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
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
