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

6!!

Dear Jameson,

Hey big kid!!  Holy smokes the past 6 months have been amazing for you.

First off, you love school- most of the time.  The last time I posted, you hadn't started yet.  I picked you up from your very first day, I was SO nervous, and you ran out to me and said it was the "funnest day of my whole life!".  I was so relieved.  Whew!

You are reading, doing great with math, writing in sentences (remembering 2 finger spaces, capitals and periods!), enjoying PE most of all out of all your "specials" and making tons of friends.  I don't think you've really found your closest friends yet but you're such a likable and easy going guy, you seem to just get along with most everyone.  Your teacher is Mrs. Belitz, and you really like her.  You're in 1/2 day Kindergarten, next year (in a few months!! ack!) you'll be full day and in 1st grade.

You went on your first field trip too- to Anderson Farms. It was on a school bus and all day long, I was so nervous then too, but you had such a blast and they took great care of you.

You're in such a great place overall- you are so proud of yourself in so many areas.  You are so brave, and you love trying new things.  You're still in swimming lessons, I have no idea how many different strokes you know at this point, but you keep on beating your personal best at just about every lesson.  I think it's 14 breath strokes? That's probably not right, I don't know too much about swimming.

You tried Tae Kwon Do, and you loved it, but the first place we tried wasn't our favorite so you're trying out Spirit Warrior.  I think we'll sign you up- it's way harder it seems, but you said it was fun, so you go boy!!

Right now your favorite friends seem to be Cooper and Katie.  You've hinted at a "girlfriend" friendship with Katie a few times- aw, your first girlfriend!! It completely embarrasses you when I say that, so I try not to.  She is a doll, I can see why you like her.  AND, she adores YOU :) Haha- GIRLFRIEND!! (saying it my voice you hate).

You and Nya are best of buds, most of the time.  She sure is nice to you- and oh so tolerant.  We sure lucked out with her.

You have a pet snake named Corny.  I'm not a huge fan, but it's ok, you wanted her.  Right now she has a cold or something so we are learning how to give her antibiotic injections on Monday.  Great!  Yuck.

Sunday we're taking you skiing for the first time at A Basin.  I signed you up for a lesson, Oma and Opa (And of course me and Daddy) are all going.

You eat great, right now your favorite places are of course Sweet Tomatoes, finally chinese/japanese because you love dumplings, Bowles cafe for chili rellenos, and Outback for the mac n cheese.  I think we burned you out on Mexican- sorry!  At home, your favorite dinners are still green pasta (pesto), oven tacos and biscuits and gravy.  You'll try a lot more things now than you used to, that's for sure.

What else!  You're sleeping great, doing a few chores around the house (putting away silverware, folding laundry, feeding Nya, picking up the yard, etc).

You are as sweet as ever, but you are also very much an independent funny little man with your own sense of style, humor and personality.  I love watching it develop, and you haven't strayed too far away from your original sweet self.

The only other major 'event' in your life was losing our Papa.  The two of you were very close, and I absolutely treasure that you both had 6 years together.  We all miss him very much.

I love you to the whole universe and back!

Love, Mommy