Another year has gone by, Kiddo. And it's been a crazy one, for sure. For one, we've all been to see way too many doctors and hospitals. Your Mama and I have had some crazy medical adventures, and I'll be happy to not do that again in this next year. Another big note for this past year is that we've been on quite a few vacations, which is a nice change from being tied to the house and yard projects. We still have some of those, but not nearly so many.
You've changed quite a bit over the past year as well, and I'm not sure where to start. I notice you will sit still for books now, and you are really interested in what's in the book, instead of seeing it as a toy. I think the influence of preschool and your Primary class at church is showing, in that you'll sit and listen to the lessons in Family Home Evening, and have a much better attention span. Next year we'll be sending you off to Kindergarten, and that's a pretty scary thought. I think you'll do wonderfully but it does make me feel sort of old, and as always I wonder if I'll be able to keep up with you, especially as you soak up so many different things from school. We get a taste of that this year as you will be attending public preschool. I think it'll be really good for you. You're the oldest child, and as yet your only real competition is Sophie, and you're bigger than she is. At preschool it will be a different story. It'll be good for you to really learn to share, and interact with other kids your age.
You've learned to interact with the computer already. You already know your alphabet and numbers up to 10, and Starfall.com is teaching you to read short words. I love how you just absorb that kind of stuff. And when you call me on the phone at work, you have intelligible things to say, and you sound so grown up. You can find your Grandma Joan's number in the phone's memory and call her, and you like talking on the phone to people. Mama says you can do basic math already too. The other day you said you wanted six of something, and you counted, "One, two, three, four." Then Mama asked you how many more you needed and you immediately said, "Two."
I love that you have a mind and will of your own, and can reason and learn, but I can still pick you up and snuggle you. And you like snuggling. You have so much potential packed into such a small space. Every time I tell you no for something, or make you do something "my way", I worry about squashing your ambition. I know I may not be very good at it, but I try to make sure I'm teaching you the why behind what we're doing, and encouraging you to choose the better way on your own. I'm not a good teacher, but I still want you to learn independence and build good reasoning skills. Your Mama has an incredible quality she calls common sense, which I'm hoping you get large doses of. I call it common sense too, but I think it's simply thinking things through all the way to the end result. It really is a rare quality in today's world. I'm not that good at it, but your Mama is superb. Pay attention to that as you grow up, and internalize it. It will take you far.
I'm thrilled for all the new experiences you'll have this next year. I love you so much.
Love,
Daddy