Hi Michael

Dear Emma,

You had a great Halloween weekend. We celebrated Friday and Sunday with a Halloween parade throughout or old neighborhood, classroom party, a Halloween carnival at the local YMCA, and of course trick or treating with friends! I think, to say that your costume choice was a hit, would be an understatement. You received endless compliments on your choice. People were even addressing you directly as Michael. People were requesting to take your picture. You even had a little guy following you around waving and chanting, "Hi Michael!" You gave him a wave back with your gloved hand. Oh my God, it was just perfect. You were just perfect. This weekend couldn't have been more perfect!


As you paraded with your class through the streets of our old neighborhood, you waved to the onlookers and their flashing lights.


You did your own little step and hit your own little pose.


I was a little regretful that I opted out of wearing a costume this year. I am already looking forward to seeing what you'll choose for next year, and you are already looking forward to the next couple of weeks passing by so that you'll get the chance to break out the socks and glove again for a friend's Halloween themed birthday party!

Love,
Mommy

You are So Loved!

Dear Emma,

You had a great first week of school. Actually, it was more like a great first few days of school since things kicked off on a Wednesday this school year. You were very excited to start a new school year. After reminiscing about your emotional last day of first grade, corresponding with your first grade teacher about your summer activities, and picking your first day of school outfit and hairstyle, you were all ready to begin your new adventure.

We made our arrival and located your classroom assignment. We searched for your new teacher, and in the process, ran into some old friends. To your delight, you had more than a few familiar faces in your new classroom.


You met in an embrace that told us parents that you kids had really missed each other over the summer break. Your later requests for play dates, and our later exchanges of updated contact information was a reminder that we all need to do more to stay in touch. I think you are in for a wonderful journey this year. You have already been assigned your class job, which you are very excited about, you're learning what will be expected of you this year, and you are settling into your new routine beautifully. I am looking forward to helping and watching your growth this year.

Love,
Mommy

Beyond Biology

Dear Emma,

Your capacity for love knows no limits. You comfortably accept love and give love to the people around you. Your magnetic spirit has the ability to make babies smile, and my heart grow. Over the weekend, we helped to celebrate a woman you've found to be pivotal in your life. To you, there is nobody like your Gina, and nobody like her two sons, whom you view as your brothers. To be banished from their lives would bring an end to your world. Yeah, they are a VERY big deal - correspondingly like the few other pivotal friends of ours who have morphed into family. Relationships like these are few in a lifetime, and I am grateful that you are experiencing them early on.

Love,
Mommy

Friendship

Dear Emma,

You got to reconnect with an old friend tonight. Well, he isn't really an old friend, but its been a month since the two of you have seen each other. Both his family and ours moved from our community at the same time. He transitioned to a new community, and a new school, while you are remaining in your comfort zone for a while longer. You should have seen the huge smile on his face when we pulled up in front of his house. You were asleep in the back seat, and he pounded on the window to wake you up. His mom said that he had been awaiting your arrival the whole day. You were excited to be coming to visit him too!

The two of you have spent a lot of time together and built an amazing friendship. Although you are a girl and he is a boy, the two of you are literally bffs and are connected on a crazy level. You play legos together, challenge each other in video game play, you like to eat many of the same things, you are the same age; I envision your friendship lasting a lifetime.

Love,
Mommy