Peek!

Dear Sonia,

You are so beautiful.

Almost 3!



Love,

Auntie K

Goodbye Rudy

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

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!

Dear Sonia,

Look! You were in the local paper!



Almost famous at 2 years old!

Love,

Auntie K

Esses are hard

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

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

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