Letters

Jonah, this has been an eventful month for you.  Towards the end of January we took a long weekend and went up to Bear Lake.  It's the middle of the winter, so of course we didn't go for the lake.  We just wanted to get away.  On the way up you hit one of the long-awaited every-kid-does-this milestones.  You asked, "Are we there yet?"  And close on the heels of that one, you said, "Sophie's touching me!"  Ah, the beautiful sounds of childhood. 

Mama got a bunch of movies from the library for us to watch while we were at Bear Lake, and you fell in love with Mr. Bean and all of the Warren Miller ski videos.  I think it's absolutely hilarious that you like Mr. Bean.  We got a video of you watching it, and it's so funny to hear you say, "Mishter Bean."  Now when we drive around town and you see Mini Coopers on the road you point out "Mishter Bean's car!"  

Our drive home from Bear Lake was a white-knuckle experience.  It was snowing enough to coat the road, and all roads out of Bear Lake are canyons.  We tried going up the canyon to the south of the lake, and turned around after a very short stretch.  We were sliding around the road a fair bit.  So we waited for snow plows to go up the canyon, but that didn't happen.  I built up my gumption, and we just forged our way up the canyon.  It was scary, sliding around and wondering if we would make it up the next hill or not.  But we did, and things were OK from the top of the canyon until we started down into the Salt Lake valley.  It got pretty bad then as well, but it was the freeway so I didn't feel quite as nervous.  You and Sophie slept through most of the ride, but I thought you'd like to hear about it.  I hope we have a lot of vacation memories for you to look back on.

We finally bought a TV this month.  It was cheap, from one of the KSL.com classified ads.  But it fills the fireplace hole, which was becoming one of Sophie's hang out spots, and it's SO much easier to deal with than the projector.  You and Sophie can watch your Signing Times and Thomas movies with much less stress.  We even got a converter box, to prepare for the digital TV switch-over.  You'll never know analog TV, and frankly there wasn't much to miss.  But it's hard for me to describe how I feel about having a TV in the house finally.  The word 'resigned' comes to mind.  I like seeing the new digital technology and the improvement in picture quality.  That kind of thing is interesting to me.  And there are some things worth watching on TV, but most of it is not worth it.  I look at the TV and just see a battleground.  We will try to set standards as parents for watching TV, and you will fight those standards.  That's frustrating to me.  But I suppose that's how we grow as a family. 

I love you, Jonah.  It's difficult to be your parent.  Part of that is just that it's difficult by nature, but another part is that you're our first kid.  We're learning, and hopefully we won't do too much damage to you in the process.  Lately you think we're not serious when we tell you no, and it's very easy to get frustrated and angry because of that.  We're trying to be kind to you, while still being very firm about the limits in our home.  You don't like it very much, but you do need to learn to make good choices.  And I don't know how to teach you to make good choices because you want to, instead of because I tell you to.  My only hope is that you're a very smart kid, and you pick things up quickly.  You learn as we learn, and I think we'll come out OK in the end.  Just remember I love you.

Love,

Daddy

Well little girl, you know quite a number of signs now.  Although I think in your case they're taking the place of actual speaking, instead of working as an early communication method.  Mama says your doctor is a little concerned that you're not speaking yet.  I think we as your parents are less concerned, but it's still interesting that you won't say anything.  You understand a lot, and I think you're getting the hang of signing.  You can sign more, no, yes, bird, banana, bath, car, go, eat (or food), milk, drink, and probably some more that I can't think of right now.  Oh, and Daddy!  I like that one a lot.  I've been working with you on some more abstract signs, like help and hungry.  I feel like those are a bit more difficult because they're not objects.  I can't point at "help" to show you what it is.  It's darn cute watching you sign things.  And you grin like crazy, because you know you're doing something we understand.  Just imagine how you'll feel when you talk!

Again, I'm smitten with all of the cute things you do.  You scrunch up your shoulders and walk around all stiff, or you hold something up in front of your face and lurch frighteningly close to walls and chairs and things, or you play chase with me, giggling and laughing in what Mama calls your canned laugh.  I love turning around and seeing my cute little girl watching me with those beautiful eyes and a smile on her face.  I love to play all the little games we've created together. 

Lately it has been an interesting experience parenting you and Jonah.  I'm realizing how hard it is to be consistent and patient, as Jonah is continually testing that.  I hope I improve, and you get a better Daddy that can handle all of your growing pains.  You're still in the cute stage, and you're certainly making the most of it.  But someday that will end and there will be a lot of learning to do on both sides.  It's hard to be a parent, and I remember it was hard to be a kid too.  I definitely think about that as I interact with you and Jonah.  I think we have a good framework in Love and Logic and in the Gospel for avoiding lots of the traditional headaches and conflicts, but that relies on being consistent.  It's still hard. 

I'm impressed at how well you remember to fold your arms when we pray as a family.  There have even been times when I sit down at the table with a meal, by myself, and you wander over to me and fold your arms.  You're a good reminder to me.  And it makes me happy that our increased effort to do spiritual things as a family is at least having some effect.  We're slowly getting better. 

I love you, little girl.  I'm so glad I get to be your Daddy.  Hang on to that cuteness, and always remember the bond we've built together. 

Love,

Daddy