There are some interesting things happening in the world these days. You got a swine flu vaccine this past weekend. A couple years ago, there was a scare about avian flu spreading to humans and lots of people dying from it, but that hasn't happened yet. Last year people started getting swine flu, or novel H1N1, as they call it. The normal flu kills a number of people each year, but this one was a bit more severe. And it seems to affect little kids more than anyone else. So they've been working on a vaccine all year, and finally got one finished. It's a separate shot this year, because it was only just finished, so although you've already had your normal flu shot for the year, you needed a different one for this. And Mama says you're supposed to go back and get a second dose in a month. Davis County organized a clinic that was this past Saturday, and Mama took you down and stood in line for two hours with you and Jonah. Jonah got a nasal spray vaccine, and you got a shot. I'm glad you have it. Your Peterson cousins all had swine flu last week, so I was a little worried about you and Jonah. I think we're pretty good about keeping things clean in our house, and we're not super social people, but Jonah goes to preschool, where he might bring it home with him. I don't want you or him to get sick.
After your flu shot we all went up to J & J Gardens in Layton and rode a wagon with hay bales out to their pumpkin patch. They had three wagons pulled by tractors taking people out and bringing them back. You were tired by that point, but I think you liked the ride. We had to stand in line a little, and you definitely didn't like that. We picked a small pumpkin for you, and one for Jonah too. We tried to do that last year, but it was rainy and they weren't giving rides that day. Afterwards, we went to the duck park and ate lunch. You always like to see the ducks and geese.
You've been learning some new words lately, which makes me very excited. Today you brought me one of Mama's books and said "book" as you held it out to me. I've been teaching you colors a little, and you're learning signs for some and words for others. At J & J Gardens they have a couple small fish ponds, and I was pointing out to you the red, orange, yellow, and white fish. You learned how to sign red, and last night as you went to bed snuggled up to your yellow-clothed Cabbage-Patch doll, you pointed to it and signed red. I told you it was yellow, and you said "yellow." You've also been saying "apple" and pointing at our jack-o-lantern lights over the fireplace. Sometimes you'll copy what I'm saying, or what Jonah's saying. You're especially good at copying tone of voice. You make it into a game.
For the cuteness moment in this letter, I love how you look up at me when you don't know a word or sign. I'll ask you what something is, and say, "Can you say it?" You'll wait a minute, and I'll say, "Can you sign it?" You'll look up at me with an expression that says, "I don't know this one, Daddy. Teach me." And you do learn. I think that's one thing that has started to connect in your head. You can learn words for things, and you can look to us to teach you the ones you don't know. Just today you wanted me to follow you upstairs, and I asked you what you wanted. You stopped to think for a bit, and then I could just see you saying, "I don't know this one," as you reached out and just waved for me to follow you. It turned out you wanted a bran muffin. I don't blame you for not knowing that one. But I love that you try.
I love you, and I'm still excited to hear you talk to me. You're making me wait for it, but I'm patient.
Love,
Daddy