-year-olds (and older) struggle with. I am very very sorry your name begins with an S. I blame your S-crazed parents. I wish it began with an I or an O. That would be much better. If you feel any better, my name, which, of course, begins with a K, was also difficult. That silly bottom leg is a doozy. Getting it to grow from the same spot as the top leg instead of growing out OF the top leg is just really hard. So I feel you. I do.

Your esses will come. Be patient, my Sonia-ita. This is a lesson, that if learned early, will save you a lot of stress. I fear you will not learn it - as I didn't - for a long time. Patience is a virtue. One most of your family members don't have. Join the club, friend!

Love,

Auntie

Daddy and School Hair

2011-03-03T15:45:00.001-05:00

Dear Sonia,

Today was the first day ever that Daddy got you ready for school all by himself without Mommy there to help. He was so proud, he sent an email with a photo of you to prove he didn't send you off looking crazy with your hair all a mess. You look just fine! Nice job, Daddy!

Love Auntie K

The No Boo Boo Place

2011-02-16T11:04:00.005-05:00

Dear Sonia,

Your mommy emailed me today. You were having a conversation with her about your buddy, Rudy the cat. Rudy's getting up there in age. Your mom and I disagree with how old we think he is (we adopted him in 1998 and I think he was about a year old at that point but your mom remembers something else). In any case, he's about 14 this year. Getting old. He's never been a fan of anyone but your mom until you came along. And he looooooves you. And you loooooove him.

So this is what you guys said:

Mom: Rudy is getting so old (with a little sad face).
Sonia: Do you think Rudy will miss me when he goes to the no more boo boo place?
Mom: Yes, I think he will.
Sonia: I will miss him. I wish he could stay with us for a really long time.

Now, after I stop crying and wipe the tears off my cheeks because of how awesome this is, let me tell you what I think of this.

1. Your mom has apparently done a wonderful job teaching you about how Rudy will die at some point to prepare you. Good job, Mommy!

2. You have a nice little non-denominational view of the afterlife. That's nice.

3. Your mom thinks this is sad. It is. But Rudy is a cat, and there will be other pets in your life. And pet death is good practice for other deaths. (So says your very practical Auntie who has not lost anyone very important ever and that worries her.)

4. Sonia, my sweet, you first asked about how RUDY will feel. Not about how YOU will feel. YOUR feelings were secondary to Rudy's. How sweet is that?

Anyway, Rudy is your buddy and he loves you very very much. He will definitely miss you when he's gone. And you'll miss him. But you can always remember him as your first pet. Your first love.

Love,

Auntie K

Will see you tomorrow!

2011-01-13T16:46:00.000-05:00

Dear Sonia,

I'm coming to your house tomorrow! I can't wait! I want to go on a bike ride with you (well, okay, you'll ride and I'll walk, but same thing and practice for later when we can actually ride together!). I want to play and read and eat and have fun with you.

Cannot wait to see you, 'ita!

Love,

Auntie K

SANTA is coming!

2010-12-20T15:38:00.003-05:00

Dear Sonia,

My little Sonia-ita! Santa is coming! In only 4 more nights, Santa is coming to leave you presents under the tree. I heard a rumor that you think maybe he's bringing a bike. How awesome would that be?

I also heard that Santa sent you a video message! I have a feeling that this link won't be live when you get old enough to read this, but for now, it's cool to put it here. Here's your message from Santa. Ah, the time of technology. When I was a kid, we just hoped Santa got our letters or that the elves that he sent to make sure we were being good had heard us tell our mom what we wanted. Nowadays, he sends actual video messages! How cool!

So, dude, you've had some trouble waiting to open presents. You came into the kitchen last week carrying wrapping paper headed for the recycling bin. Mom stopped you and asked where it came from. You said you'd opened a present. Your mom said, what present? Was there anything good in there? Nope. Boxer shorts for the little boy you adopted through the charity to buy for. Your mommy told you those presents were for the little boy who needed help and that you couldn't just open presents because you felt like it.

Then she caught you again! I had sent a little something for you and Sage, and it was under the tree and you went to open it and your mommy stopped you and you said "Is that for the little boy too Mommy?" and your mommy said, "No, it's for you and Sage from Auntie K, but you can't just open presents because you find them!" So now all the presents are put away until Christmas because you can't help yourself. CORRECTION: I must have misunderstood this part of the story, because your mom has clarified in a comment below that you understood after this last one and you stopped. So all the presents remained safely under the tree till Christmas.

This is particularly hilarious because you are normally so well behaved and the picture of restraint. You don't put things in your mouth, you wouldn't touch something that someone told you not to, you understood not to touch hot things way early. Yet, here you are, ripping into presents no matter where you find them. You are just overcome.

You keep singing Jingle Bells over and over, but you only know the first line, so it gets a little redundant. But it's cute and we love you, so there you go. CORRECTION: You know all the words. This little tidbit came from your Nana, and she apparently told me wrong. My bad, little one. Of course you know all the words. What was I even thinking?

I'll miss you this Christmas. I'm going away with 4 friends to Puerto Rico for a vacation! Someday you'll be jealous I did that, believe me. :) In the meantime, I'll come see you in January when it's quiet again and we can spend some good time together and you can introduce me to your sister and show me your school, maybe. That would be cool.

Show Sage all about Christmas. It's her first one. She really little, but it is still good to get her up to speed on some things early. It's your job as a big sister.

Love you!

Auntie K

Look at that face!

2010-12-15T11:00:00.001-05:00

Dear Sonia,

My goodness, your little face!

This is you at your holiday concert. Your first ever!

Love,

Auntie K

Guess What's in Our House?

2010-11-30T12:44:00.003-05:00

Dear Sonia,

Yesterday morning, you called me and your mom said "Guess what's in our house?" And I said, "Sonia-ita! What?" and you said "Auntie Karen, Auntie Karen, Guess what's in our house?" You said this at the top of your lungs and with much breathlessness. It was super super cute! I said, "What? What is in your house?" and you said "A GECKO!"

I asked where it was and you said "IN THE HALLWAY TO THE BATHROOM!" again at the top of your lungs. You were very excited. Mommy reported that the poor gecko was currently under a plastic container and that she would have to get it out of the house. It was about 5 inches long and green. You, while excited about the idea of a gecko in the house, were being carried around everywhere because you were afraid of it. Mommy said, "Why don't you have to be afraid of the gecko?" and you said "I don't know" even though you did. I said, and Mommy chimed in "Because it is more afraid of you than you are of it." The poor little gecko. When asked how you thought the gecko got in, you said "We must have left the door open!" which is a good theory but entirely impossible with your diligent, germ-and-bug-phobe parents around. My guess is he came in through a vent or a pipe or something. But we didn't tell you that. That would've been more than you needed to know!

By this point, you'd gone downstairs, but you insisted that you needed to go back up and tell me about the gecko again. So you did. And you did. And then I had to go because I had arrived at work.

A short time later, a text came from your mom that said "Sonia upstairs playing piano for the gecko." Very funny. And a little later, another text that the gecko was outside again and that you weren't sad to see it go.

When I lived in Thailand, I had geckos everywhere. A huge one lived in my bathroom, little ones inside the mosquito net with me. I loved them. They would never run on you - they were truly afraid - and even if they did, they weren't slimy and they didn't bite. And they were the best little insect vacuums ever. They ate spiders and mosquitos and all kinds of other hideous little pests. Geckos are our friends. I'm jealous that you had one in your house!

Okay, that's the story of the week.

Love you!

Auntie K

Your Many Faces

2010-11-15T15:05:00.011-05:00

Toilet Paper Rolls are Confusing

2010-11-09T15:57:00.003-05:00

Dear Sonia,

You called me today on your way from school to the bank. You were riding in the car, you said.

First you asked me what I was doing. Working was a very boring answer, I know.

So I asked what you did at school and you reported that you ate pizza. Then your Mommy prompted you to tell me what you did with the toilet paper roll.

And you said, "Wiped my bum."

And of course, your Mommy laughed hysterically at you, and I did my signature guffaw, and universe knows if your feelings were hurt! So I quickly said, Yup! That's what you usually do with it, but what did you do with it at school?

And then you told me you used it to roll paint onto paper and that you used red, green, yellow and orange.

Then you were done talking to me, so we signed off with our usual I looooooove you and said goodbye.

You make my days happier, Sonia-ita. You really do. Thanks.

Love,

Auntie K

A little hot, but okay....

2010-11-01T14:32:00.003-04:00

Dear Sonia,

On the eve of Halloween, I asked you what you were going to do when you went to people's houses. And you said "TRICK OR TREAT" in a big voice. Then I asked what the people were going to give you and you said "TOOTSIE ROLLS AND LOLLIPOPS," these apparently being the only candy you are aware of.

Then I asked you if you were going to be too hot in the chicken suit or if you'd be okay. You said "I will be a little hot but okay." DUDE. Well put. Very smart.

Then I talked to your mom who was home alone (having taken first shift and then sent Nana out to catch up with you) trying to breast-feed Sage and answer the door to trick-or-treaters at the same time. The report back at the mid-point of your trek between Nama's house and your house was that you were a pro. Marching right up to strangers, sticking out your bag and declaring TRICK OR TREAT and then saying a proper THANK YOU! I figured you'd be more shy than that. Nope. If there are Tootsie Rolls and Lollipops at stake, apparently you can muster up some courage.

Your Nana sent me a horrible phone picture of you and Daddy at a door, but I could barely make it out, so I'll await real photos at some point instead.

I hope you're all hopped up on sugar today. That'd be fun for everyone.

Love you,

Auntie K

Halloween 2010

2010-10-29T09:28:00.004-04:00

Dear Sonia,

Dude. You are a chicken for the third year in a row. Mom and I bought this costume before you were even born for about $5 at Old Navy. Ha!

This photo is hilarious and it just had to go on your blog.

Here's a better one of you at school that makes you look like you're actually enjoying being a chicken in a fuzzy outfit even though it is 90 degrees in Houston.

More later about you and your sister since I have some photos now! But this post had to be just about Halloween and your chicken suit, that god willing, you will grow out of by next year!

Love you,

Auntie K

Ladybug!

2010-10-22T10:10:00.001-04:00

Dear Sonia,

While you were waiting for Sage to be born, you and your mom had a lot of deliberations about what to call her for a pet name. You finally decided on Ladybug.

Yesterday, after you got home from visiting Sage for the first time, which from what I heard, was lovely and sweet and awesome, I got you on the phone.

Me: Where were you, Sonia?
You: Hospital!
Me: Who did you see there?
You: Mommy and the baby!
Me: What is the baby's name?
You, after a short silence: LADYBUG!
Me, laughing: Yup, that's what you'll call her. What's her real name?
You: SILENCE
Me: Sage is her name, right?
You: Yes!
Me: Is she cute?
You: Yes!
Me: Is she tiny?
You: Yes!
You: I am done talking to you Auntie Karen! Bye!
Papa: Hi, are you still there.
Me: Yup. Susan taught her she has to announce when she's done rather than just walk away from the phone.

It was a pretty great first phone call of your sisterhood.

I love you, big sister!

Auntie K

You are a SISTER!

2010-10-21T13:59:00.002-04:00

Dear Sonia,

You are a sister, my little Sonia-ita! She was born this morning while you were at school having your first official school pictures taken!

She and your Mom and Dad are all doing well.

Her name is SAGE! It's so great!

You are going to be the best big sister ever! I can't wait to hear all about it.

Hey, dude. Guess what? You are 2 years, 6 months, and 2 days older than Sage. And I am 2 years, 6 months, and 2 days older than your mom. That is just so cool!

I love you!

Love,

Auntie K

Your Sister!

2010-10-18T16:09:00.002-04:00

Dear Sonia,

This week, your sister is going to be born! We don't know when. Your mommy is doing squats and walking a lot in an attempt to urge her out. But she's just snuggled up in there, and isn't ready to come out yet. The doctor says that she should come sometime around this Thursday, but due dates aren't really all that scientific, so we'll see if that happens.

Tomorrow your Papa arrives from Massachusetts to help take care of you and your Nana will arrive sometime this weekend, most likely. Have fun while Mommy and Daddy are off helping your sister join us in the world!

Next time I write, you'll be a BIG SISTER! The best thing to be (I'm one too!).

Love you,

Auntie K

2010-10-08T11:25:00.001-04:00

Dear Sonia,

I thought you'd like this little guy.

HAPPY AUTUMN!

Love,
Auntie K

Enough Love?

2010-09-24T13:59:00.003-04:00

Dear Sonia,

I'm worried. I love you so much. How can I possibly have enough love inside of me to love you and your sister both this much?

I've heard of this before. I know it's normal for parents to worry about this. I just found this:

"Many parents say they remember worrying about whether they could ever love the second baby as much as they loved their first child. Then, when the second baby was born, they loved the new baby so much they worried that they were betraying their first child. Though they soon realized that they had love enough for two... "(Pam Leo, Love Enough for Two)

I just didn't expect this to happen to me, a lowly Auntie. But it has.

I can't wait for your sister to be born. I don't know her name, and I don't know what she'll look like, and I don't know what color her skin will be. I know I'll love her. But will I be able to love two of you as much as I love the one of you?

The day you were born, your daddy sent a photo of you over email to all of us. When I'd heard you were born, I was happy and everything, but when I saw that photo - I felt something I'd never felt before. Instant love. Overwhelming amounts of it. A feeling that I knew I would do anything in the world you needed - ever. I had no idea until that moment that much love was even possible.

Perhaps this feeling was stronger for me because I know I'm not going to have my own kids. I'd be interested in other Aunties (or Uncles) weighing in on this. (I think probably those who were Aunts/Uncles before they were parents - if it was the reverse, I'm not sure it works since you've had that feeling already, in theory.) Perhaps since I know I will never feel this way about my own child, my psyche and emotions allowed that feeling to happen for you. (By the way, for the record, having this feeling in no way made me want to have my own children. Love is love and it's great, but raising a kid is another whole bag of beans and one that I know I'm not meant for.)

So here I am now, almost two and a half years later, and still in love with you, and wondering how in the world your sister will get her fair share. I feel badly about it. Of course I have enough love. Of course I do! How could I even think this, let alone put it into words for the world to see and for you (and your sister) to read someday? Easy. It's the truth. And I'm working through it.

I'm sure that when that photo of your sister hits my email, my eyes will tear up and I'll cry a little, just like I did when your photo came. I'm sure I'll think of great things that she will like that are unique to her. I'm sure that her blog will be just as good as yours. I know all this in my head. It's my heart that needs convincing.

So, four weeks before your sister joins this great big world, I thought you should know that I love you SO much that it is actually causing me anguish. Some day you'll appreciate this. You'll come back and read this post when you are 16 and you'll torture your little sister and tease her that Auntie K wasn't sure she'd love her. But when you're 30-something, and you become an Auntie or a Mommy or a surrogate-Auntie, or whatever you become that involves a child, you'll come back here to read this post and you'll get it. That'll be in about 2038. Woah. I'll be 65. Call me up. We can talk about it.

I looooooove you, Sonia-ita. This much.

Auntie K (oh, hey! this is your 100th post! - quite a milestone)

CRYING!

2010-09-22T14:21:00.000-04:00

Dear Sonia,

Yesterday, you went to school.

Daddy dropped you off and picked you up.

You didn't cry. Not once. Not even a little bit. Nada, nien, none.

WOOT!

I knew it.

Love you,

Auntie K

Bidet Happiness

2010-09-13T16:50:00.000-04:00

Dear Sonia,

You were happy to report yesterday that you washed your bum on the bidet! Hilarious.

Apparently you liked it.

Quite posh, you.

Love,

Auntie K

Wearing Your Heart on Your Hand

2010-09-09T11:28:00.004-04:00

Dear Sonia,

Sometimes, people wear their hearts on their sleeves. This saying means that they show their emotions regularly and easily so everyone can see how they feel. Today, you are wearing a heart (your Mommy's heart) on your hand.

Today is your third day of school. We're hoping it goes better than the first two. The second day was challenging. It rained, so you had to go to Humphrey Hall, which is some big room where you can all play when it rains. There are balls and bikes and all kinds of fun stuff. You were totally overwhelmed. You cried and sat on some lady's lap (we still don't know who) instead of playing. You happily reported this to Mom that afternoon. Your teachers report that you are sad off and on all day but are cognitively okay - when they tell you it's time to stop crying, you pull it together. And when Mommy told you to remember to be brave and then you will be brave, you asked her "But what if I'm not brave?" What a conundrum.

This morning, in a flash of brilliance brought on by a television commercial she saw, your Mommy grabbed a marker as you and Daddy were headed out to school and she was headed out to work. She found a little spot on your hand and drew a heart there. You asked her why she was drawing a heart on your hand. Mommy told you that whenever you felt sad or wanted to cry, you could look at the little heart and remember how much Mommy loves you and then you would stop crying. She said "Isn't that a good idea?" You showed Daddy after declaring that it was, indeed, a good idea and told him "This heart is to make me stop crying!" He too declared this a good idea and away you went.

I don't know yet how this turned out. This blog is up-to-the-minute-breaking-news-reporting. I'm hoping that wearing your heart (or your Mommy's heart) on your hand helps you out today. I just know that eventually you will love school. You will. I'm sure of it.

Love,

Auntie K

Everyone Loves the Kid You Will Be

2010-09-02T10:25:00.000-04:00

Dear Sonia,

Today is your first day of school. Mommy dropped you off about a half hour ago. You are miserable, my sweet. You are screaming and crying and you are very upset. Mommy is also very upset. She called me crying herself. See how much she loves you? She is wondering if it would've been better to wait until next year for school for you. I think the answer to that is "No Way!" You are whip-smart cognitively and a little behind on the emotional side - school at 2 1/2 is just right for you.

This is your first day of school, ever in your life. We only get one of these, remember! There's lots of other first days to come, but this one - the first ever in your life only happens once.

You will be okay. That's the most important thing. You will learn to be more independent and you will learn that you don't need your Mom to feel safe. Mom is surely safe - this is not in question, but there is safety other places as well. Comfort is nice, but it isn't always necessary. Sometimes it is great to be uncomfortable, as it makes us figure out how to manage situations and feelings better. It teaches us how to cope. And coping, my dear little niece, is the number one skill to have. It is the thing that sets the people who are successes and are happy from the people who are not.

Your Mom and Dad want you to be adventurous. They want you to be willing to take chances, and try new things, and travel and take risks. They want you to be willing to go off to college and make new friends, and speak up when you need to. Today is the first step towards all of that.

I never spent more than a week away from Nana and Papa until I went to college. I have been homesick every single time I've moved away from home. Every time. But each time, after a while, that feeling goes away and I start living my exciting life, wherever I am. Don't be confused, 'ita, I ALWAYS MISS HOME and I always miss the people who make home home, but I've got stuff to do and things to see and a super life to lead! And that is exactly what you are doing! This is the very first time you are homesick/momsick. You will learn to figure out how to make that feel okay.

Dude, there's so much to learn! There's so many kids to meet! Miss Brenda and Miss Melissa are going to end up being your favorite friends ever! Think how much you love Miss Anna and Miss Missy and multiply that by a bunch and that's how much you are gonna love those two, I promise. Think of all the time you spend with Miss Tiffany without Mommy there - you love that time. This is pretty much the same. Eventually, that classroom will feel as much a part of your world as your living room does right now.

Think of how much you'll have to tell Mommy each day after school! You'll get to tell her all about what you did and what you learned and who you played with. And it'll be YOUR STORY, because Mommy didn't do it with you. You'll get to teach her all the stuff you learn and get to show her all your projects. It's gonna be great!

I don't have a little girl like you, so I don't really understand what it is like for your Mommy to have to leave you, screaming and crying with the teachers telling her to just leave because it's best. I really have no idea what it is like to have my heart go walking around outside my body, which is what I believe it must be like to have a child. I am not a good person to give your Mommy advice. She should call up her friend Sue or someone and find out what they did. She should call Nana and find out about how it felt to leave her at school! (Nana says that your Mommy cried and screamed and held onto her leg when she dropped her off at school!)

But, this is my blog to you, and so I will say this:

-Buck up, girly. Every time you go to school, you will get to see Mommy again when it is over. She's not going anywhere.

-No need to cry, friend. You will learn and grow and have fun and gain awesome skills at school.

-Smile, dude. You already know your ABCs and your 123s and your colors and shapes and animals and freakin' tons of other stuff. You have time to spend energy learning the emotional skills at school.

-Remember, Sonia, you are one of the sweetest, most caring, easy-going kids I've ever met. You are a gift to a classroom - any classroom. You will be the one who hugs a child when they get hurt. You will be the one who befriends the kid that is struggling. You will be the one who loves the teachers the most. Everyone loves the kid you will be. Everyone.

Love,

Auntie K

ADDENDUM: Mommy called again! She talked to your teachers after they delivered you to music class and you were doing great! You were verbalizing that you felt better and you were telling them about your cat-buddy Rudy. You'll be fine, dude! YAY!

Bowling, the Library and Talking about My Bike Ride

2010-09-01T14:18:00.000-04:00

Dear Sonia,

I just got back to Massachusetts after visiting you in Houston for 5 days. We had a great time! You are super sweet and super smart and super loving. You are swimming well, and singing to the baby to wake her up in-utero.

Here we are wearing our matching pajamas:

And here we are bowling! We had such a good time! Your ball was yellow and we walked it up and you opened up your legs and then we rolled it down the alley until it knocked down the pins! You had a very good time. Your mommy won, even though every time she threw the ball, it hurt her big pregnant tummy.

On the first day, I showed you photos of my bike ride in Maine so you would eat. I saw lots of animals on that trip and you were happy to see all the photos. And, I had photos of alpacas I saw and I had given you a little alpaca from Peru so it worked out well. Anyway, for the next 4 days, every time you said "I want to talk about something" and I said "What do you want to talk about?" you said "Talk about your bike ride." And then we talked about all the animals I saw. You could list them, tell me how many of each one I saw and what color they were. The only one you didn't ever remember/learn was cormorant, which was fine, because I could never remember the name of the dinosaur bird you know that it looks like. (I just looked it up and it's a Pteranodon.) We drove your mom nuts because I could never remember pteranodon and you could never remember cormorant. I gotta tell you, I got a little bored of my bike ride - although you never did.

And here we are on the merry-go-round at the mall. I can't remember the name of the mall, even though you can recite the entire name like it's nothing. You rode the ostrich the first time and the second time, while we were in line, you set your sites on the zebra. When we got to it, another kid was already on it. Without any fuss at all, you just happily got on the bunny instead. Such a good girl who just rolls with whatever.

We really had a great visit, friend. I called you "friend" a lot when I was there and you thought it was very funny. You also taught me that you call Rudy your "buddy" which is super cute. "Where is my buddy?" You took me to music class, which was awesome and you sang some of the songs. You LOVE Miss Anna, your music class teacher.

Your daddy is awesome with your bath time (and he puts on a good picture show in your upstairs living room, too!). Your mommy is ready for the baby to be here. Your cousins came over for a swim and you had a great time with them. You are a master napper even though you claim you don't want to go to bed; you sleep for 2+ hours every afternoon. You made a pile of books that we picked out at the library and then said "That is plenty!" Someone at the library said "Hello, Sonia!" and you looked and said "Miss Missy!" and gave her a big hug. You listen well, and remember well and generally are very smart.

If someone called me as a reference for you and asked me for your biggest weakness, it would be easy. You are a terrible eater. I hope you learn to enjoy food more!

You drove me to the airport on Tuesday morning before you went to meet your teachers. When I asked you the night before where we were going in the morning, you said you didn't know. "Yes you do," I said. Where is Auntie K going tomorrow? "Massachusetts" said you. "How am I getting there?" "Airplane." "Where's the airplane?" "Airport!" Yup. Good deduction. So you dropped me off and away I flew.

I'll see you again in January after your baby sister is here! In the meantime, there's the phone and Skype. I love you a wicked lot, Sonia-ita. (I tried to teach you wicked, too, but it didn't stick.)

Love,

Auntie K

That's Cool

2010-08-24T10:28:00.000-04:00

Dear Sonia,

Over the weekend, you told Mommy you wanted to give me a call. Mommy tried to tell you that I wasn't home - I was away for the weekend. You didn't care.

The phone went straight to voicemail, and you left me a message:

Hellllllloooo. (You do this little draw-out thing when you say hello.)
I just wanted to call you.
I will see you next week!
I love you Auntie Karen!
Bye!

It was adorable. I tried calling you back a few times when my phone finally came back to life (I'd been up in Maine biking and the phone had died from the effort of trying to find a signal in the woods), but I didn't reach you until last night.

You were having spaghetti for dinner and Mom and Dad were there too. We had a little chat.

Me: Sorry I didn't call you back this weekend Sonia, I was riding my bike a long way near the Ocean.
You: That's cool.
Your Mom: That was completely unprompted.
Me: Really?
You: I said "That's cool."
Me and Your Mom: Yes you did, Sonia!

This was your first unprompted use of the phrase "that's cool" with me. This is one of my favorite phrases. Welcome to its usage.

I'm coming to your house on Friday. Now, THAT'S COOL!

Love,

Auntie K

The Gate, The Gate!

2010-08-19T16:24:00.000-04:00

Sonia, girl,

Mommy told me a funny story! Of course, true to form, she was laughing so hard I could barely understand her!

You and Mom went out to put the recycling out. You had the gate clicker, which is your job. On the way back, you were ahead of her on the driveway, and she suddenly veered to the front door to get some newspapers which were there. You didn't see her go, and when you looked back, she was missing!

And, you had hit the gate clicker thing so the gate started to close on you and you just stood there crying holding the clicker.

The gate was going to shut on you and knock you to the ground and run you over and who knows what else!

Mommy, even though she is 32 weeks pregnant, ran and scooped you up just in time so the gate only hit you on the ankles. No mark. (Although you tried to claim there were when she was telling me this story on the phone.)

You had the power to stop this horrible tragedy from befalling you, simply by clicking the button again. But, even though you are super awesome brilliant amazing, you are just too little to deal with Mommy disappearing off the face of the Earth and saving yourself from a certain death all in one fell swoop. That skill will come. Not to worry.

Love you! See you next Friday!

Auntie K

Your Many (Cutie) Faces

2010-07-25T20:37:00.001-04:00

YOU HAVE SUCH A CUTE FACE! Here's four of my favorites from Nana and Papa's visit. Still smiling with your eyes. And here's hoping you don't have to wear a paper hat for work, ever. Love you!

Me, Myself & I

2010-07-14T12:58:00.000-04:00

Dear Sonia,

Yesterday, your Nana asked you who you love. And you started the list. Mommy, Daddy, Nana, Papa, and then you said Sonia. Apparently you usually do this.

But then, you paused for a minute and said "I love myself!" This is good in two ways. First, you've been taught to love yourself. Hold onto that one, girly. It'll serve you well. The second reason this is good is because you have fully grasped the concept of "myself". You've had "mine" down for a while, which is pretty normal. But to definitely say "I love Sonia" and then recognize that "Sonia" is "me" and that "I love me" means "I love myself" and use the pronoun properly is awesome. Good job!

You also, this week, put on a show for about 10 people singing an entire medley of nursery rhyme songs including Baa Baa Black Sheep, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and Mary Had a Little Lamb. (That last one is tough, though. You can't really get past "Mary had a little lamb" to the "fleece is white as snow" part. You even pointed this out to your mom. "Mommy, don't know that one. Hard for me." Good to know one's areas for growth.)

I'm not that jealous that Nana and Papa are hanging out with you because I get to soon. Next month. Can't wait.

Love you,

Auntie K

So you have this

2010-07-09T15:24:00.001-04:00

I have always loved this photo of you on Christmas morning, 2008. You were only 8 months old but your face was so full of expression already. I just wanted you to have this photo.

Love you!

Parades are not Forever

2010-07-07T16:09:00.000-04:00

Dear Sonia,

You went to your first parade (that you remember anyway). You loved it. You liked the fire trucks and the ambulance and the candy all the folks were throwing. Your mom said they threw BUCKETS of candy - way more than in Chelmsford.

You DID NOT, however, like the Chick-Fil-A cow. He was scary. He waved at you. Mom told you to look because a cow was coming and you probably figured she meant a real cow, not one walking on two legs looking weird. I mean, look at this photo. He's weird!

Actually, honey, now that I look at the photo, he's not that weird. I think you were just taken by surprise. But Daddy bundled you up in his lap and talked you through it and you managed to wave to the cow and not cry. Good job!

On the walk home, which your mom almost couldn't do because she let her pregnant feet hang off some wall in the 87 degree heat for too long and they got all swollen, you said "Not go home. More parade." Your mom had to explain that the parade people had also gone home because parades don't last forever.

I'm glad you had a good 4th of July. It's my favorite holiday - even more than Christmas.

Your Nana and Papa will be there tomorrow for 10 whole days! Enjoy them. I think you will. You love your Nana and Papa!

Love,

Auntie K

It was too dark

2010-06-21T20:02:00.000-04:00

Dear Sonia,

Even armed with the protective forces against evil of your Daddy and Uncle S, you did not successfully eat a meal at Rainforest Cafe.

You said you cried because it was too dark.

I said you didn't have to go there ever again until you were a grown up.

Your mommy said perhaps not even then. (Shows what confidence she has in you!)

Some things are just too much, right?

Love,

Auntie K

A Boogie Woogie Oogie Animal Video

2010-06-17T15:12:00.000-04:00

Dear Sonia,

Check this out. You'll love it!

Love,

Auntie K

Call me back!

2010-06-16T20:48:00.000-04:00

Dear Sonia,

Tonight, while I was eating dinner, my phone rang. I ignored it since I was eating and reading and having a nice quiet moment in my day.

I went to see who called and I had a voicemail from you. It went like this:

"Hello Auntie Karen!"

"I'm eating dinner!"

"What are you doing?"

"Call me back!"

And then you hung up. Cutest little message in the world. Turns out you had tortellini for dinner.

Uncle S is coming to visit you tomorrow and you are going swimming with him and perhaps back to the Rainforest Cafe, although it made you howl with fear the first time you went with Mommy and your friend T and his mommy. Apparently, you decided that if your Daddy was there, all would be okay and you could go back. So, armed with the double protection of Daddy and Uncle S, you may venture again to the place of loud animated animals, fake lightening storms and walls made of fish tanks. Good luck, my adventurous (but trembling with fear) niece.

Have a great visit with Uncle S. Then, as you can now recite, Nana and Papa come in July and then I come in August! Yay. A parade of Boston visitors for you this summer.

Love,

Auntie K

Look at that Face!

2010-06-07T14:10:00.001-04:00

Dear Sonia,

Here is a photo of you and your sister (sort of!).

Look at your cute little face! I just want to bite you.

Last night, you called me and sang "Karen Karen bo baren, mi my mo Maren, bananafana fo Faren, Karen!" and I knew what you were saying! Very cute - you.

Love you,

Auntie K

And, it's a....

2010-06-04T16:08:00.001-04:00

Dear Sonia,

Today we found out that you are going to have a sister! It's a GIRL! Woot!

We've known since April that your mommy was going to have another baby. You wore a cute little t-shirt that said "I'm going to be a big sister!" on it down to the table one night when you were visiting Nana and Papa's house. Of course, everyone screamed and yelled and were all excited and it terrified you. You burst into tears, ran to your Mom and refused to talk to any of us.

Your mom is about 20 weeks now (out of the 40 it takes to grow a baby) and this morning she had an ultrasound and an appointment and found out that all is well. And, as you've been insisting for a few weeks now, it's a girl. Look at that, you're a psychic!

Anyway, here's where it really begins. Being a sister, and having a sister is one of life's true gifts. Just ask your Mom and me. It doesn't always start out so nicely - I pushed your Mom down when she first started to walk - but it can end up pretty awesomely! You and your new sister will be 2.5 years apart, almost exactly. That's THE SAME as your mom and me. (Like, exactly the same, pretty cool!)

I have all kinds of things to teach you about being a big sister to a sister. Good things. When it comes time, we can compare notes. And it's good, because your daddy was the oldest in his family and your mom was the younger sister in our family, so someone knows how everyone feels most of the time. (Although, your mom was a middle child, so there's that, but...)

I wonder if whatever this girl is named, I'll be able to find as good a nickname for her as I have for you. Sonia-ita just rolls right off the tongue...and it makes you smile. I'm so excited to have another niece and for you to have a sister. Two little girls in your family!

I can't wait to meet her - your little sister! Only 20 more weeks to go! It'll fly by, really. Before you know it, your mom's belly will be enormous and then you'll be whisked off to your grandparents' house and soon after that, you'll get to visit your new sister in the hospital (I think. Do they let people as little as you go visit?). How awesome will that be?

She'll be super little at first, and not much fun. She'll cry and poop and need to nurse a lot. But your mom will totally let you help, so that'll be fun. And mom can tell you stories about when you were that little and the things that happened. I bet you'll be as different as night and day - your mom and I are. But you know what? Sometimes that's a good thing - more than one way of looking at something always helps! As she gets older, you can help her with stuff, like learning to color and dance and walk and run. And you can teach her stuff, like her letters and colors and animal noises. You can show her things at the zoo and the nature center and you can take her to story time at the library. You'll get to show everyone your awesome new baby sister.

I'm so happy, Sonia. So happy to get to meet your SISTER soon.

Love you,

Auntie K

Sickarooni

2010-05-28T13:42:00.000-04:00

Dear Sonia,

You are very sick. Very. You've had a temperature for 5 days and it's been as high as 105, from what I understand. You snore like Papa when you sleep. You lay around with no energy and mom even let you watch TV. (That means you are really just not well!)

Mom took you to the doctor today even though she did her own examination of you, being a pediatric NP and all. He said the same thing Mom did. That you're fine. All clear. Just a virus. Your pee looks good. They took blood, just as a super precaution, but nobody thinks anything will be found in that. You were amazing at the doctor's, apparently. You peed in the cup like a champ and sat quietly while the doctor checked your ears and your throat and everything. Such a good girl, even when you aren't feeling so great.

I hope you kick this thing soon, hon. Who wants to be sick? Nobody! (Even if you do get to watch the dinosaur show you like so much because of it.)

Love you,

Auntie K

Tumble Bears with Pigtails

2010-05-21T10:48:00.001-04:00

Dear Sonia,

Here you are in pigtails, doing something cool on the bar at your Tumble Bears graduation!

Look how talented you are!

Love you,

Auntie K

Pigtails on Tuesdays

2010-04-28T16:09:00.000-04:00

Dear Sonia,

I feel it is my Auntie responsibility to record here your continued brilliance. I partly think this so you can someday put this link on your resume as evidence that you were a genius from the get-go and partly think this because eventually, like your Auntie K, you might just turn out more normal than gifted and you'll want to look back on early evidence that you really were special once upon a time. Either way, you must know this story in case we all forget it and you end up never hearing it, which would just be a travesty.

You go to gym class on Tuesdays. Sometimes you go with Mommy and sometimes you go with Tiffany. You like it and are pretty good at it. Over Easter, while your Uncle S and Auntie K were doing burpees in Nana & Papa's back yard, you showed us your forward roll (which you talk yourself through - head down, tuck, roll) which was perfect. Then you did some kicking with your legs while your hands were anchored on the ground and you did some sideways jumping as well. All very coordinated, especially considering the itty-bittiness of your legs!

You must also know that at this point in your little life, you have never had a haircut. You are two and your hair is very long. You complain sometimes that it gets caught in your armpits. Your mom is supposed to get you a haircut sometime soon. This is relevant information for this story. You are perpetually brushing your hair back from your face with the backs of your hands.

So, last week, you were at gym class with Tiffany. Your mom had put your hair in a barrette, half up. You know, clipped in the back, but the rest still hanging down. It was all in your way and getting in your face and everywhere as you successfully did your forward rolls or whatever other wonderfulness you were doing at gym class.

All of a sudden, you walked up to Tiffany and you said "Need pigtails on Tuesday!" Seriously. That's what you said. Your mom even questioned Tiffany when she received this report, making certain that Tiffany actually understood what you said. Tiffany swears. You demanded pigtails on Tuesdays.

Now, this takes serious forethought. You didn't just ask for a pony right then and there to solve your problem. You actually saw into the future, realized that gym class would continue to be on Tuesdays, and deducted that pigtails EVERY Tuesday ought to do the trick. Second, I figure that you were really thinking, "You adult morons. What the heck? How is it that you need me to tell you that I need pigtails on gym class days? And since even I know that is on Tuesdays, shouldn't you? So how about I'll point it out for you?"

And so, I'm pretty sure that nobody will make that mistake again. You took your destiny into your own hands, spoke up for yourself, and solved a problem. This, my young love, is a skill you should take with you into the rest of your life. It will serve you well.

----------------------------

More brilliance:

Mommy took you yesterday to the mall with the Merry-Go-Round in it. You rode on a tiger and on a seahorse, which apparently is very big and high up. You were happy to report to me over the phone on this successful trip. Also, at this mall, there was, in the family bathroom, a itty-bitty porcelain toilet just for you. And since you're on your second day of diaperlessness, you were very excited about this.

At the carousel, you said, "Go to the play structure too." There's some big playground thing at this mall too. Not that you could see. You just remembered you'd been there one other time. ONE. And you used the word "play structure." And so you went.

----------------------------

Why your mom will rue the day:

When you got home from the mall and the tiger and seahorse and play structure, you were barefoot and walking along minding your own business in the living room. And all of a sudden, you started screaming and shaking your foot and screaming more. Your mom asked you what the heck was the matter with you and you just cried and screamed and she looked and you had stepped in a pile of CAT PUKE! And it was all over both your feet. At this point, your mom started laughing hysterically, which she does whenever someone is hurt or something gross happens to someone. You were still screaming and crying and eventually you started laughing too.

Your mom called to tell me this story and she was laughing so hard I couldn't understand anything she said. I told her I was hanging up. She said "Okay, okay. I'll calm down and tell you," and then she proceeded to start laughing so hard again that I finally told her she was annoying. She had to TEXT me the story because she was laughing so hard.

I called her back and told her that if she's not careful, all her children will talk about her when you are older about how evil it was that she laughed at you all the time when you were hurt or covered in cat puke. She just laughed more. Call me when you need to check in on this. I'll confirm it's true. She's done it her whole life.

Side note: She went looking for the cat puke to clean it up, and she couldn't even find where it had been on the carpet. Apparently your feet picked it all up and left not a trace! Now that I'll laugh at!

I love you, 'ita.

Auntie K

Three Things in Common

2010-04-16T16:08:00.000-04:00

Dear Sonia,

You are cursed with a few things that you don't have in common with either of your parents, but you do have in common with me.

1. Sweaty hands and feet. This has always grossed your mom out and now you have it. She once told you that I would teach you what to do about it since she is no help to you, having never suffered from this. I will indeed. I have all kinds of tricks and hints.

2. Tooty bum. You fart. A fair bit. Your daddy has been heard to blame this on our entire family. You come from a whole long line of good farters, but your mother, somehow, escaped this. Now, she's been regularly struck with horrible gas pain over the years (once, she had to get out of the driver's seat in LA so I could drive the rest of the way home because she was doubled over!). So, I think that if farting means you never have to be doubled over with gas pain, the more the better!

3. Inability to smile on demand. See exhibit A above. This is one of many photos of you already at age 2 where you were told to smile and this is what happened to your face. Your mom and dad, who are apparently brilliant, figured out that if they instead ask you to think of something funny, then you smile just fine. But tell you to smile? You end up like this. You know who else has this problem? Me and your Nana. Neither of us have really ever taken a good photo, but those rare times we have is when someone caught us in some smile and we didn't know they were taking the photo. Or the times when your Nana calls your Papa some silly name while he's snapping the photo and then for some reason, she looks normal. I am really really hoping you outgrow this one. Your mom and dad both know how to smile on cue for a photo and not look deranged, and I have hope you could learn. I worry though, given what I know about myself and Nana that this might be just as biological as your sweaty appendages and your tooty bum.

These things, by the way, are nothing to be ashamed about. They are things you cannot control. Yes, okay, you could get Botox shots in your hands and feet, but I don't recommend it. You'll learn to live with it. And tooting you'll learn to do in private or there's always Beano. And you can adopt some pensive face for photos that will work just fine. You're gorgeous, so it'll hardly matter. I've spent a fair bit of time worrying about some of this stuff myself, and I'm here to tell you it's a big waste. You're awesome. And that's all that matters.

Love you!

Auntie K

Little Bit Nervous

2010-04-06T14:23:00.000-04:00

Dear Sonia,

Thanks for visiting! Such a lovely visit full of lovely things.

You went on an Easter egg hunt (twice!). There was such happy joy on your face every time you saw another egg across the yard! And the stuff inside was fun too! The Easter Bunny did a great job with shiny bracelets, socks, little finger puppets! And Uncle John, of course, put coins inside! Nothing wrong with a little Easter money.

At breakfast one morning, Mommy asked you what you wanted to talk about and you said "talk about the rodeo." So we did. You told me about Mutton Busting. What is mutton busting? According to you - "kids ride sheep. Sheep jump." The kids wear helmets, you told me, "so no boo-boos". You also "rode horse" and remembered the horse's name - "Sara" and that it was brown. You also told me that "bulls went crazy." When asked what else you saw at the rodeo, you said "Camel." Mommy asked if you rode the camel and you said no. When asked Why not?, you answered with "scared." You did know that camels have humps but didn't know what was inside. I told you water. There was an Easter dinner dispute which resulted in Auntie Karen being wrong. Daddy checked the internet on his phone right at the table and found out camels' humps actually store fat, not water. (Camels use the fat as reserve when they can't find food. They are also able to lose up to 25 gallons of body water without ill effects. Going without water must be what led to people thinking water is in their humps, because Auntie Karen wasn't the only person at the table who thought that.) And so we learned something.

Back to the story. The next morning after this first Rodeo discussion, your Mommy was off somewhere and Nana and I were with you while you were eating breakfast. You said, completely unprompted, "Talk about rodeo." Okay, I said, and launched into the series of questions that your mom had the day before. When I asked you why you didn't ride the camel, you said "little bit nervous." IT WAS WICKED CUTE. WICKED! Nana and I practically peed our pants laughing it was so cute. Obviously, Mommy taught you this, but the fact that you could report it back ages later is just awesome.

You crab-walked with me and then you were jumping. Then you said "jumping sideways" and proceeded to jump side to side. Pretty impressive, there, chickie, considering you aren't even 2 yet. Aunt Fran gave you a purple tutu and it wasn't even out of the bag yet and you said "tutu!" And then you put it on and went prancing around. You walked Morton at the park and visited Olive at Auntie Patti and Uncle Peter's house. You even let Auntie Patti's brother Peter hold you and did very well with stranger-danger. Not so well other times - you howled all the way out to Cobbett's on Easter morning after cousin Mark poked his head in your window to say hello. You made cookies with Nana and dyed Easter eggs with Uncle Stephen and Auntie Kim. You ran in the yard and threw Morton his toy. You did your new fishing puzzle with me and knew all the names of the fish and animals. You refused to tell me what you were holding when you came down the first morning and Mommy put you in time out until you answered my question. Apparently this isn't the first time that's happened. Seems you aren't very stubborn though. You just have to overcome being "a little bit nervous" and then you're fine.

You just left here only 1 and a half days ago and already this morning you told me you had a dream where animals were singing to you. You told Mommy a cow, horse, sheep, pig and chicken (or some list like that) "singing together to Sonia!" That's a direct quote. Your Mommy and I have no idea whether you actually have these dreams or if you make it up completely when she asks what you dreamed about. She thinks you make it up. I have to say, that is so utterly brilliant. If you can actually make up dream stories on the spot when Mommy comes in to get you from bed, you might actually be a prodigy.

You will get a haircut soon after your birthday. Apparently, you complain sometimes because your hair is stuck in your armpit. HAHAHAHAHHA. I'm sorry, but that is so funny!

I won't see you again till August. That's a LONG TIME. About 5 months! But you'll see Nana and Papa in July and you are also going to France in July! That'll be pretty cool. A world traveller already.

I love you Sonia-ita!

Love,

Auntie K

You are in Boston!

2010-04-02T09:39:00.000-04:00

You are here. In Boston! (Well, actually in Chelmsford.)

You got here last night and I can't even see you till 5 p.m. tonight! UGH! I hate that you are only 40 minutes away and I can't see you yet.

I think you brought Houston weather with you, because we are in for a record-breaking weekend. It's supposed to be 82 tomorrow! Holy cow.

I have birthday presents for you, since I won't see you in three weeks for your 2nd birthday. I think you will like them.

Love you. T-minus 7 hours and counting.

Love,

Auntie K

2010-03-22T13:23:00.000-04:00

Dear Sonia,

You skied! YAY! Can't wait to see the video!

Love,

Auntie K

A Story of a Globe

2010-03-11T16:31:00.001-05:00

Dear Sonia,

I posted this on my own blog, but a friend recommended I put it on your blog too. She thought that first of all, it would be a super cool geography lesson for you someday and second, it shows you how dorky your Auntie K really is and what cool things I can teach you! So here goes....

I got a globe for my birthday from my friend Sara. She got it at a little farm/antique store. I opened it from its paper bag wrapping and instantly fell in love.

First of all, it's small, only 10 inches in diameter. Second, it's this awesome faded blue color that I remember from the globes of my childhood. None of that fancy stuff they have now. And god knows what they'll invent by the time YOU get a globe. Third, it has a super metal base and arm and on the top is a metal circle that moves with timezones on it so you can line it up and see what time it would be one place if it was another time in another place.

I, being the dork that I am, immediately took a quick spin to the legend and found that there is no publication date. Nothing. It tells me the diameter, and all the colors and symbols and their meanings. It tells me where it was produced (USA) and what company authorized it (Replogle Globes, Inc.) and where they are (Chicago). A quick search shows this company still alive and kicking in the Windy City. They began producing globes in 1930.

But, apparently, they didn't date the publication of each globe.

And so, after being out for my birthday, at midnight with Sara on the couch trying to go to sleep to face her early morning and three children, I opened up Google and tried to figure it out. First thing I noticed, of course, because I lived there, was Siam. Well, this'll be easy! When did Siam become Thailand? So we looked. And it said 1939. Bingo! This globe is from before 1939. Wow, cool! But then something contradicted that. I don't even remember what. So we read the Siam/Thailand Wikipedia more closely. (Note: Wikipedia is a godsend. Not for citing in your research paper, but for anecdotal info like this, surely.) Ah! How about that? Siam became Thailand in 1939 and then went BACK to being Siam from 1945 through May 1949. And then it became Thailand again. That explained the contradiction.

Well, okay then. 1945-1949. Well, on this globe, Germany is whole. And it was split after WWII, in 1949 actually. So that doesn't help narrow it down. Tibet doesn't help. It's on this globe, but it wasn't taken by China till 1950. And Indonesia doesn't help either. It's on this globe as the Netherlands Indies, and it became Indonesia in 1949 as well.

That's where we finished and went to bed last Saturday night. And just yesterday, with a free moment at work, I decided to narrow it down further. The globe is on the front corner of my desk now, looking great. And so, here we go.

Nanking is on here, and it was only in use as the name of Nanjing until 1949. Big year, that one. But no help.

Wait, Korea! Korea helps. It's whole on here. When the heck was Korea whole? Before the Korean War I would imagine, right? A quick search finds it split in 1948. Narrower: 1945-1948.

Bangladesh! I don't see Bangladesh! (The fact that I'm even aware of Bangladesh is a direct result of working here at Tufts now, as this year's theme for the IGL is South Asia and I just happen to have booked two students tickets to Dhaka, Bangladesh in December!) That gets it a bit more narrowed down. It's not here on this globe and it was created in 1947 from part of India. So now we're down to 1945-1947.

Onward to Africa. Will this help? Djbouti doesn't. It didn't come along till the 1970s. Anglo-Egyptian Sudan was so-called until 1956. No help. Northern Rhodesia became Zambia in 1964, so no help there. Chad came into being in 1960 out of French Equatorial Africa, which is on my globe. Here is Dahomey, a sub-area on my globe, part of French West Africa, independent in 1960, now Benin. No help. Morocco, on my globe a part of French West Africa as well, achieved independence in 1956. I think Africa isn't going to help, since much of the movement there happened later than this globe was produced.

Back to Asia. Outer Mongolia is on here. A referendum was passed in October 1945 to recognize Outer Mongolia's independence from Inner Mongolia (China). So that puts us back in 1945 again, although this globe has to have been produced after October 1945 and that means likely in early 1946. So let's take a point for this one and say we've narrowed it down to 1946-1947. Pleasing. But I want a year. One year.

Alaska doesn't help. It became a territory in 1912 and is marked as such on my globe. Juneau is there, with a little star, but it has been the capital of Alaska since 1906. As a side note, I wasn't even sure Juneau was on the map it's written so small. And Anchorage isn't even on this globe. Apparently, before they were a state in 1959, we didn't really care about their major cities.

I spin aimlessly for a while. I check out South America and Central America and everything looks like I know it to be. I spin some more. Greenland is there, check. Iceland, check. A little piece of cardboard is missing at the top of the UK, blocking Northern Ireland. Oh well. Spin some more.

Hold on. Go back to Asia! I got it! I found it! On my globe, the Philippines are marked as Philippine Islands. They achieved independence following WWII and became the Philippines on July 4, 1946. Finally!

So there you go. This globe was produced between October 1945 and July 1946. A 9-month window. I'll take it! Very cool. A globe that is over 60 years old for my 37th birthday from a friend I've had for 22 years. What a treat. Thank you, Sara!

END NOTE: As I was just looking for an image of a globe that looks like mine, I came across this link. Jeez. Who knew? And hello! If they just printed the year on the legend, no need for that. On second thought, though, all this fun and this post wouldn't've been necessary, so I take that back.

Now Sonia, all cool things are flexible and are subject to change. Remember that. And so, this story continues!

A few weeks after I got the globe and dated it, one of our students was admiring it and took on the challenge of dating it from memory. And of course, he notices that Israel is on it. AUGH! Israel wasn't so named until 1948.

So I do what I always do, which is to email the source: the company that made the globe. I sent them an email:

Hello there.

I got one of your 10" globes for my birthday from a friend. I spent some time figuring out how old it is and then came across your chart to be used to age globes.

My problem is that I had determined it was made sometime in late 1945 or early 1946 and then someone else had a spin around it and said it can't be that old because Israel is on it - named Israel, which didn't happen until 1948.

Ceylon, Baluchistan, Phillipine Islands, and Trans-Jordan are all on my globe, all of which had changed by 1948. Any idea why these 4 would be on there, but so would Israel be?

Also, my globe has Lithuanian SSR, Estonian SSR, and Latvian SSR on it, all three of which should have changed by 1940.

I"m super confused now.

If you're interested, I wrote a blog post about my adventure in aging my globe. I'd love to update it with some more information now that it's all been called into question.
http://karenadventures.blogspot.com/2010/01/globes.html

Thank you very much,

A happy globe owner in Boston, Karen

No response! Usually the random people I email respond! And here I thought it was so nice!

Then I found this:

http://insidepublications.org/blogs/writinglife/2010/01/25/dating-a-globe/

This dude knows his stuff. Thanks, dude.

So now I'm the happy owner of a globe from 1949 instead of 1946. That's okay. It's still over 60!

And so, baby girl, here is the lesson. First, use your context clues. Second, have curiosity not only about the world, but about how it appears on maps and globes, and finally, be careful, or someone much younger than you will figure something out and make you look silly!

Love you. Can't wait to explore the real globe with you.

Love, Auntie K

2010-01-28T11:17:00.000-05:00

YOU, DRIVING A FIRETRUCK! Girls can do anything!

Love you,

Auntie K

2010-01-15T16:10:00.001-05:00

Dear Sonia,

Hey there girly. You are sick. Your boogers are green. You went to the Nature Center with Daddy as a special guest star! You tell mommy everything is delicious and then you say "Auntie Karen does that" afterwards.

You sent me a card with your handprint traced on the back. You laugh out loud on the phone every time I say "SONIA-ITA!" That's how you know it's me on the other end.

Your mommy just texted me as I was writing this post and told me that she made up a story and told you it about Sonarita and her black tiger named Rudolpho. They live in a castle and went out for an adventure. You loved it. Of course you did. You love anything creative and funny.

Love you,

Auntie K

Punch Drunk & Other Christmas Stories

2009-12-30T13:33:00.000-05:00

Dear Sonia,

Someone gave you a couple of bites of cookie on Christmas or the day after (they all blended together after a while) and you were running like a crazy-person. You would run across the room, then back into a wall with your hands out and then crack up laughing. I told you you were "punch drunk" and you repeated it. So cute! I told you to go tell Mommy that you were punch drunk. You ran over to her a million miles an hour and announced "Punch Drunk!" She couldn't understand you and asked you to say it again. You did, laughing the whole time. Finally I told Mommy what you were saying and she cracked up too as you ran away back over to me. I don't quite get why you understood the joke at only 20 months old, but you sure seemed to. Here's a cute picture from an email your Mom sent me that is a little girl who seems to be a little punch drunk!

You understand things like "this" versus "that". When we ask you where Nana/Papa and Auntie Karen live, you say "Massachusetts!" clear as day. When we ask you where you live, you say "Houston, Texas" in the cutest little way. You know what the baby of tons of animals are called. "What is a baby goat, Sonia?" "Kid!" You run and climb and jump and you almost got killed on a slide with me! Your mom was going to the bathroom and you went right over to this slide and started to climb, and since I'd seen you on the big slide over Tgiving, I figured you knew what you were doing. I followed you up and realized it was a crazy slide where the person sliding is meant to straddle the plastic thing instead of sit on or in it. So I straddled it with you on my lap. Half way down, your leg got caught under mine and you started to scream. You had two big bruise/scrapes but no broken leg, which was a huge blessing. Your Mommy would've been very mad at Auntie Karen if she'd broken a part of you.

We went to the zoo and you saw a pelican, which I had taught you a couple days earlier. There was one in your new book, and I told you that pelicans scoop fish from the water with their big beaks. Each time I asked you about the pelican, you made a little scoop with your hand and said "scoop!" and then "pelican!" Once I asked you in reverse with the book not even out "Sonia, what kind of bird scoops up fish?" and you said "pelican!" Very smart.

You fell in love with that book that you got on Christmas Eve. On Christmas morning, sitting in my lap opening a million presents, you kept saying book, book, book and we had to bribe you to open a gift by promising we'd read some of the book. Very nice, my literary niece.

You are doing pee pee on the potty pretty regularly, which is pretty great. For some reason, you've suddenly become a little obsessed with poop. After your nap, I asked how your nap was and you reported "Poop!" because you'd done one while sleeping. That was the report every time after that, whether you'd done a poop or not.

On Christmas, I snuck off to have a little nap upstairs. Soon, a knock came at the door and it was your Nana, showing you where I was. You were apparently wanting to know where Auntie Karen went. They told you I was taking a nap, but this was not enough. Then you left. Shortly afterwards, you came back with your mom and the same book and were deposited with me to read and hang out. You were asking for me so much that finally Mom just gave up and brought you to me.

When I left, I gave you a hug and a kiss and a nose kiss and told you that I was going on the airplane back to Massachusetts. The next morning, you got up and reported to everyone "Auntie Karen Massachusetts". Not only smart, but emotionally mature. No reason to get all upset. I went home, and you'll see me again soon.

Girly, I have to tell you, I love you very much. Every time I call you Sonia-ita, you giggle. When we ask you who Nana loves, instead of answering "Sonia" as expected, you say "Papa". You came up with that all on your own. You obey commands so well and even when you don't want to do what Mommy is asking you to, you usually respond pretty quickly when she repeats the request or uses a stronger tone with you. I was putting your coat on at one point and you were annoyed with how I was pulling the arm - you made a noise and squirmed, trying to get away. I only had to say "I know it's frustrating. Just hold on a minute and Auntie Karen will fix it" and you stopped for me. Very reasonable.

Thank you for hosting me for Christmas. Thank you for singing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer with me - you can fill in words as we go along - pretty great. Thank you for climbing into my lap repeatedly. Thank you for coming to me whenever I put my arms down to pick you up. Thanks for cooking with Nana and Mommy and I - you are already a great stirrer!

I'm not sure when I'll see you again, maybe not until April for your birthday. I can't imagine how much you'll've changed by then. At this point, you are growing and changing literally every day.

Love you so much, 'Ita!

Auntie K

Adorable & Hilarious

2009-11-28T22:54:00.000-05:00

Dear Sonia,

You are still on the airplane on your way home from Nana and Papa's house, where you just spent a week for Thanksgiving. I got to spend a lot of time with you.

I got you this amazing table that is shaped like a ladybug that someone donated to Lowell Wish but they couldn't deal with it that day so I got it for you! Your little face was so cute when you saw it! You climbed right up and demanded that your mommy draw and elephant for you to color in. Your mommy and I had quite the fun time trying to draw the animals you demanded. (My cow was declared to look like a crazy ostrich - I begged to differ, but to no avail. Your mom's cows look like pigs, but you claim they are cows, so I guess that means she wins.)

You build stuff with blocks, you ask for Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss by name, you like Make Way For Ducklings if the reader boils it down for you - too many words!n When you get up from a nap or in the morning, your mommy asks you what you dreamed about, and most of the time the answer is "puppies." When she asks you what puppy, you usually name one. This morning it was "Morton." On Thanksgiving, you said "Olive" (the Foyes' dog). Cute!

You repeat EVERYTHING. You said "awesome!" right after me a lot. You learned to answer "Texas" when someone asked where you live. You love "bread and butter" which is really a tortilla with almond butter folded inside. You use a fork and spoon like a pro. You know everyone's name and can say them "Auntie Karen" "Uncle Stephen" "Nana" "Papa" "Auntie Barbara" "Morton" "Auntie Kim" (Morton is a dog, by the way!).

You love the library. You can be asked to stand in the middle of the rug and can do it. You know how to match animals to the tracks they make. You know your colors and your shapes. You can say "Massachusetts". You behave very well. Your mommy told you to be patient, and then asked "What does patient mean?" And you said "waiting quietly." SERIOUSLY. You said that. At 19 months old. It's pretty phenomenal.

My favorite, though, is this exchange. We got you to answer "Sonia" when we asked "Who is adorable?" Then, suddenly, you began adding, after saying "Sonia" - "hilarious!" You wanted to make sure we knew that you are both adorable and hilarious. Very important to know. I'm sorry, but that is the cutest thing ever in the world to come out of the mouth of a very small child.

When someone stops talking to you or asking questions, you often say "More talking!" You even say full sentences "Mommmy making it" or "Auntie Karen do it." Also pretty phenomenal.

In short, you are a genius. :) Hee hee. We will make sure you keep hydrated so none of that brilliance shrivels up and dies - we all know what happens to the Bosses when they aren't properly hydrated!

Thank you for being such a loving little kid. You are a pleasure to be around. You kiss people good night and give "neck hugs" that are just the sweetest thing ever. You aren't even remotely annoying, which is such a treat for a curmudgeonly old auntie like me.

I get to see you again in only 24 more days! Yay. This time at your house! I told you that this morning. I said "I'm going to see you very soon again, at your house! Does that sound good?" And after thinking about what you'd heard for a moment, you nodded yes. And smiled. And kissed me and gave me a neck hug. That'll keep me going for 24 more days.

Love you!

Auntie K

Turkey!

2009-11-01T09:12:00.000-05:00

Dear Sonia,

I am on my way home from Turkey right now. I'm in the airport in London for a long time!

I have two presents for you from Turkey. You will get them when you come to Boston for Thanksgiving!

I thought about you a lot on this trip - and talked about you too - my yegen (niece in Turkish). I can't wait to take you on a trip!

Hope your last two weeks have been great. I'll Skype you this week sometime.

Love you,

Auntie K

How Was Your Day?

2009-10-14T09:34:00.001-04:00

Dear Sonia,

It's quite a milestone, my little niece. You can tell Mommy and Daddy all about what you did during the day. It's so good and accurate that they even wonder if it could possibly be right - and then they check the Nanny-Log to see if you are correct, and you are!

Yesterday, you reported that you'd been to story-time.

Mom: "What did you do today?"
You: "Miss Missy."
Mom: "You went to story time at the library?"
You: Nod with "Mmmm" (you refuse to say yes for some reason)

Then you reported what the book was about.

Mom: "What was the story about?"
You: "Pumpkins."
Mom: "The story was about pumpkins? Cool!"
You: Nod with "Mmmmm"

A check of the Nanny-Log shows the book was titled something about scarecrows, so we are assuming there were pumpkins involved in the field.

Then you said you went to the park. This is where the doubt crept in, since it poured rain all day where Mommy works.

Mom: "Then what did you do?"
You: "Park."
Mom: "You went to the park? What did you do there?"
You: "Swing."
Dad: "She told me the same thing. I have no idea why. It rained all day."
Mom: "Maybe it didn't rain here. Sonia, you really went to the park?"
You: "Park. Swing." Thinking: What is wrong with these people?

Another check of the Nanny-Log shows that you did indeed go to the park and go on the swings. So there you go. You know what you're talking about.

You are 18 months old next Monday. Quite the little reporter. Very smart. I love it! Mommy says you are hilarious every day. She's interested to see how much you've grown when you go for your 18-month doctor visit. She thinks you're taller, but we aren't so sure about fatter. She keeps trying to sneak fat into your diet. But you just like the skinny-making foods.

Each day, Mommy asks you what you want for breakfast. Sometimes you say "Oatmeal" which Mommy only thinks you want because you get to get the packets out of the cupboard yourself. Sometimes you say "Waffle". Sometimes you say "Pancake." One day this week, you said "Turkey. Mustard." You had had that for dinner the night before and loved dipping the turkey pieces in the mustard, apparently. Mommy told you no way, Jose, no turkey and mustard for breakfast. Personally, I would've given it to you - who cares what you eat when? But, you quickly had Plan B all set in your head, because when Mommy said "No, you are not have turkey and mustard for breakfast," you said "Oatmeal." Nice try though. Try that with apple pie in high school. Nana let me do it!

Okay, chickie. Gotta go. I have to work. I'm headed for Turkey myself (although without the mustard) on Friday. Yay for travelling vacations for Auntie K!

Love you,

Auntie K

BOOKS!

2009-09-25T10:16:00.000-04:00

Dear Sonia,

I'm really glad you love books so much. Me too. I think this will be something we can keep sharing for a long long time.

Love you,

Auntie K

Mama

2009-09-04T15:30:00.000-04:00

Dear Sonia,

You love your mama. You make it very known. You hate it when she leaves a room. You hate it when she doesn't come back. You cry "mamamammamama" the whole time she's gone. There's very little that will distract you.

Luckily, you are only tiny, so you forget to be mad and laugh if something's funny, which is great. But then you remember, and cry "mamamamammamaam" with renewed insistence. You do not care who has you while this is going on: me, Papa, Nana, even, sometimes, your Dad. Jeez. :)

This is entirely normal behavior for a 16-month-old and it is even more normal for one who flies for-seemingly-ever on a plane, lands in a strange place, sleeps in a strange crib, then drives to Boston, sleeps the next night in a strange port-a-crib-pack-and-play thing and then drives back and sleeps again in the first crib and then the next night, Daddy materializes from nowhere. All this while during the day, you are subjected to saying hello and goodbye to a never-ending stream of rather large and rather loud strangers who keep telling you they love you and screaming your name over and over. I'd cry "mammamammamama" too if I was you.

The visit was lovely. I am awaiting photos from your mom of you and I swinging together on the big kid swing. You are laying on me, relaxed as can be, really enjoying your swing. It was the sweetest moment of my life to date. And here that is in writing.

You are smart as a whip, talking up a storm, running all over the place, and smacking your face on tables and bleeding! A lot for a little girl. And I get to see you again in only one more week in Buffalo. What a treat.

Love you, chickie, Chomp! Bluuuuuue-berrriess!

Auntie K

Blue-berrrrrrrrries!

2009-08-31T07:26:00.000-04:00

Sones,

There's lots more to tell you about your visit to Massachusetts, but I'll get to that later. For now, let me just say, blue-berrrrrries! :)

Love you,

Auntie K

Making a list, checking it twice....

2009-08-19T21:13:00.000-04:00

Dear Sonia,

I have had a very busy week at work. Your mom and I have barely talked. But she called this morning to tell me that you had had a big long talk about going to the zoo and what you would see there. You know LOTS of animal noises and signs.

Then, she strapped you into the car and away you went, on your merry way to the zoo.

And she hears you in the back seat. So she looks. And you are doing the sign for an animal, making the noise, then moving on to the next one. You're going through all the animals in your head and listing them and then doing the sign and making the noise for yourself without prompting!

This is either super super cute or a little scary. There are lots of list makers in our family. Your Auntie K, the very author of this blog, makes lists and truly relishes in the happiness of crossing things off one by one. Your mommy is also a list maker. Sometimes, we make lists and then worry about what's on them. So I hope you've inherited some of the organization of that, but not the worrying part!

In any case, I'm sure you didn't miss any important animals at the zoo, since you made a list and checked it twice. Once with Mommy and once on your own! Smart girl!

Love you (and see you next Wednesday!),

Auntie K

These Boots are Made for Walking....Backwards

2009-08-08T20:57:00.000-04:00

Dear Sonia,

You have been able to walk backwards for a while now, but recently, you became aware of it. Now, you walk backwards on purpose and then you have a little private laugh about it. It cracks up your mom.

I absolutely LOVE to hear these little stories from your mommy. And then I write them down here. :) So now you know, that in August of 2009, when you were about 16 months old, you did circus tricks for your own self, not even caring if anyone else noticed. Sweetie head!

Love you,

Auntie K

Geckos!

2009-08-02T13:36:00.000-04:00

Dear Sonia,

You apparently have lizards at your house. And a green one lives in the bush by your back door. And he ran out and stopped the other day, right when you were sitting in front of the door. But you, you were busy looking at the birds and didn't notice Mr. Green Jeans. So your mommy pointed him out to you. But to do that, she tapped on the door. Well, my little niece, the combination of the tapping and the lizard running like the dickens scared the poop out of you! You started crying and freaking out and climbing into Mommy's lap.

Now here's a little secret. Your mommy has always gotten pleasure from other people's pain. She LOVED America's Funniest Home Videos when it first came out when we were kids because there were lots of videos of people falling down or getting scared. She used to laugh when someone got hurt in a funny way. So, there she is, hugging you and telling you it's okay, that the lizard isn't going to get you, trying not to laugh herself silly.

Then, you had to go out that very door to get outside and on top of it, you had to carry the bowls you and mommy needed for finger painting. But you weren't really looking forward to going past the bush, which you still weren't clear about. Did the bush move? Was there some leaping leaf that was going to get you? What was that thing that moved?

So, there you are, one hand full of bowls, the other hand holding Mommy's hand so she can help you over the threshold, and you are looking at the bush the whole time saying "No, no, no" to it. (This little trick, taught to you when you were only about 8 months old and couldn't even say No yet, is to help you self-soothe when something scares you. It was originated by Simba's barking scaring you. Now you use it with everything. Noisy trucks, scary things, bushes....)

While your mom was telling me this story, she was laughing so hard she could hardly even get the words out. See, this is how we continue to love you so much even when you are making us crazy. We have comic relief from the fact that you, little child, are scared to death of a bush.

Hope you actually see the lizard soon. They are cool!

Love you,

Auntie K

Rockin'

2009-07-24T21:21:00.000-04:00

Hey Sonia,

I had this chair when I was little (and your mom did too). I dug it out of your Nana and Papa's cellar a few weeks back. I polished it up and re-upholstered it for you. I even bought foam for the seat and made it comfy again (you should've seen the icky piece of foam that came out of it!)

Of course, you have it, but I thought I'd immortalize it on your blog for you. Here it is:

Love you,

Auntie Karen

Another Song For Sonia

2009-07-18T09:03:00.000-04:00

Dear Sonia,

Last night, I went to a concert in Lowell (right near Nana and Papa's house!) and saw Michael Franti & Spearhead. They have been a favorite of mine for about a year now, but I've not seen them live yet. It was the best concert I ever saw. Their music is awesome! There were lots of kids there, too, because the music is for everyone! (Someday I'll take you to a show, okay?)

Anyway, while he was singing this song, I kept thinking it was a perfect song to give you. So, girly, climb into Mommy's lap (up, up, up, la, la, la) and give a listen to this one!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoaTl7IcFs8

Love,

Auntie K

Swankness

2009-07-14T07:00:00.000-04:00

Dear Sonia,

The other day, you got to go to a swank hotel in Houston and hang out at the pool. You had fun, your mom said, but then the photos came! What happened here?

But then you were fine! Look at you go!

And of course, then you put on a whole show for everyone afterwards, as evidenced here. By the way, in this photo, you look A LOT like your Auntie Karen and your mom when we were small.

Glad you had a good day of swankness, sweetness.

Love,

Auntie K

Separation Adventures

2009-06-25T14:58:00.001-04:00

Dear Sonia,

Hello my little independent niece! This week, you are on your own for the first time in your young life! You told mom and dad it was time they went on a real trip and left you behind, and good on them, they took you up on your offer!

You are relaxing for the week at Chez Chilu, with your grandparents. Tiffany is still coming though, so that'll be good for you - not too much change!

Now, don't tell Mommy I told you, but she wasn't so sure about this whole leaving you for a whole week thing. She knows you said you'd be fine and that you were all about hanging with the grandparents, but she wondered about all this newly found independence. Wouldn't you miss her? Would you be confused? But, she went anyway, trusting in you.

I think it's gonna be great. Mom and Dad are helping people in need in Greece and they are having a good time too. As much as they dig you, they need some alone time now and then to make sure they can keep being the kick-ass parents you deserve, together!

So, my little Sonia-ita, have a great week. Enjoy eating food that mom would never feed you because you convinced someone you could have it. Learn all kinds of tricks now, because there's more separation from Mom and Dad in your future; I suspect it'll be you doing the travelling sooner than later!

Love you!

Auntie K

Just Keep Swimming

2009-06-16T07:48:00.000-04:00

Dear Sonia,

You are a little fish. You are in group swimming lessons with your playgroup in your very own pool in your yard! And of course, you love it! Mom takes you in almost every day, too. Apparently you demand it. You point to the pool and ask to go in. Yay! Only 9 more years until you can learn to scuba dive with Auntie K!

Love you,

Auntie K

Up, Up, Up, La, La, La

2009-06-06T22:19:00.000-04:00

Dear Sonia,

Your mom called the other day and said that when you see her sitting at the computer, you go over and say "Up, Up, Up, La, La, La". This means you want to sit on her lap and listen to the song I put on your blog for you.

She asks "Do you want to listen to Auntie K's song?" and you nod your head yes!

I love you, sweetie head.

Love,

Auntie K

Food

2009-05-18T19:06:00.000-04:00

Dear Sonia,

Our family has an interesting relationship with food. Hopefully you'll get your mom and dad's genes and not have to battle your way through a weight-loss life, but even if you do, you've got plenty of company (me included!).

Here's some foods you should never stop liking:

- bananas
- yogurt
- avocados (Although I'm not sure you like them now. Get on that.)
- brown bread (Forget the squishy white kind. Ick.)
- tofu (You dig it. Your Nana doesn't get it. Don't listen to her.)
- grapes (It's your candy. Keep it that way!)

Foods there's no need to ever eat (even though you probably will):

- Velveeta cheese
- french fries in mass quantities (remember I told you this in college)
- fried dough (one of your mom's favorites!)
- doughnuts (really. There's just no need.)

The less you cook something, the better it is! I mean this for veggies (steam 'em!) and red meat (your parents are well-done fans, so you and I will have to make a date with some medium rare meat so you get a real taste of beef!). Course, chicken and pork needs to be cooked enough (that pink middle doesn't work for them). Veggies and fruits are spectacular and nothing tastes better than a yogurt/milk/banana/frozen fruit of your choice smoothie made in the blender at home. YUM.

Most of all, food should be enjoyed and savored. A meal out should be special, but so should a meal cooked in. What spices you use matter (and you get to have more spice education than others because of your Indian half - pay attention!). Making a lovely meal for yourself at home at night is a great event. Not just because you have to eat, but because of how delicious it can be - and you made it!

Your mom is a baker. She loves it in a way I don't. Baking for me is a chore. But cooking, ah, there's nothing better.

We'll cook some great meals together. I'll teach you how to not measure. How to make a great meal out of whatever's in the fridge even if it doesn't look like it goes together. How to make an instant light sauce from a tiny bit of butter, some milk and a shake of flour. How to freeze just about anything to use later (I have two bags of bread remnants and a bag of bread crumbs in the freezer right now just begging to be turned into stuffing!).

Here's to food, 'arita! I can't wait to cook with you.

Love,
Auntie K

Super Cute Song for a Super Cute Girl

2009-05-15T15:20:00.000-04:00

Listen to this song.

Love,

Auntie K

Skypin'

2009-05-08T09:57:00.001-04:00

Hey Sonster,

You Skyped the other night while you were having dinner. You had two pigtails and you looked super cute. You flirted with the computer screen (me!) and you played peek with me. It was pretty cool.

Your nanny likes to make you pretty and dress you all up, so you also had on the cutest little outfit. And you were spitting food all over it. :) Hee hee.

In other news, you have two teeth. Or, at least that's the story your mom is telling. I couldn't see them on the screen. But I believe her. I do! By the time I see you either this summer or in September, I'm sure there'll be more. Chewing must be easier now, huh? All that gumming bananas was getting old.

'kay, chica. I'm out. It's 10 in the morning and I'm meant to be working!

Love,

Auntie K

A Holy Apology

2009-04-20T21:11:00.001-04:00

Dear Sonia,

I owe you an apology. While visiting you this past weekend, we did all kinds of cool stuff together. I slept in your room and was your pacifier concierge, giving you back your lost "pacey" when you woke up whining in the night and then telling you to go back to sleep (you obey so surprisingly well for a 12 month old, especially in this instance, considering you are almost completely asleep). We had a lot of meals together. We played peek-a-boo in the car. We danced. We had your birthday party.

Then we went to temple to get you blessed on your first birthday. My intention started innocently enough. I remembered after the first of three "stations" we were going to go through for the full blessing that I had my bag with me, which meant I had my little Ganesha with me. (He's the Hindu diety of overcoming obstacles and while I've had a little medallion with him on it since I visited Nepal nine years ago and a drawing of him hanging in my bathroom, I also purchased a small free-standing one in January while my life was seemingly falling apart to help me through.) I asked your dad if it would be okay to ask the priest to bless it while we were there. He did, involving your Nama in the ask so it would be completely understood.

Your Nama was very excited that I had a Hindu god in my purse. It was given to the priest for him to bless. And he did, giving it back to me, along with the flowers and other things that were used to bless him, and directions to put him in an auspicious place and begin to ask him for what I need the following Monday.

During this, your Nana was a little surprised that I had a Hindu god in my bag. I explained it to her. Then, I heard your Nama ask the priest to put into his prayer asks: a husband for me! So suddenly now, your Mom and Dad and I are giggling up a storm in the middle of a very serious blessing because your Nama has now asked the priest to help Auntie K get a husband!

So hence the apology, since I'm not entirely clear if any prayers even got said for you, little baby, your Nama was so pleased that your Auntie K was involved! Hee hee. Only kidding. I'm sure it was just in passing that the husband prayer was said. I mean, isn't health and prosperity on a first birthday just much more important than finding a husband? One would hope, right?

On the way home, I assured your Nana that I also carry a St. Christopher medal when I travel (he's the Catholic Patron Saint of Travellers). She asked why I didn't have a Saint Anthony instead of Ganesh. I asked what he was the Saint of, and she said "Lost Causes". That caused quite the laughing uproar in the car! But then she clarified a little, saying it was of lost things. Okay, well, I'd rather overcome an obstacle than be a lost cause. (For the record, I just looked up St. Anthony, and he's the Patron Saint of Lost Things and Missing Persons, so perhaps he's not such a bad idea after all, since clearly, my husband is a missing person!)

Anyway, chickadee, we had a fantab visit. You are walking! Which deserves its own post, and I promise I will, soon. I'm hoping I might get to see you this summer, but with you having a new house and a lot to do, I might not see you till I come to Houston again at Labor Day. Which isn't so bad. Perhaps you'll have some teeth by then!

Love you,

Auntie K

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

2009-04-19T12:35:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday Sonia!

I can't believe it was one year ago today that you were born.

Glad you're here. We love you!

Love,

Auntie K

Home

2009-04-04T13:47:00.000-04:00

Dear Sonia,

If I could have thought as hard as possible, for as long as I could about the cutest first word for a baby to have, I never would have come up with "home". And yet, here you are, again being the sweetest little child to ever grace the world. What a lovely first word, my niece.

I can't wait to get to your home in only 2 more weeks to finally see you (it's been a long 3 months) and to celebrate your first birthday! You are already 1! How did that happen? My goodness, time flies when you're a little baby learning so much.

I had to post this photo here, it was in the pile mom sent out from this past winter. You go, you little Sasha Fierce. Beyonce's got nothin' on you.

Love,

Auntie K

Teeth!

2009-03-25T08:31:00.000-04:00

Dear Sonia,

You don't have any teeth yet. This is still within the realm of normal. We're not worried.

But the nosy woman at the grocery store yesterday was. She told your mom that it wasn't normal and that something might be wrong with you and that you should go to the dentist. Your mom made sure this nosy woman understood that you have a nurse and a doctor for parents, and you are all safe and medically taken care of. This woman didn't really care about that. She continued to tell your mom why you should be exposed to radiation at only 11 months to figure out where your teeth are hiding. Some people just don't know when to quit. (Or that they shouldn't even start to begin with!)

We're sure your teeth will all pop out at once, and the sweet, wonderful girl we know will be a monster when they do. We're not really looking forward to that, but we sort of are. Your Great Uncle J, who is a dentist, says not to worry. They are in there somewhere and will come out in good time.

So that lady at the grocery store? She should take care of herself better, instead of worrying about other people's children, because your mom said she looked like a hillbilly! :)

See you soon,

Auntie K

ROAR!

2009-03-15T19:06:00.000-04:00

Dear Sonia,

What does a bear say?

According to you, a bear makes the cutest little growling noise ever!

Can't wait to see it instead of only hear it!

Love you,

Auntie K

Missing You

2009-02-24T17:37:00.000-05:00

Hey there girly,

You just got back from your first trip to the mountains. The real mountains - in Colorado. Vail, no less. La-ti-dah.

And Nana and Papa went with you. So cool!

It's been only 4 and a half weeks since I saw you last and I already miss you a lot. And I won't see you again until the middle of April! Two more months! After seeing you so much at the end of 2008, this is quite a surprise to my system. I wasn't anticipating missing you so much. But I do. I want to see you learn something new. I want to know every day what you did new. And I don't get to.

But, I know that even if you lived in Boston or in New Jersey, I still wouldn't see you every day or even every week, so is it really that different? Maybe not.

In the meantime, we have Skype. Thank god it's not 1982, right?

Love you,

Auntie K

What You Know

2009-02-12T16:17:00.000-05:00

Your mom sent along an excerpt from the journal she keeps about you. I was so amazed, I had to post some of it here.

"These are the phrases that you totally understand:
Turn the page
Turn out the lights
Where is bear?
Where is sheepy?
Where is kitty (rudy) either one you know
Where is puppy (simba) "
Where is daddy/mommy
Go get a book
Want to dance?
Where is your giraffe? And you will pick it out among other animals. (also will do the horse sometimes too!)
Where is the car, house, tree, puppy. You will pick out the right one most of the time. Your foam book pieces.
Let me kiss your toes/fingers.
Where are mommy's eyes (you look at my eyes)
Want some milk?
Want to eat?
Bathtime!
Rub noses!
Give mommy/daddy/whoever a kiss.
Go give (blank) a kiss
Head butt
Where are the kids? ( you will go find the magnets on the fridge with pictures of kids on them)
NO!
Dirty
Where is the music?
Come here please.
Let's go!
Want to read?
Want to walk?
Let's go for a walk.
Outside.
Where is the light? (you will look up at it)
go get your sock."

Wow, little girl. That's a lot of info for someone who isn't even 10 months old yet. Nice job. And in other news, when you Skyped with me two nights ago, I saw your hair has taken a turn for the better. It's starting to even out and look like it belongs to a little kid instead of a baby! Congrats on that!

Love,

Auntie K

Obama-mania

2009-02-09T09:04:00.001-05:00

Look what I made of us! There is this iconic poster created by Shephard Fairey for the Obama campaign of a stylized Obama (like this) with HOPE underneath.

I made this one of us for you!

Love,

Auntie K

Teeny Tiny Genius

2009-01-31T18:08:00.000-05:00

Dear Sonia,

You went for your 9-month check up this week. You are barely breaking the 50 percentile in height and weight. You little pipsqueak.

But, cognitively, you're performing well above age level.

So, the kids might call you shrimp, but you can come up with 10 more clever words than that to call them back!

Love you,

Auntie Karen

Hi Girly!

2009-01-18T17:11:00.000-05:00

Hello my niece,

I'm just writing to say hello and tell you I'm thinking about you. You "called" this morning on Skype and we had a little chat. It was nice to see you. And I'll see you for real on Friday. Yay!

I want you to know that the world is a good place and the people in it are good too. I really believe that, and I live my life with that in the forefront. Occasionally, someone might do something or say something that makes you think otherwise, but the point is that if you are a truth-teller and honest and good, those other people don't matter as much.

Your Nana used to tell me that no matter what I did, that if I could get up in the morning, look in the mirror and like what I saw, everything was okay. I have often repeated that to myself over the years. And I can. Every morning when I look in the mirror, I like what I see. So if you just grow up with that in mind, you can't go wrong.

You are so blessed to have wonderful, kind-hearted parents who love you but who also love each other. That will make it easier for you to be a pure girl. That's one of the reasons that it was easy (and is easy) for me to be.

I love you!

Auntie K

Confusing for a little baby

2009-01-05T21:53:00.000-05:00

Dear Sonia,

For Christmas, I got a camera for my computer, so you can see me when we Skype.

We used it for the first time last night.

You were very confused. You looked at your mom, and back at the screen. You refused to laugh or smile at anything I said or did. (Granted, you had a mouthful of avocado and yogurt at the time.)

You looked back at your mom, reached out to grab her, ostensibly to make sure she, at least, was real.

You finally giggled when I made my oinking/snort noise at you.

We'll get the hang of it!

Love,

Auntie K

South Park had it all wrong...

2008-12-28T20:56:00.000-05:00

Dear Sonia,

There's a show called South Park, which is a cartoon and a little offensive. On that show, years ago, there was a character called Mr. Hanky the Christmas Poo. (Yeah, it was gross, and silly, but people loved it!)

Anyway, this year, we had the Christmas Pee! On Christmas morning, I went in to your room to take you from your mom and dad and give them a moment's peace. You and I went back into the other room and I laid down on the bed with you sitting on my belly. We were playing all nice and then you shivered. (This is usually the sign that you've peed!) And then, you felt warm! And I said "Sonia, did you pee? You feel all warm!" and then I felt something different, so I lifted you up and what did I see? The Christmas Pee, all over me! On my pajama bottoms, on my t-shirt, everywhere! All wet and warm!

So I got up and carried you into your parents holding you out from me and gave you back to your mom. I had to go borrow pajama bottoms from your Papa and a t-shirt too. (Your Nana is too short for me to borrow things from, usually.) I put your footie pajamas and my pajamas in the laundry right away.

And that is the story of the Christmas Pee that you and I shared on your very first Christmas morning. Let's NOT make it a tradition, okay?

Love,

Auntie K

Forcing people to look at photos of you!

2008-12-19T13:15:00.000-05:00

Dear Sonia,

When you grow up and are reading this, you will get a kick out of how much we force people to look at pictures of you. And I'm not even your mother. Sometimes I feel dorky saying, "Look at this photo of my niece!" but then I get over it because I want to show people!

I called my entire staff into my computer the day your mom sent the photos of you with pigtails. I scrolled through the slideshow and said, "LOOK!" and "Isn't she cute!" at the top of my lungs. They work for me, so they humor me. And you are cute, so it's not like they have to lie to say it!

Apparently, your Nana has spent way too much money for Christmas for you, and although I've stayed in a reasonable amount of money, I keep finding other things to buy you and then I do! You already have everything a little baby would ever need, but you are the only one right now, so you get EVERYTHING! Wait till your Auntie K and Uncle S start having babies. Then you'll just be the oldest and nobody'll care any more about you than any other kid. (Course, you aren't the oldest on the other side, so there you go...I was the oldest on both sides, which was weird. You'll get to play two roles, which is nice!)

You arrive next Tuesday, and as promised, there'll be snow waiting for you. We are getting 8-12 inches today and tomorrow and another 6 on Sunday. It should be nice and clear for your arrival on Tuesday morning and then it might rain on Wednesday, which could wash it all away. So I'm glad you'll get here in time to see it all!

I love you, girly. See you soon!

Auntie K

17 degrees

2008-12-08T17:13:00.000-05:00

Dear Sonia,

Today in Houston, it is 75 degrees. Here in Boston, where you are not, it is 17 degrees. Aren't you glad you live in Houston today?

Love,

Auntie K.

Happy First Holiday Season, Baby Girl!

2008-11-30T17:13:00.000-05:00

Dear Sonia,

Welcome to the craziness that is the American holiday season. It begins with Thanksgiving and runs right through New Year's. Six full weeks of family, travel, food, gifts, marketing madness, turkey, pie and trees.

You began your season in Dallas with your Daddy's family, to celebrate Thanksgiving. This holiday celebrates the happiness of the pilgrims making it through their first winter here on this land. There's various versions of the story, varying in truthfulness versus legend, but it comes down to us being thankful for harvest, food, and continued good will in the world. It was designated as the fourth Thursday in November. This wasn't established permanently until 1941! Personally, I think it's too close to Christmas, and would be better placed in the spring, so families could travel to see each other at two times during the year not so close together, but I digress.

Apparently, you were a little overwhelmed there in Dallas with the fam. You kept crying when someone went to hold you until you'd settled in and gotten more used to the busyness. And that wasn't until it was time to head home! You're at that age, though, so it's normal.

Just before Christmas, you'll come to Boston and stay through New Year's. So your first Christmas morning will be at Nana and Papa's house. I'm excited to wake up with you that day. I don't really think you'll know what's going on, but I'm pretty sure you'll dig playing with the wrapping paper and a box someone gives you. And I bet you'll get some pretty sweet gifts! I got you two that I know you'll like.

So have a good few weeks before I see you again. Enjoy the pretty twinkly lights that you'll see everywhere in Houston. Don't cry too much if Mom takes to sit you on Santa's lap for a photo. And give good advice when you and Mommy go shopping! And get ready, because I'm going to personally arrange for there to be snow here in Boston for when you arrive. White Christmases are the prettiest, and I figure the prettiest new girl should have the prettiest Christmas possible.

Love you,

Auntie K

Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy

2008-11-18T13:40:00.000-05:00

Dear Sonia,

I pretended to give you beer this past weekend to freak your mom out. Look how much you want it! Hands on the giant mug, mouth on the glass and all. You're gonna take after your Auntie K, Papa and Uncle Stephen and love beer! Thanks for a great weekend, chickie! You were so well behaved and smiley. It was awesome. Can't wait to see you again for Christmas!

Love, Auntie K

This might end up tedious, but...

2008-11-09T17:10:00.000-05:00

Dear Sonia,

How much can one family talk about one little baby's hair? A lot, apparently.

Now you need three barrettes to keep your hair under control. Evidenced here:

And everyone says you look a lot like me. I'm hoping that's a good thing!

Love,
Auntie K

Your hair

2008-10-26T08:59:00.000-04:00

Dear Sonia,

You have amazing hair. You are 6 months old and you have more hair than many 18-month-olds. It's pretty cute.

Here's some evidence:

Your mom twisted it up and pinned it to the back of your head this week and you had an up-do!

You suffer from some pretty bad bedhead. Which of course is adorable.

We all had a great visit with you in Houston, for your first Hindu ceremony, when you had your first bite of solid food. You looked so good and you acted like a champ until the end when you'd just had enough. You ended up asleep on the floor while we all ate yummy lunch in the next room.

And we get to see you again in only 3 more weeks (we're getting spoiled) at another wedding. Maybe I can live with this many weddings every year if it means I get to see you all the time!

Love,
Auntie K

Sophie

2008-10-07T20:02:00.000-04:00

Dear Sonia,

I wanted to make sure that you had this story in print.

You have a little giraffe called Sophie. That's her in the photo. It's a traditional French teether toy for babies. Apparently every French baby has one.

A good friend of mine needed some medical advice and your Daddy helped him out for free. He has a little girl too and she has one of these that her Great Uncle got her when she was a baby (he lives in France, so he knows). He knew how much his little girl liked hers, so he ordered a Sophie and sent it to your Daddy for you as a thank you.

You love it, apparently. You are also surrounded by giraffes. You have Henry, which your other Auntie K gave you (he's so soft!) and a giraffe in your circus train (which I've never seen, but word on the street is that it's super cool) and now Sophie! Someday we'll go see real giraffes, not in the zoo, on a safari! (Right after your Auntie K wins the lottery she doesn't play or marries rich -- both are equally likely.)

It's also very funny that this giraffe is named Sophie. That might be sort of your sister's name if you ever had one, maybe. But with an "f" and with an "a". Sofia. So okay, not really that close, but you get the idea.

Anyway, glad you like the little toy a friend of mine got you. He's heard a lot about you even though he hasn't met you. It was nice of him to think of you, huh?

Love,

Auntie K

Grab thumb, engage dancing

2008-10-01T16:47:00.000-04:00

Dear Sonia,
Your mommy has been dancing with you in the mirror in your living room. You love it!

She's been trying to teach you the sign for "more" by stopping dancing, showing you the sign, and then dancing again. You grab hold of her thumb when you dance together.

Yesterday, in what was thought to be a fluke, when she stopped dancing, you grabbed hold of her thumb and looked up at her. So she laughed and started dancing again.

Today, it is not a fluke. Every time she stops dancing and attempts to show you the more sign, you just look around desperately for her thumb and try to grab it. :) It'll be the Sonia/Mommy secret-squirrel sign for "DANCE!"

Hilarious!

Oh the Places We'll Go

2008-09-18T21:10:00.000-04:00

Dear Sonia,

I am on my annual trip outside the U.S. This year I'm in Nova Scotia, Canada. I am with my friend Christy and she has a nephew who is 3 weeks older than you. She and I decided that we are going to take you and Zach for a trip together when you are both about 10. So start thinking where you want to go.

We are working on an organic farm as volunteers. We have been picking pumpkins, beans, squash, and helping to make tofu. Doesn't that sound fun? Want to do something like that some day?

I am your adventure-Auntie. You and I will have many adventures. I can't wait!

Here's some photos from the farm.

Love, Auntie K

The Top 10 Reasons Why You are Awesome

2008-09-02T19:01:00.000-04:00

I love lists. Here goes.

10. You are cute. This is so basic, it goes at number 10. You are really really cute, but let's just leave it at the bottom line. You are cute.

9. You are a rock star traveller. You are good on planes! The couple behind you on the flight to Boston didn't even know there was a baby there, and on the way home, you slept and then looked out the window! So good. Keep that up for the next year or so, and you'll really be a rock star.

8. You can sometimes put your own pacifier in your mouth! And only 4 months old!

7. You are already 26 inches long. That's long! Perhaps you'll be as tall as your Auntie K.

6. You are always in good spirits. Always! It's so rare you cry, and then it's only when you need something or are pissed off about something. It's really great.

5. You make everyone happy. It's so weird how a baby can just make everyone happy, but it's true.

4. You found your feet. You hang on to them and play with them.

3. You dig a bath. And when your mom accidentally sprays you full on in the face, you just sputter a little and don't even get that annoyed! Amazing!

2. You smile with your eyes! You also smile with your mouth, but if your mouth is occupied, you smile with your eyes instead. It's really charming.

And the number 1 reason you are awesome:

1. You love me! Whenever I come into a room, you smile and you let me make you laugh a lot. It's pretty cool.

Well, helllllllllooooooo!

2008-08-25T19:53:00.000-04:00

Hi Sonia!

Welcome back to Boston. You got here again on Friday. So glad to see your smiling face. And it is: smiling! You giggle and laugh and shake your head in utter glee. I love you!

I would upload a photo of us together, but I packed my camera cord and I have no idea where I put it. [Update: Uploaded the photo Wednesday morning after I unpacked!] I'm moving tomorrow, right in the middle of your visit! But only two days apart, and then I'm coming to Nana and Papa's house again for dinner on Wednesday. And we'll spend most of the weekend together, too.

This week, you love it when I make kiss-noises at you. And you also love another noise that I make by sucking my tongue in a weird wet-click. You really love that one.

Yesterday, you were Miss Crankypants all afternoon. Your Nana watched you in the morning while your Mom came with me into Boston to help me pack my apartment. We were gone for 5 hours all together. My new roommate, when I told her you were Miss Crankypants, wrote: "Cranky-pants Baby Sonia is jealous her aunty was scoring all her mom's attention today. One day she will understand the kind of moral sibling support needed to clean all your worldly possessions of cat hair." Ha! I'm moving (again) because my silly roommate here at this apartment got two cats, but seems to have forgotten that they need cleaning up after.

Oh! Tomorrow you will visit with Auntie K's oldest friend Sara and her three kids. She has a baby that is only 5 weeks old! She is looking forward to meeting you. Enjoy her and her kids!

Well, chickie. I'll see you soon. So glad you're here in Boston with us again.

Love,

Auntie K.

A Brief History of Boston

2008-08-14T10:34:00.001-04:00

Dear Sonia,

There is a freebie magazine in Boston called The Improper Bostonian. It's well written and fun. Your cousin E was recently chosen by the magazine as one of Boston's Best Bartenders and a photo of her was in there! Very cool.

Anyway, this week, they did a huge story for anyone who wants to be a Bostonian quickly for everything they would need to know. The very first little section was a "Brief History of Boston" and it was hilarious. (Many of the little sections in the article were hilarious, but I thought you'd want this one for prosperity.) I am reprinting without permission from the Improper, but giving full credit where it is due, so hopefully nobody'll sue me. (If enough people are reading this for me to get sued, I'll throw a party anyway.)

A Brief History of Boston
Memorize. There will be a quiz.

1. 1620: Pilgrims arrive. Clear land, plant pumpkins, kill American Indians, later burn witches.

2. 1636: Harvard happens. Shit follows.

3. 1776: Bright idea hits Sam Adams (the man, not the beer) and other Boston hotheads: Boot Brits, steal fruited plains, prepare for world domination.

4. 1840: Irish arrive. Can't get work; elect selves mayor, governor, eventually president (see below).

5. 1858: Proper Bostonian Oliver Wendell Holmes in a fit of irrational exuberance, dubs city "Hub of the Solar System." Countless Parisians, Londoners, New Yorkers snicker.

6. 1863: Proper Bostonian Edward Everett delivers long-winded two-hour oration on fallen heros at Gettysburg, eclipsed by a pithy address by a guy named Lincoln.

7. 1947: Original Improper Bostonian James Michael Curley wins fourth term as Hub mayor, enters federal pen for mail fraud but somehow stays in office.

8. 1960: John F. Kennedy becomes president, inspires numerous pretenders (Michael Dukakis, kid brother Ted Kennedy, John Kerry); they all fail.

9. 2004: Having taught town how to dress, dance, etc. Mass. gays win dubious right to wed, divorce, pay alimony.

So there you go. Some clever person summed it right up. You'll be a Bostonian at heart yet!

Love,

Auntie K.

Your First Wedding

2008-08-12T06:51:00.000-04:00

Dear Sonia,

Thanks so much for coming all the way from Texas for your Uncle S. and other Auntie K.'s wedding. It was so much fun and you were so good! It was great to see you. You just made everyone so happy (a baby usually does) and they couldn't stop talking about how cute you are.

After the wedding, before you flew home, you came to my house in Boston and we hung out and walked down the street to get sandwiches. You looked so cute in your sling, facing frontwards with your head and arms sticking out. I wish I had taken a picture.

And then as you were leaving, I didn't have to feel sad, because I sang to you:

"Leav-ing, on a jet plane, I know when you'll be back again, you're coming in only two more weeks!"

So, girl, I'll see you soon! In less than two weeks now. And I get to pick you up at the aiport again. Your Boston carseat has become a fixture in my car!

Love you,

Auntie K.

Your unborn self

2008-08-05T23:08:00.000-04:00

Dear Sonia,

This is a post that I wrote in December, while you were still inside your mom. It must be on your blog too. :)

POW-POW-POW

Love,

Auntie K