Letters

31-Months

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / Leave a comment

Dear Noah,

On Friday you turned 31-months old.  I don’t know where the time has gone.  You have grown so fast.  You are such a little boy.  You are a hilarious little boy.  You have really begun to develop a sense of humor and I have to say that I spend a big portion of my day laughing with you and at you.  Sorry, about the laughing at you, but sometimes you are just too cute and too funny.  I know that I am helping you on your way to “class clown” status.  I’ll deal with that when I get those calls from school.  I’ll take some of the blame and make sure your teacher knows that you really are funny–I know as a teacher I shouldn’t encourage that. 

You have developed a profound interest in all things that have to do with balls–soccer, basketball, golf, baseball and you love your bat and golf clubs (which you often try and use as a bat).  You are such a boy.  We have spent quite a bit of time outside playing soccer.  It’s a lot of fun.  The other day when we were playing, we had been playing for about 20 minutes when you all of a sudden wowed me with what you have picked up verbally and have been able to apply to the right situation. You kicked the ball and shout “he shoots!”  the ball misses me and goes past me and you shout “he scores!” and run around in a circle with your arms in the air and then fall down to the ground.  I have never laughed so hard in my life.  It was the most surprising and one of the cutest things you have done and I have seen.  It was that kind of moment where I wished I could capture it on video–but sadly the memory of it will have to be written. 

I am amazed at how you have become able to pick up words and/or phrases that we use in one context and then apply them to another context.  I can recognize the intelligence that is lurking inside and works its way up to the surface as you get older.  I try not to be biased because your my kid, but you are pretty smart and my belief is often reinforced by the ladies at your school who tell me you are too smart for your own good.  It makes me proud. 

You are really starting to come into your own.  You are the popular kid at Mom’s Day Out.  I dropped you off one day last week and when you walked into the room all the boys yell “Noah” and about four of them run up to you and you all start wrestling.  It is pretty cute.  Then you all give high-fives when you leave.  It’s cute and I am pretty sure you are going to be the popular kid.  Again, not because you are my kid and biased, but because your personality is magnetic.  People are drawn to you and have always been since you were a baby.  There is something about your unassuming smile and the happiness you radiate.  You’re a special young boy who will grow up to be a special man.  I hope that I can give you the tools and the desire to do good with your gifts.  I hope that’s not too much pressure for you.  But the world needs people like you. 

I can’t believe how much you have changed and grown and how you continue to change and grow at such a rapid pace.  You are an amazing kid and the love you show us is undescribably awesome. 

I am so happy and blessed and honored to be your mother.

Love you,

Mommy

11-Months-Old

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 1 Comment

Dear Zoë,

A couple of weeks ago, you turned 11-months-old.  I just want to let you know to get used to me running behind schedule.  Your mother is the master at believing she can do everything.  I can’t, but I keep trying.  I promise the important things will get done on time–you know meals, dr’s appt.s.  I can’t say the same for these letters which often fall to the bottom of the list.  That fact is by no means a reflection of the love I hold for you.  Because you are the moon to Noah’s sun.  Our world wouldn’t function without either of you. 

During this past month, you have come so close to walking and have perfected speed crawling.  You are a lighting bolt and I have to watch you like a hawk.  This is the opposite of your brother.  When he was your age, he was walking (no competition here) but he wasn’t the adventurer you are.  You climb on everything–whether it is stable or not.  (Just now you fell off of non-stationary toy and got back up to try it again).  You are pushing the limits and boundaries and smile while doing it.  You love the dog water and every time I stop you by saying your name you look up at me and smile.  And in that smiling face, I see the teenage girl who is going to give me that look when I catch you sneaking out or in–if you follow in  your mom’s footsteps it will be both.   I don’t think I am looking forward to those teenage years.   

Let me apologize now for already warping your mind with television. You are enthralled with Yo Gabba Gabba and sometimes that is the only thing that will calm you down if you are super crabby.  You laugh and giggle and clap.  It is really cute.  I know what all the studies say about TV actually making young children stupid.  If that is the case, I am very sorry because we are in no way rich enough to buy your way into college.  Community college isn’t too bad.  They have some great programs. 

I have to talk about his love affair you have with your daddy.  You get this goofy smile on your face whenever he walks into the room.  No matter how intensely you were crying and screaming before he was there…he shows up and you are all sunshine and rainbows.  It’s  a little annoying.  I am slightly vindicated by the fact that you say “mamma” an never utter the “d” word (dada).  Your brother was almost 19 months before he said mamma.  So in terms of that accomplishment–you are so totally my favorite.  But it all evens out, becasue you dislike sleeping and your brother is the champion napper–so he is my favorite when it comes to sleep. 

Sleep.  Why don’t you need any?   I know you are resistant to napping now, because you are so interested in all the things you can do now that you can stand and cruise and eat all the scraps of paper off the floor and any other stray food your brother drops. I spend half of my day fishing paper that comes out of no where out of your mouth and the other half doing sacfices to the sleep gods in the hopes of you napping when your brother does or at all for that matter. 

You got to see the Ocean for the first time this month and you loved it as much as you like all water.  You spend a good part of every day standing next to the bathtub trying to will yourself in.  You were completely unphased by the sand and the fact that your brother like to cover you in it.  You handled the world traveling well, other than the sleep issues.  But as you can see that isn’t too surprising.  You are a pistol, little Miss Zoë and will continue to challenge us in ways that are totally new and exciting and frustrating.  I am so happy to have you my life and as part or our family.  You fit in seamlessly. 

Keep pushing the limits.

Love you,

Mommy

30-Months-Old

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 4 Comments

Dear Noah,

Two weeks ago you turned 30-months-old.  We were lucky to be in St. Maarten for this joyous occasion.  I cannot believe how fast the time goes and at the rate which you are growing up.  It really does go so fast.

Whose pants are falling down?

You have been in school for nearly 2 months now and are just now starting to become a little boy.  You are starting to stand-up for yourself and are  hitting the kids at school who take toys away from you.  This hasn’t been a problem yet and the teacher has only said something to me on one occasion.  When asked if you hit someone at school, you happily replied–“Woah hit everybody.  Everybody cry.”  I am not sure how this is going to go. We talk about the rules of “no hitting” and “no pushing” but you still manage to both hit and push your sister reminding me that those are the rules for school.  I try to convince you that those rules also apply to home, but so far you aren’t really buying that. 

Now don’t get me wrong you are by no means hitting or pushing your sister often or even in an agressive way.  You are often just playing and forget that you are close to twice her size and that she cannot stand up on her own yet.  You’ll get it and you are pretty great at apologizing. 

Our fridge is covered by the masterpieces of toddler art work and I promise to save them and pull them out to show your first high school girlfriend (or boyfriend–whichever).  We have butterflies, bats, some paper with sequins and feather glued on and one with an assortment of beans too.  I know that our days of childhood artwork are just beginning and it is really cute when you see what you made hanging on the side of the fridge.  I am sorry to say that at some point, I may only keep the good stuff.  If that scars you too much, I promise to allow you to use some of your college fund for therapy. 

I can't believe you posted this photo of me!

This summer you fell in love with the beach.  You hardly complained about getting sand on your hands (just in case I haven’t said this 100 times yet–you absolutely hate having anything on your hands that shouldn’t be there. It is quite funny).  You were in love with the ocean and couldn’t get enough of wave jumping and the pretzel water in your mouth.  Pretzel water you ask?  Well, you were quite taken aback by your first mouthful of salt water. I told you it was like eating a pretzel without the pretzel part.  You laughed and every time you got a mouthful of salt water your smiled and said “like eating pretzel mommy.”  I smiled and we continued to have fun.  It could have gone either way and I have to say that I am happy it went the way it did or our island vacation could have easily been a disaster. 

You wore you “mermaid” suit with pride.  I know that this trip brought about many exaggerations on your mother’s part but I did what I had to do.  The look on your face when you saw your body glove wet suit with the styrfoam chest and back piecs said “there is absolutely no way I am wearing that suit.”  I preyed on your recent infatuation with Diego and the Mermaind Manatee Rescue episode and told you it was a mermaid suit.  You hardly took the suit off the entire trip.  You looked quite a bit like Hans and Frans from classic SNL.  These moments really are priceless and I am happy to have a written memory of them.

You are growing and are now repeating nearly everything that is said in front of you.  If someone says “hello sweetie,” you reciprocate with your own “hello sweetie.”  And it really is cute.  You are now saying “I love you mommy/daddy” without prompting and are quite anxious to have me sit next to you while you watch Wonder Pets, Wow, Wow Wubbzy or Diego.  I of course would rather be poked with a sharp stick than watch either of those shows, but I can’t say no to you when you want to hang with me.  There will soon be a time when you are telling me “Go away Mom.”  So, I will continue to hang out with you when invited and cherish every moment. 

Keep growing…

Love you,

Mommy

PS.  I wanted to add that you attended your second carnival and actually had a blast.  You rode the rides–over and over again.  You won prizes and gave your dad and I a glimpse at the fun we will have as you and your sister grow older. 

29-Months-Old

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 3 Comments

Dear Noah,

I cannot believe that you are almost 2 and a half.  Where has the time gone.  You are growing and changing so fast.  You started “school.”  You carry your own lunch box on the walk from home to school.  It is so cute.  You tell me that it’s time for me to go home and you play and follow directions and are learning things. 

As each day passes your are becoming a little bit more of a boy. You love wrestling and you think it is some that your little sister should also like.  She doesn’t.  Part of it is because she can’t push back.  Soon enough she will.  You have grown more and more opinionated and verbal.  I am amazed almost everyday of the words that come out of your mouth.  Pretty soon you’ll be able to say your name and I will cry on that day.  I love how you say “Woah.”  It melts my little heart. 

This past month was full of change–your little sister started crawling and cruising.  The unadulterated love that you felt for her has become muddled by the fact that she now touches you and wants to play with whatever you are playing with.  My days are now filled with a symphony of “MOM, MOVE Zoë PLEASE!”  It’s cute and sometime I do move her, but most of the time I make you deal with it.  I know that this isn’t the wisest course of action.  I know you will start hitting her and pushing her, but for now little man.  You have to deal with it. 

I worry about your eating habits, but what mother doesn’t.  Some days all you want is cheese and strawberries.  Other days it’s hot dogs and avocado.  Other days, I swear all you eat is fig newtons and cheetos.  You are growing and I try not to worry too much, but I hope I am being a good mom and that you don’t some day wonder “What the hell was she thinking?”  Okay, that’s a pipe dream because you are going to be a teen-aged boy one day and I think you just might have that thought more than once a day. 

Your ability to be social and adapt to changes is refreshing and makes me so very happy.  I know this personality trait will serve you well in life.  You have become more and more interested in blocks and actually building with them instead of taking them out of the box and putting them back.  It’s awesome so see you change and advance.  You know so much and I have to give some credit to educational TV–Mickey Mouse/SpongeBob, etc.  I think it has taught you more than it has hindered you.  I don’t care what the research says. 

I do want to apologize now, before I forget for enabling you to be as loud as you are.  You have always been a loud child and that is too be expected because both your father and I are loud.  Your father will blame this on me, but I will tell you the truth now–your father is the loud one.  His normal register is loud.  I have to tell him a lot to talk quieter.  Again he will blame this on me.  But it isn’t my fault.  I know you will side with your father.  I have already been given peeks at this secret male alliance you two share.  You often tell me “Momma, no yell at Daddy.”  What the hell is that all about?  Really, don’t yell at your dad?  He’s a man and often deserves a little bit of yelling.  UGH!  Where did I go wrong?

I can see the “Why” phase coming as we have been in the “What this is?” Phase for a long time.  You are so very inquisitive and I love it.  Keep it up Noah.  Keep laughing and keep smiling.  You are a shining star and you light up my world. 

Love you,

Mommy

10 Months Old

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 3 Comments

Dear Zoë,

You are now 10-months-old.  I can hardly believe how much you have changed and how each day you grow more and more.  You are now crawling.  I know.  I can’t believe it.  It is not a graceful girlie crawl.  No you are doing a full on military army commando crawl and it is hilarious.  When you get tired, you just stop and hang out for a few minutes until you build up a little more energy. 

You are also cruising.  I know.  I am so excited that you will be walking soon.  Your brother isn’t a fan of your mobility, but I am.  The more you can move yourself means less time I have to spend moving you from place to place and activity to activity.  Especially since you love to move often and get bored after what seems like the blink of an eye. 

Sadly, you already have a favorite TV shows.  You love Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Yo Gabba Gabba.  It is my saving grace when you are super crabby but refuse to sleep.  If this makes me a bad mom and ruins your attention span and development please don’t hold it against me.  Mommy had to stay sane. 

You have picked up your brother’s habit of growling.  It is so very cute.  You are growing so fast.  I look forward to your doctor’s appointment this month just to see how much you have grown since you came home in June.  You are wearing 9 month clothes and that is amazing.  You are progressing so much.  You have seven teeth now.  Not all of them are all the way in but they have broken through the gums and I am so looking forward to the impending lack of drool that I will be drenched with as you stop teething for a little bit soon.  I know that I might be dreaming but a girl can dream can’t she? 

You are a stubborn little girl and you will give your father and I a ton of trouble as you grow up.  You have already perfected that “what now?” look that you will give us endlessly as a teenage girl as we ask you do things like clean your room, do your homework, and to be home by 10 on a Friday night.  I just want you to know that that look won’t work for me, because I too once used that look.  I will not bow to your teen angst. 

You still don’t much care for sleep, but you are one for routine.  So maybe you’re not sleeping is more my fault than it is yours.  Sometimes, you don’t get your morning nap at home, because we have something to do.  If you don’t get your morning nap, then  your afternoon nap is almost non-existent and then you wake up more than once at night.  If you get that am nap then everything is just better.  I have learned this, but there really are just sometimes when mom has to get out of the house. I try to make those time few and far between because I want you to sleep.  i want to sleep.  Sleep is good.

Zoë you have added something so amazing to our life.  The love and happiness is awesome and you really are a perfect fit for our family.  I am not sure how that works and how we got so lucky to get two perfect children and by perfect, I mean a perfect fit into our family.  We are so blessed and so lucky to get to be your parents. 

I can’t wait to see what next month brings. 

Love,
Mommy