Dear Nathalie, Love Mom

Dear Nathalie, This letter is two-fold. First: STOP GROWING!!! Look at you.  Who do you think you are???  This was this morning before leaving for daycare.  You picked out your own outfit and wanted to wear black shoes to match your "blue-ish/black-ish dress."  You started to go for argyle kneehighs....but thankfully changed your mind.  I can't believe how much you are changing literally EVERY DAY.  I'm not an overly emotional mommy, but I just know that my heart will break the day you start kindergarten.  Anyway, I guess I can't stop it from happening, so I'll be grateful for the fact that you are turning into a pretty cool kid.  Even though you have a bit of an attitude sometimes, you're turning out to be alright.  I'm incredibly impressed.  Secondly: We are certain you will open your own breakfast restaurant someday.  Every morning, some of the first words out of your mouth are:  My tummy is rumbly.  Can I ha...

Dear Nathalie, It seems we've entered a "bratty" stage.  Knock.  That.  Shit.  Off. Your counselor "Smiley" shared with me that you screamed at a little boy TWICE today.  And he did NOTHING wrong.  Not to mention your attitude-laden comment to me yesterday, "you know, mommy, you really should clean your car," and your refusal to be wrong about ANYTHING.  "Well, actually, it's chocolate milk." No.  Not my kid.  Tina Fey (she's a comedienne/actress that is popular right now) wrote a book called Bossypants .  In it, she includes a Mother's Prayer for her Daughter....I'm going to share it with you here, mostly because I need to be reminded of it myself today, but also so that you can have it to reference when YOU become a mom... First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches. May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it’s the Damage that d...

Dear Nathalie, Today you wanted to ride your bike.  No problem.  We strapped on your helmet and we were out the door.  You are getting MUCH better at pedaling and keeping your eyes ahead.  Moving around the cars without getting into the middle of the street, also becoming a strength.  Here's what we need to work on: -You will very rarely find yourself going too fast UPHILL.  It is not necessary to brake every five seconds because you "went to fast, mommy." -You cannot get mad at the neighbors when they don't respond to your tiny little bike bell.  They are in their cars. With the windows rolled up. -Downhill is the FUN of bike riding....let loose!  FLY down the street....it's thrilling.  I promise. -When mommy says, "Keep pedaling, keep pedaling, KEEP PEDALING!", it's probably because you don't have enough speed to stay upright on that incline and you will most likely fall over.  Which you did.  And I laughed. To ...

Dear Nathalie, Well, after a tough week last week, we're sort of back to our day to day routine.  Yesterday was pretty exciting though....we started Back to School shopping!!! You start kindergarten in a MONTH.  Wow.  What a big girl you are already.  It was really fun taking you to Target and picking out school supplies.  It's a pretty small list for kindergarten, but you were still very into it.  We picked out your crayons, pencils, erasers....all the good stuff. Today, after work, I stopped into a few "little kid's stores," as you like to call them, and picked out a few tshirts and a dress....possibly for picture day.  :)  So cute.  So exciting. Mommy's first day of school feels like yesterday.  I wore a pink and white dress that MY Grandma made for me.  I'm pretty sure I had knee socks on.  I LOVED kindergarten.  Actually, I loved school most of the time.  I'm so excited for you, dear Nathalie, to start th...

Dear Nathalie, So....you still have trouble making the "th" sound.  I may have added a complication to this particular combination of letters by spelling your name the way I did.  Blame it on the french in me.  It's something you're going to have to deal with your whole life....people mispronouncing your name.  Mommy had to deal with that with her last name...still dealing with it.  Anyway..... You are, at present, watching Toy Story 3 for the...oh, I don't know.....100th time.  Mommy can't watch it with you....I cry every time.  There are two scenes in particular that get me.  Of course, the moment when the toys all hold hands and resign themselves to a fiery death.....such brave little guys.  The real tear-jerker though....the moment Andy's mom walks into his empty room and realizes her little boy is all grown up and moving away. I think that is a moment every parent fears.  I can't spend too much time thinking about when YOU'RE ...

Dear Nathalie, Your Grandpapa passed away today.  You asked to go to daycare today because it was water play day.  Your favorite.  I wish you were home with me though.  I'd go pick you up, but I can't stop crying long enough for it to be safe. You loved your Grandpapa....he loved you too.  When you were very little, he used to refer to you as "the little fella."  When you turned one, he had a shirt made for you that read:  I'm not a fella, I'm a girl!  We all got a kick out of it. He was so excited to pick out presents for you....dresses, toys to go with your play kitchen.  He used to ask your Grandma if she'd go with him to pick out outfits.  Before we all moved away (us and your auntie and cousins) Grandpapa would buy all you girls matching easter dresses.  He loved it. What was so great about your Grandpapa, my Pepere, was the stories he would tell.  He was such a happy man that loved to share so many fun memori...

Dear Nathalie, Tonight, while saying goodnight to everyone, Ron told you to be sure to have sweet dreams. Ron:  Dream of sweet things like ladybugs. Nathalie:  And castles. Ron:  And flowers. Nathalie:  And unicorns. Ron:  And glitter. Nathalie:  And ROBOTS. Then....the dance...... Thanks for the laughs tonight.  You're the best. Love, Mom

Dear Nathalie, It's "Crazy Day" at your daycare today.  We got you all decked out with three ponytails and mismatched socks and shoes.  Why does this warrant a letter?  Because of the way you asked if I'd take your picture. Nathalie:  Mommy, can we take fashion pictures? Mommy:  uhhhh, yeah, we can take pictures. Nathalie:  Okay, I want to do three fashion pictures. Here's what happened next: Fashion Picture # 1 Fashion Picture #2 Fashion Picture #3 WTF are you watching on tv?  Is Wow Wow Wubbzy something I need to pay closer attention to??  Mickey Mouse Clubhouse features America's Next Top Model?  You are a silly, silly little girl, dear Nathalie. Love, Mom

Dear Nathalie, Tonight you told me you want a bigger family.  You said you want eight people in your family.  That means three more babies. No. Love, Mom

Dear Nathalie, Every month I wipe down the white board calendar and fill in a new month. You're usually there with me and you always ask if there are any birthdays and what holidays are coming up.  Well, July is a busy month!  There are tons of holidays and birthdays.  Your grandpa has his birthday on the 3rd.  Then there's Independence Day.  And of course, Bastille Day.  When I drew the French flag and a loose interpretation of the Eiffel Tower, you knew right away that it was a holiday that had something to do with France...so SMART. Here is how our conversation went: Nathalie:  Mommy, are we ever going to see Paris? Mommy:  Yes, of course.  Someday mommy will take you to see Paris. Nathalie:  We can meet a lot of french people there. Mommy:  Yes, I'm sure we will. Nathalie:  French people speak french.  It's also called France. Very nice, Captain Obvious.  All joking aside,  when you were...