Dear Jude,

For me, the biggest problem I have with being a stay at home mom is that I never really know what day it is. Monday or Tuesday? The fifth or the sixth of the month? Days and weeks fly by in rapid succession, and I never seem to be able to fully ground myself. All that’s to say, this letter is late, and it would be even later if your great-grandpa hadn’t made me privy to what day of the month we were on.

So. Here we are. This past month was really exciting for all of us. Your first cousin, Gavin, was born near the middle of August, and early in September we drove to Springfield to meet him and to visit with your Aunt Erin and Uncle Grant. Papa and I thought you would be all over your new cousin, but surprisingly, you paid him little attention (though you did give him two soft kisses before we headed home). While we were visiting, we played at a few neat parks, and your aunt and uncle showered you with attention. The hotel we stayed at had an indoor swimming pool, so you and Papa got in a much-desired, last-of-the-season swim, as well.

I’m not sure exactly when you started, but recently I’ve noticed you singing along with all the VeggieTales songs you love so much. It’s really awesome to hear you and really amazing to witness that brain of yours working. Your memory is so good that you often speak lines from your favorite movies before the characters in the films can get the words out of their animated mouths. Also, you dance. Thanks to the Fox series Glee, you dance to that Beyonce song “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).” It’s really, really hilarious, and I love watching you when you get in that dancin’ mood.

We’ve recently started up our weekly trips to the library after having taking a bit of time off. The last time we went, we picked out a few really, really fantastic books: What Happens on Wednesdays, If You Give a Moose a Muffin, Duck for President, Imagine Harry, and So, What’s It Like to Be a Cat? Much of the time, you’d rather page through the books on your own than have me read them to you. Sometimes, however, you cuddle up on the couch with me, pull a blanket up over you, and let me read story after story out loud. You like to name the objects you recognize on each page and get very excited when you notice something new.

You’re in this funny kind of stage right now. You’re constantly asking for help at the playground, even to perform the simplest tasks-like climbing the step to the slide or hoisting yourself into the tunnel. You’ve been doing these things on your own for months and months. I think you just like the attention. These days, you walk without holding my hand, except for when we cross the street or alleyways. You like to lag behind and then RUN to catch up with me. Sometimes walking two blocks to the nearest cafe wears me out, but most of the time I just enjoy how in awe you are of everything around you.

We’ve got big plans for the upcoming months, Monkey… apples and pumpkins and costumes and puzzles and art projects and music and movies and popcorn. Autumn is my favorite season, and I can’t wait to share another one with you.

Love,
Mama