"Sweetie"

My "Sweet" Brea,

You continuously crack me up! And every time I tell you that you're silly, funny, goofy, or weird, you never fail to suggest that I call you "Sweetie" instead. You'd think I'd learn, but I have not. You've created a new language, where you try to speak "adult" and in the middle of a fast-spoken sentence you just add some gibberish to throw me off. And your hands gesture and twist and turn all over the place. Then you'll add, "OK, mom?" in a stern voice. Usually you're giving me directions or teaching me something. You're quite the little boss every once in a while. But most times you're so helpful and you teach Bryn lovingly and playfully. The two of you get along so well, it makes me smile. Your favorite things to play with Bryn- jumping on your bed, wrestling each other, playing chase, and pushing stollers. I love to hear your conversations, because although Bryn can talk and tell us what she wants, she mostly just says, "k"," yeah" or "no". and that's fine with you. She thinks of you all the time, and she'll do sweet things for you too, like bringing down your blanket and puppy for you. And that's a HARD job for her to do! You've been taking gymnastics this summer, and I love to watch you in your classes. You do very well, and know how to do all the things the teacher asks of you, but a lot of the time you're in your own world. It's funny because it looks like you're not paying attention, but when it's your turn to do something you perform it well. You do the best on the trampoline, and I think it's your favorite. We're going to take a break from gymnastics while you start school, and maybe start dance this winter. We'll see.

I think you're most favorite thing to do is snuggle. You would be content if daddy or me just cuddled up with you on the couch and held your hand. And when you sit with me, every once in a while you'll look up at me, so sweetly and purposefully, and rub my cheek with your soft little hands, and then rub my arms. Then you'll say, "Mommy, I love you" and put your head under my chin to rest some more. You are so gentle and loving, I think that touch is your love language. It's how you express your feelings ;) And I love it! You are also very sentimental though. Yesterday we changed your room into a big girl room, with a full-sized bed! Your new bedspread has little pockets in it and I tucked a love note into one for you to find. You kept it right beside you, saying that you wanted to keep it there in case you wanted to look at it in the night. I love that you love that kind of stuff ;) I hope that you'll like all of these love letters that I'm writing you here then. Today we painted some paintings together for your walls, and you're very proud of them ;) You did a great job! Another sentimental project I get to do with you.

You're learning your letter sounds, and know most of them. You don't really understand what it means though. You don't really get beginning sounds yet. You'll say, "buh, B, is for carrot!" and things like that. I'm sure it'll come, and you notice letters all around and ask all kinds of questions. You've been drawing letters more lately, and I'm surprised at how well you can make them. Your drawing and coloring have really improved- you stay in between lines better, change up the colors, and you add in details like eyes, noses, and shoes. It's not always something more than a squiggle, you still do that, but sometimes I can actually make out what you're drawing. At the grocery store you like to push Bryn in the little shopping carts, and you do pretty well not running into everything. But you do look at EVERYTHING! It's funny to see the things you notice and stop to check out. When we drive in the car you are very curious about the store names that we're going to, and you remember the names when we go back. You know Target (good girl!) and Kroger, and the doctor's, dentist... I'm surprised at your sense of direction too- you really do follow along where we drive and can guess where we're going.

You have been singing songs a lot lately- making them up and singing ones you've heard in the car. It's funny to hear you and Bryn sing the same song. I LOVE it!! Your favorites have been the letter "N" song, "Every Step I Take", and "My Little Pony" theme song. Cute. And your bedtime prayers are precious! You always start off by Thanking God for this "beautiful" day, or another adjective that's completely emphasized. And then you tell Jesus how much fun you had, or thanking Him for letting you play with _____, and you just recite your favorite things from the day. At the end you'll ask to protect daddy if he's not at home, and you say, "I love you, Amen". Every prayer is different, and every one is special. On Saturday, we were driving and you were talking about how Jesus lives in your heart and you said that you wished He could come out so you could see Him. Ha! But I was again surprised at how much you knew. I think they really are teaching you some great things at Sunday School! You told me that you just asked Him to come live in your heart and He said, "Okay" and came in! You said it so matter of fact! Needless to say I was proud and excited! Whenever you and I have talked about it in your room you've always ended up asking a question completely off the wall and so we switched topics. I've never really pushed the topic, just answered questions as they came up, and mentioned things here and there throughout the day.

I love everything about you, and your quirky little ways. You very much like to help clean, especially if I let you spray the cleaner. Sometimes you can go a little overboard ;) You're very much a pleaser, and really want to help out and show us that you can do things all by yourself. You love to surprise us with presents, or the things you accomplished on your own. You love to put your artwork on the refrigerator. Your favorite snack might be goldfish with marshmallows and care-bear fruit snacks. You hate getting your own water out of the refrigerator. You are very moody when you're out of your comfort zone, and it's hard to get you out of it. If you've made up your mind to be shy, or moody, then that's what we get. Consequences don't always work to deter you, but after you've had a time-out you'll usually come out with a complete mood change. I realize that most things have to be done by your choice, and so I work hard at manipulating it that way ;) Someday you'll learn that you always did what I wanted you to. You love to have random birthday parties and daddy buys you cupcakes for these events. I always let you pour sprinkles on your pancakes. You don't like syrup covering your pancakes you'd rather did them in it. If you accidentally get woken up from a nap.... it's pretty much a ruined day ;) You only like cheese pizza. You only eat the frosting off a cake. Vegetables and you don't mix without a fight or a hiding. You don't like to sleep with anything else but your puppy, Melman (although he's not as important these days to you), a pillow and your soft blanket. No sheet or bedspread will ever stay on your bed through the night. No matter how many time I try to explain about right and left shoes and how the velcro goes, you have to ask every time ;) You hate Band-Aids, even the cute kind. You're starting to negotiate the rules and directions...."How about....?" and I get nervous. Although you always fight me about trying on your new clothes, you love to show daddy your new outfits. You love to "do" your hair and will splash water on it from my bathtub, or spray it with a spray bottle, then you'll "scrunch" it- it really just looks like clumpy wet patches on a mostly dry head, but you get so proud when we tell you you look beautiful. Then you'll "do" my hair. I love it! We let you wear "lipstick" that is really cherry chap-stick and you constantly look in the mirror and tell us how beautiful you are. Once again...I love it! I love everything about you, your quirkiness, your moodiness, your sweetness and your cuddliness! I hate being away from you, and now that I'm taking more pictures and working a little more at home, you are so understanding and lovely to me. We always make time for each other so we can hang out and make memories ;)

Love,

Mommy

August 2009