Dear Etrain

Dear Etrain, 

This month began with a trip to San Francisco. Well, a trip for me. Dad set up a trip for Auntie Ansley and I to go to SF as my birthday present. You and I took some photos together the morning I left, then you and Dada began your boys weekend.

 

When Ansley and I got there, I sent Dada photos of the room he got for us and he sent me back a photo of you two. He also sent me a photo of you two eating breakfast at my favorite spot, riding bikes, checking out a Dr. Suess museum, and at the train tracks. Seems like you guys had a fun boys weekend. I had a great time too, but was glad to get back and see my family. 

You still love to wear that Superman cape. You'll request black shirts so you can wear the cape (the cape stains lighter colored clothes red). 

I guess while I was gone you and Dad worked on swinging with no hands in the baby swing. Not going to lie...I was a bit worried when you first did this with me. Let's just say we didn't swing very high. 

Every year our street does an Easter egg hunt for this kids. You had a good time last year, but I think you liked it even more this year. In fact, you had been asking about it days before. It was so cute to see you running around looking for eggs. You found another golden egg this year. You may have found two (with our help), but we gave the big one away. You seemed to like getting money in the golden egg, but I think you were more excited about the Superman egg you found, as well as all the candy in all the eggs. Sorry son, we only let you eat a little bit of it. 

This video isn't anything special other than you were being cute with your pretend play. I wasn't very good at pretend play growing up, and I'm probably worse as an adult. I'm pretty literal and it's tough for me to think really creatively on the spot. You can probably tell this from the video, but I loved watching you. Most of the time I think you're more like me, but every once in a while you'll do stuff like this hence why I recorded it. I just liked seeing how you're little brain worked and came up with a little story for us. 

As, I suppose, most kids are at your age (and for probably many more years to come), you're really into potty talk. You think pee, poop, toots, etc are so funny. We're doing our best to discourage it. In fact you've been put in time out or have had toys taken away for it, but it doesn't really stop you long term. You're getting better around us, but the second you are with your friends at school, the poopy butt comments come out. We'll keep working on it, kid. I know it feels silly, but I'm determined to teach you respect, manners, and class. I realize it may take a very long while. Anyway, you were getting a kick out of the time you made up in this video. 

Your tantrums have been much more involved. One day Nana and Papa came over, and I was telling them about these episodes. Papa suggested I just ignore you and let you cry it out. Well sure enough while they were there you had a fit about something minor and started a trantrum, so we just let you go with it. You kept going on and on so we went in the other room, which you didn't like so you cried more. Mind you by now your cries are the fake cries. If you were really hurt or upset about something big, of course I'd help and hold you, but this was different. This was just a ridiculous tantrum. Nana, Papa and I by now started to play basketball in the other room, and that was enough to get you to stop. Within a minute of hearing us have fun, you came running in to play...all smiles. 

The reason I remember this day is because of the photo below. We had been playing basketball in the other room for a while, so when I went back in the family room much later I saw a huge wet spot on the table. I thought someone (ahem, you) had spilled water on the table because the puddle was so huge. Then I realized that was from your tears. Holy moly kid, you sure do know how to turn on the water works. 

Dada had been out of town a lot this month because he was filming commercials for work. So sometimes when dad is gone and I don't feel like cooking, we go out for Blaze pizza. It's super yummy and you love to watch them make it. I'm pretty sure you ate four slices that night. That's more than I ate!

The next weekend we went to Nana and Papa's for Easter...well, we went the day before Easter. Papa made another delicious meal for us, but before that they had an Easter basket and eggs for you to find. I think you were most excited about the new monster truck...of course. 

On Sunday we dyed some eggs and decorated them at home. It was a fun little family activity. 

Last month I mentioned that you had taken your first school photo. Well we got them back and they were the cutest ever. Although they weren't meant for Easter, it ended up being the best Easter photo...complete with a live bunny. I must say, son, you are the most adorable child I know. 

Sometimes on Friday nights we like to go out to eat. We tried a new place in Laguna Beach and it was pretty tasty. Of course you and your dad got silly toward the end. 

On the weekends when we have nothing to do, I try to think of new adventures for us. This time I came up with a walk and time at Treasure Beach. I heard it was pretty and a cool place for kids because of the tide pools. It did not disappoint. We took a gorgeous walk up above the beach, then headed down to the sand so you could get your feet (and clothes) wet. We didn't go to the tide pools, but you got plenty of water time! What I didn't mention is that colds have been on rotation in our house for months now, and this day I started feeling really icky after a while. All I wanted to do was lay down...and not on the sand in the sun. So, after you had some fun, we went home to rest. It was nice to get out of the house and enjoy the nice weather and gorgeous beach...just look at these photos. 

These colds have really been bumming me out. Seems like we've had a new cold every month since December. The cool thing is that is hasn't really been slowing you down (as you can see below). We took you to the doctor one day because your eye was goopy and we thought you had pink eye. Turns out it was just part of the cold. The doc also told us if you didn't have a fever, you could go to school. Therefore, you haven't missed school. Now if we could just get rid of the cough. Oh, and can you stop giving me those colds too?

You're a cool little dude, Etrain. 

Love, 

Mama