Month Twenty-Eight

Dear Abe,

This month went by very, very quickly. Which, to be honest, was a good thing for me. I hate to say it, but this year, the Holidays were a little more stressful. However, YOU were very enjoyable during the Holidays. If it wasn’t for you I would be an all together Scrooge, so thank you for that.

You loved every second of Christmas. You loved the presents, especially when you realized that most of them were for you! And there were some Thomas presents! I filled your stocking with every kind of fruit snacks I could find and I think it almost made your head explode. You wanted to eat every single package then and there.



When it came time to take the Christmas tree down, you freaked out a little. You became accustomed to turning the lights on every day, and staring at your favorite ornaments (a Shrek the Halls ornament and assorted Barbie ornaments). Your all time favorite ornament (Thomas Ornament, as you call it) never made it to the tree. You carry that one around, periodically admiring the tiny train hauling the tiny Christmas tree. You also sleep with it every night, which causes your father and I to run around the house frantically looking for where you put it last. We always ask you and you say, “Ummmm. Downstairs.” Thanks for the detailed direction.

I know I say this a lot, but you are talking more and more. You have mastered multiple syllable words – ornament, crocodile, iguana – and, now you really have conversations with us. “Whatcha doin?” is what you ask us often and it ALWAYS makes me laugh. You always tell us, “I wanna go upstairs and play in Mama and Daddy’s bed.” That is your favorite spot. You nuggle under the covers for about one second, and then run around like a mad man.



For some reason you are finally noticing smells now and commenting on them. One night when Daddy was tucking you into bed you looked at him and said, “I mell popcorn (as you pointed to your nose). I mell it.” You also like to “mell” Daddy’s bubblegum and you stick your nose practically inside his mouth.

Also, your new favorite movie is “Beauty and the Beast” or Booty and the Beast as you say. It is actually sort of scary in spots, and I am impressed that the Beast doesn’t scare you. One time I asked you, “Abe, are you okay watching this. Is it too scary?” And you answered so matter-of-factly with a shake of your little head, ”The Beast is angry.” It was as if you were empathizing with his issues, and giving him a get out of jail free card for being such an a-hole. I hope that you carry that understanding on with you when you get older.

And, yes, we are aware that “Beauty and the Beast” is girly, and it really doesn’t bother us all that much. However, we did have to laugh a little when you chose your fruit snacks for the week at the store, and you wanted the pink box with all of the princesses on it. I laughed as you were examining each Princess fruit snack with wonder – a tiny high heel there, a tiny Belle head there. You know, whatever.

Your love of dancing has made a full-fledged comeback, and almost every night you say to us, “I wanna dance!” Lucky for you, your father just downloaded an eclectic new play list from Itunes which includes Kenny Loggins, Cypress Hill, and Maroon Five. You love the Kenny Loggins song, “I’m Alright,” and call it the “choo choo song” because of the sounds he makes at the beginning. I always try to dance with you, but then I get too tired and I have to sit down.



On the way home of one of our crazy drives through the horrible ice storm right before Christmas, you were starting to lose it. And, I didn’t blame you one bit. The drive was taking us six hours and you could cut the tension we all felt in the air with a knife. During one of your meltdowns I was trying my best to keep you calm, and all I could think of was to hold your hand since I couldn’t hold you.

About a week later we were in the car, during much different circumstances. You really wanted a milkshake for some reason, and kept repeating it. “I wanna milkshake. I wanna milkshake. I wanna milkshake.” (you get the idea.) Well, this really, really pissed off your Daddy. He couldn’t handle the repeating. And, he kept telling you if you say it one more time you won’t get a milkshake. You paused for awhile and then said, “I wanna milkshake.” Well, that was it. You weren’t getting one. So you started crying and crying. I felt sorry for you, but said nothing. Then through your tears you said:

“Mama. Hold my haaaaaaaand.”

I want you to know that I will ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS hold your hand. Whenever you need it. And buy you milkshakes too.

Love,
Mama