13!!

YOU ARE A TEENAGER! It's so exciting and scary at the same time- thankfully you're still a cuddly love bug and super non-teenagery yet :) I have a hunch that you'll always be the sweetest boy, no matter your age. You're in 7th grade, and doing amazing! You're still in band, and you actually were skipped up to symphonic band (8th grade) because you do such a great job! You were also placed in all advanced classes, and accelerated math where you'll do both 7th and 8th grade math in one year- if you do well at that, you'll be in high school algebra in 8th! You are so far beyond the type of math I understand, but thankfully I can use the internet to teach me, or ChatGPT to teach both of us. I suppose ChatGPT is new this year too- it's an AI chat bot and you can literally ask it anything. I haven't found one thing that it can't do! There's actually talks in the government about the potential dangers of AI in the future, being used for bad things- it's crazy. Covid is stilllll a thing, but we are all vaccinated, boosted, and mostly living like normal again. Daddy had covid, and uncle Jon, but you and I haven't, nor have Oma or Opa, as far as we know. Uncle Jon is staying with us until around my birthday (mid-Feb), and we all just love that so much. We are in our new house as of December, and we are super excited about that! You're doing so well in all areas of your life, actually- it's so awesome to sit back and watch you grow! You're going to be taller than me very soon, and probably taller than daddy before long. Over the summer you went to Colorado for your Glenwood trip and had a blast, it's so nice that Oma can take you to do that! You decided you didn't want to ski, worried about getting too cold. This spring break, you're going on a school trip by YOURSELF to Washington DC!! I am so nervous but excited for you. I am not going, I could have, but they had a good point about how great it is to let the kids go on their own and have some growth and responsibility. So exciting- it's only a couple of days, so even if you don't love it, it won't be for long enough to get really homesick. You've made a lot of great friends, your puppies Buddy and Nya are doing well. Oma, Opa, Dadd and Uncle Jon are doing great- we're all just plugging along, sort of living a bit more adventurously than we had been the past 2 years. Doctors don't think covid will ever really go away, but there are the vaccines and boosters now, and more in the works. Going to go for now, see ya next year- I can't wait to see how much you grow!! You're so amazing <3 Love you to the moon and a million stars and back, Mommy

12!!

Dear Jameson, You're 12 now!! Holy cow only one more year and you're a TEENAGER! Times are still super weird with the pandemic and all, but slowly and surely we are venturing out more, and now there are vaccines that decrease the chance of it getting really bad. The world is pretty crazy, politically and so many other things, but thankfully we just live in our little bubble trying to stay safe and happy. We are built a new house, in the neighborhood where our close friends live (Sharon and the kids), which is super exciting. We move in December! You are in 6th grade! Middle school- and you've been doing an amazing job. You are going back to school in person- wearing a mask even though the school board doesn't agree with making it mandatory. So far so good! Your grades have been awesome, you are working so hard. You've made a few new friends, and seem super happy! You decided to join band and play the clarinet. I love hearing your practice and can't wait for your concerts! Your favorite teacher is your keyboarding teacher, Mrs. Marshall. Your closest friends are still Sharon's kids- Jordyn, Jacob, Josh and Jayson. We do a lot of fun stuff with them. For spring break we are going to the Dominican Republic, Punta Cana! We usually go to Mexico, but there have been a few unsafe situations because of the cartels, so we are trying something brand new. We honestly haven't been out and about much because of covid- I hope that it leaves us soon so we can live our usually very full and exciting lives. I really don't have much more to say- we are just in survival mode, enjoying each other, we are so excited for our trip. We do spend time with Oma and Opa, and Uncle Jon stays with us about 4ish months out of the year which you love (we all do!). Hoping to get out and about, travel more and be around people again- it has been so weird, and I hate that a big chunk of your childhood memories are going to include this stupid virus and the impacts it made on the world. I love you to the entire universe and back, babydoll!! Love, Mommy

11!

 Dear Jameson,

Why did I have to go back and read my first few posts- I miss that tiny baby so very much. I mean, I adore the tweenager we have now and WHAT A YEAR it has been- I don't even know where to start.

Our Florida move is now a year and a half in the past, things are MUCH better now. Well, mostly- I'll get to that. We have explored the theme parks, Oakland Nature (tons of times), Butler Tibet Preserve, Wild Florida, a Serpentarium, the zoo, and so so much more. Oma and Opa are doing fantastic, you sleep over at their house every Friday night now.  Uncle Jon has been staying with us for a few months, and you have absolutely adored your time with him, playing Mario, Zelda, Noita, and other games he's showed you, or just watching movies, screen time together in his room, dinners, etc.

Your closest friends are the same as last year- Sharon's kids (Jayson, Josh, Jordan, Jacob), Kerry's kids (Helen, Harper, Hailey, Cameron), and Brianna.

I guess none of what I'm about to say is going to make sense until I mention the pandemic we're living through.  In March (earlier actually), we started hearing news of some new virus that was spreading around China. First reports were that it could have originated at a wet market, maybe even from a bat. The world was watching closely- as the likelihood of a pandemic is truly never far away, which I wasn't really all that aware of. It's really hard to look back at how this started, 10 months ago our lives completely changed.  Maybe forever.  Hopefully not.

We traveled to Mexico in March for Spring Break, stayed at the Paraiso Del Mar, but we decided we like Tucan/Quetzal better. It was lovely, we did all of our usual fun stuff. Oh how I would love to go there right now, but the world is so different. As we were in Mexico, the news about the pandemic, named COVID19 (a novel corona virus found in 2019) became quite concerning- cases started showing up in the US, many countries began talking about halting travel in and out. We actually arrived back home the day the resorts shut down, and we arrived to a completely different reality. Everything was shut down except for essential services (which to be honest, included quite a bit).  Theme parks, movies, restaurants, bars, everything just completely shut down- but restaurants could still serve to go orders. Schools were shut down- at first for an additional two weeks, eventually for the rest of the school year. We stayed home, we didn't see Oma and Opa for a very long time. We wear masks any time we are in public, we use hand sanitizer without even thinking of it now. I'm not even going to put into this blog about the political impact on this whole deal, but lets just say not everyone is doing their part, we have leaders (ahem, Governor DeSantis) that opened too soon, with too loose of restrictions and it is backfiring badly. We stayed home, did a ton of puzzles. We cooked a lot, with what we could find at the store. People hoarded toilet paper, lysol spray and every meat- still unsure about the TP and meat. Non perishable foods flew off the shelves, there were lines to get in to any store as they had to count the number of people that entered. Limits were set on what we could buy. People are scared, and this has cost many lives.

Let's just fast forward til now- because honestly it's been a mess. We are very careful, many people aren't. It's tired at this point, and it's sad. The good news is that a vaccine was JUST approved for emergency use. The first people that will get it are healthcare workers, then nursing home residents, and then health compromised and the elderly. Pretty sure you and I are near the bottom of the list, but we'll get there and there are other people that need it more than we do.

School, ok- now that we talked about how the world changed, school went remote. And you have absolutely ROCKED it. All A's for the first 9 weeks (looking like all A's for second 9 weeks as well!). Principal's award AGAIN. You are a shining star, your teachers adore you, you are mastering math. Back in march when you guys all went on spring break, none of us had any idea we wouldn't be going back, so that was really weird. You attend 100% remote through Lake Live, the first program offered by the county tied directly to the school.  Your teachers are Mrs. Gleeson and Mr. Garcia and they are amazing.  I just love both of them. We set you up on a computer from school in the nook of my bedroom, your little home school office thing. You have your text books, and have had to quickly learn how to type, use a ton of apps on the school learning page including google slides, google docs, google meet, and Zoom. 

I hope the world changes back to a wonderful place, that is safe for all of us and we get to enjoy our new life in Florida again. You're amazing, as always- and I love love love being your mama <3

Love you to the moon and back times infinity,

Love Mommy

10!

Dear Jameson,

You're 10 today!  I can't even believe it- a decade.  I was just reading all my old posts, especially about when you were first born and it really feels like yesterday.  You're such an amazing young man.

I suppose the biggest thing that happened this year is that we moved to Florida!  We moved a little over 5 months ago, over the summer and boy has it been a roller coaster.  I think we're finally settling in to our new normal, but the first few months were a little difficult.  You had a hard time, as any kid would- you missed "home" and feeling like you had a home.  I don't blame you, I felt the same, but I think we are feeling at home now where we are.  We were just talking yesterday about this, and you're in a really good place now. It really helps that Oma and Opa moved here too.

You've made some wonderful friends, I'd say your best friends right now are Cameron, Hailey, Jayson/Josh/Jacob/Jordan, Lucas and Brianna. We have play dates every Tuesday with Cameron and his siblings, and you really look forward to that.  You guys swim, or look for lizards, play hide and seek and tag.  There are a few neighbor kids, but you haven't played with them much.  We trick or treated with Ryan down the street, and you're also friends with Mason, and Colin in the neighborhood.

While we haven't traveled much this year, other than to Florida to check things out a few times, we've had a lot of visitors!  Logan and his dad, Shaun visited and you had an absolute blast with them, and Larson and his family visited too.  We have had other family visitors too!  I'm hoping to plan our next trip soon, you want to go back to Mexico and stay at our favorite place, the Quetzal.

School has been amazing for you!  I was so nervous about a new HUGE school, in a new state, but you have absolutely rocked it.  First, you got the Principal's 4R award- you were selected by your teacher out of your entire class to represent the student that most showed responsibility, respect, reliability and readiness. That earned you a breakfast with the principal and upper administration.  Then, you achieved honor roll for the first 9 week term.  You had 3 As and 1 B.  Math is still a bit challenging for you, but you work very hard to do well in all of your schoolwork, and as a student.  Your teacher told me "He is without a doubt the kind of student every teacher wants.  He is kind, respectful, hardworking and just a joy to have in class.  He also has a great sense of humor, and never gives up when it's hard". 

On your down time, you love catching lizards that live all around our house, you kept one for a month or two that  you call Pickles or MeeGoy (?). You also have a new snake, a Kenyan Sand Boa named Camo.  We gave your old snake, Corny and your leopard gecko Spot to friends in Denver before we left.  You love watching 'satisfying' videos on YouTube, nature videos and playing games on your tablet.  You're still not totally into tech stuff, which is great.  You love going to movies, roller skating, on adventures in the wilderness.  You're really up for anything!  We go to the theme parks a lot, your favorite is Animal Kingdom, and your favorite ride is Everest.  One night we went in the evening and rode on it 5 or 6 times in a row, it was a blast!

Your favorite food is still sushi, you love this all you cat eat sushi place down the road called Robata, and you love getting the ecstasy roll and spider rolls. You were loving sweet tea for a while when we first moved, but you mostly always have water to drink.

You are incredibly sweet, thoughtful, your heart is huge.  You're hilarious and you love making people laugh- in fact once you find something that makes me laugh, you'll do it over and over again.  We have so much fun together!  I love just hanging out with you, you're my favorite person in the world.

There's so much more, and no way I could summarize an entire year, but these were the highlights!

I love you to a million universes and back, babydoll.

Love, Mommy

9!

Hey sweetie!

You turned 9 today- I can't believe it's been another year.  I was just reading your "8!" blog post and so much of it is similar to this year!

We have traveled quite a bit- our two big trips this year were our cruise with Oma and Opa (we stopped at Belize, Honduras, and Costa Maya/Cozumel Mexico).  You had SO much fun, mostly ont the ship!  There was a ropes course, and a 'plank' that you were so brave to master.  We rode ATVs too, which I think was one of the highlights, and we ate a lot- I think the curry chicken was your favorite thing.  We also went to Mexico again to stay at our favorite place, the Quetzal in Playa.  Just you me and Daddy.  We rode ATVs again, spent a ton of time in the pool, at the beach, looking for lizards and went to two amazing theme parkes Xel-Ha and Xcaret.  Xel-Ha was your favorite, you got to snorkel all over the place.

School has been quite a bit more challenging this year, as I heard third grade normally is, but you're rocking it at working really hard on the things that challenge you the most.  You're getting a little extra help with math on Tuesdays with a teacher you love, and you're participating in a STEP program which consists of breathing exercises, eye movement, balance, all designed to help with focus and attention.  I'm not sure if you like that or not, but you're always up for a challenge!  Your teacher this year has been difficult for both of us to work with, but you do make the best of it, and you always seem to try your hardest at everything put in front of you.

Your friendships are mostly the same, in fact Noah is going with us again tonight for your birthday dinner.  You've gone on a few sleepovers at Noah's and Larson's houses, and had them over several times.  You play with Miles and Beckett sometimes, and Madison and Noah and their puppy Mac.  We have new neighbors that you've seen a few times, Christopher and then Madeline and Sawyer.  Of course you're still very close to Joaquin, Ava and Maria, as well as Maive and Jesse.  At school you've been playing with other kids a lot more this year- "chase the girls" and gaga ball most of the time.

I normally update on how you're eating and sleeping because those were really challenging things, but you're just normal as can be in those departments.

We have a new dog, Buddy.  You adore him- he's a stinker.  Still close as ever with Nya, you two still play quite a bit, but now there's the three of you out there running around like crazy.

We went through Opa's scary back surgery-that was a tough time but he's doing great now. Your favorite thing to do with him right now is play "tickle"- which is like tickle wrestling.  It's noisy and hilarious!  Oma takes you on so many adventures, you just went to Hudson Gardens and I think soon you'll go skiing again.

We have a trip planned to go to Florida in March over your spring break.  We've thought off and on about moving there, so we want to check it out and also have fun for your break.  We'll see when we see, as you say.  I have some reservations about it, so I'm just not really sure what we'll do.  I love our home, our community and the connections we've made here, but we also love it out there every time we go.  I'd only make a change if I was 100% sure it was the best thing for you.

As for you, you're hilarious, thoughtful, you stand up for yourself, and you're just so easy to hang out with anywhere we go- traveling, home, long drives, you name it- you're the best person to be with. You're still loving transformers, and now drones.  You love snakes as much as ever, and you also have a new lizard named Spot, he's (or she's) a leopard gecko.  You're increasingly independent, and you are so proud of yourself when you accomplish new things. 

Happy birthday my love- next year double digits!  It'll be here in a blink.

You're my whole heart <3 p="">
Love you to 80,000 universes and back,

Mommy

8!

Hey sweetie!  You're turning 8 tomorrow.  SO crazy.

I seriously can't even think of it- it's gone so fast.  Back when I first had you as an itty bitty baby, I had all these weird and totally made up milestones in my head.. at 4 months kids start looking like something other than a newborn,, at 3 kids stop looking like babies,  at 8 they are no longer 'little kids', and so on.  So now you're a big kid.  I mean, what's next, your teenage milestone?  Yikes!

Ok, let's stay with 8 :)

Your world still revolves around your family, snakes and transformers.  You've continued your love for everything outdoors- bugs, reptiles, all animals, camping, fishing, anything outside.  Skiing too, you're so excited to go again.

School is great, you have an AMAZING teacher that I wish I could take with us for the next 10 years- but I also think she's taught YOU how to be as great as you can be, and how to be proud of yourself, how to ask for help, and how to learn in a fun way that doesn't feel difficult.  You've also really worked hard on focusing, and getting your work done, you take pride in your work, and you get so excited when you figure things out on your own (like the other night when we were doing your homework and you blurted out the answer to a really hard/abstract math problem and you just BEAMED at me, it was adorable).

I think you'd like more friends- I swear you take after me.  You're friendly with everyone, everyone likes you well enough, thinks you're sweet and funny and all that good stuff, but you just still haven't found your core group of people.  Right now Noah is your "bff", the feeling is mutual.  You've been trying to play football with the guys, mostly to fit in- but I'm not sure it's what you really want to do.  It's so weird to me that at recess the guys and girls completely separate, and only do one thing (football!).  You play on your own a lot, which if that makes you feel good- fine, but I know deep down you love having friends.  So I hope for you, even more than the academics in school, that you find your tribe.  I know you will- but I'd like it to be sooner than later, so that you really feel part of something, and included in people's lives.

You eat great, no issues there- it seems like when I used to write these years ago I'd go on and on about new foods you were willing to eat, because it was so hard!  There's always something to work on, isn't there.  You're doing fabulous in this area.

You love playing with the neighbor kids, mostly Miles and Beckett next door, sometimes Madison and Noah down the street.  You also spend loads of time with Joaquin, Ava and Maria, and then of course Maive and Jesse.  OH... Maive is your girlfriend.  I think although we teased you in Kindergarten about Katie- Maive is actually your first "official" girlfriend.  She's adorable and funny, good choice :) .

We went on a few trips this year!  Jamaica with Oma and Opa, and a whirlwind Florida/DC trip.  So awesome, we just love traveling with you- and you love traveling so much. You even said yesterday that you'd give up your toys to go on more trips, that is HUGE coming from you haha :)  You're awesome to spend time with anywhere we go.

You sleep awesome- no issues there.  Though I'll miss it when you don't, you still prefer to sleep with me!  OH- I finally stopped rocking you to sleep this year.  It's been months now, but I seriously rocked you to sleep every single night up until then.  I had given you the choice many times- and you finally just told me you didn't want to rock anymore and we haven't looked back.  I still sit in your room with you, usually lie in bed and read to you/with you, and then go in the recliner and wait a bit for you to get sleepy.  You like me to sing You Are My Sunshine, Close to You (Carpenters) and This Little Boy of Mine.

You ride your scooter like crazy, and play on a long board- you just started skateboarding on both feet, which is terrifying.  You ride your bike a bit too, but I think mostly you ride your scooter. You LOVE to roller skate.  You're so good- and fast.  I think you think you're one of the best roller skaters (and dancers) in the world.  You don't lack confidence, that's for sure!

We're having your birthday dinner at Los Dos, you will probably get the chili rellenos.  We're having your birthday party at Xtreme Challenge Gladiator Arena, a parkour/ninja warrior type place.  Tons of your friends are coming, we got a cake with spiderman on it, and will order Pizza.  You were Spiderman for Halloween- everything Spiderman is your favorite right now!

Man, I could go on and on all day- but I have to get back to work.

You just get more and more amazing every day, my love.  You are my light

Love, Mommy

<3 p="">

7!!

Dear Jameson,

Hello love!

You'll be 7 soon, in like 2 weeks.  I cannot even believe it!

You are so amazing, and so BIG!  I think you're 48 inches now- I know that because that seems to be the height for big kid rides at different places.  You weigh about 60lb.

You've been in first grade for a few months now- oh my is it a challenge!  You are learning so much, so fast, sometimes I feel like I can't catch my breath, I can't imagine how overwhelmed you probably feel.  Plus, you're going to school all day long, that has been a huge adjustment- I don't think we're quite there yet.  You're reading really well, doing great with math.  Still loving PE and now you have a few extra "specials" or ACES as they call them, you love STEM the most of those.  You love having library day, and making these cool bookmarks.  Your teacher is Mrs. Donaghy- I think you like her.  I think I like her.  She's very young and new.  You have had a little bit of trouble finding your way with friends- when you went to first grade, they separated all the K classes into different 1st grade classes, so I know you felt you were having a hard time making new friends.  You did invite you ENTIRE class to your birthday party- which is so sweet.  First you only invited a few close friends, and then decided to invite everyone because "Everyone in my class is awesome!".

Your teacher has mentioned a few times that you've had trouble focusing and paying attention.  Sometimes you come home with work that you didn't finish in class.  I actually made an appointment for you so we can talk to Dr. Frand about what might be most helpful to you.  I have seen your lack of focus, and can tell that it does impact your life in a few different ways- so we better check that out and see if there's something that will make you even more successful and awesome than you already are.

You still eat a lot of the same things- your favorites right now are probably sushi (eel- ick!) and pizza.  Your favorite healthy stuff is probably fruit (strawberries are your fave, also kiwi and blueberries), you'll eat corn, peas, sometimes carrots, tomatoes and broccoli.  You're not a fan of chicken, I'm sorry- I cook it a lot!  We are always working on new things to try, I think you could have sushi, pizza and pasta every meal.  You still don't drink any soda, which is AOK with me!  Water all the time, sometimes milk.

You sleep well, actually a little too well- I have to wake you for school which is tough because it makes me feel like you really need more sleep.  With as hard as school is, you're always so tired.  I keep trying to up your bedtime, but you aren't ready most of the times I try and it ends up being the same time anyway (9ish).

We're in the midst of cold season- you always have such a rough time.  A stuffy nose turns to a cough- we do sinus rinses, Mucinex, all the things your doctor recommends but sometimes I do end up having to take you in, and you end up with a sinus infection, ear infections- you even had pink eye in both eyes a while back.

You've been taking Parkour classes, I think you like it- you really just want to play, you don't really like to follow the instructions, but you seem to have a blast anyway.  Maybe once we figure out your challenges with focusing, it will be easier.

We're having your birthday party at Great Play, I finally convinced you to have a party outside of the house.  That's a lot of work for me, so I'm really excited to just be able to sit back and watch you have a blast and celebrate how amazing you are, almost 7 year old.

I better get back to work, I was just thinking of you and wanted to make sure I updated your little blog thing here.  My only wish for you is that you're happy, healthy and safe.  The older you get, the less control I have over all of those things, and to be honest, it freaks me out a little bit.  It's so cool to see you out in the world, independent and making your own choices, but with that comes a fear in me sometimes. Maybe not fear, just being a mommy I guess.  I have protected you with everything in me for so long, to lose some of that control is kind of tough for me.  I'm so excited to get to know you as you become more... you.  You are so interesting, so funny- so sweet, and still so cuddly (thank you!).  Spreading your wings like a little butterfly :) just always come back to me, ok?

Love you to "80,000 universes and infinity and back",

Mommy