SR is turning 3 1/2

My Dear SR,

In 4 days you are graduating pre-school and getting ready for Junior Kindergarten.  Your pre-school graduation picture makes me already picture your high school graduation picture:

You are such a little lady - so articulate and empathetic...well, most of the time.

You already have forgotten that little J-Bear is a baby - you treat him as your brother, climbing on him, taking toys from him, screaming when he has your toy, hugging him (even when he doesn't want to be hugged), and then also being so gentle with him, helping me with him any way you can, alerting me when he is heading somewhere he shouldn't be.

Bath time is a time you both enjoy together so much.  You splash together and kick the water, you share toys and wash cloths, and you help me wash him too.  Well, on Friday, June 20, our bath time was just winding down.  Somehow, J-Bear ended up screaming hysterically.  I didn't know what happened.  Then you started screaming and crying hysterically.  Apparently you bit his finger.  I guess he was exploring your face with his hands and you decided to bite down.  Well, you felt TERRIBLE!  You couldn't calm down and kept saying "I'm sorry J, I'm sorry J."  You have hurt him before, but I guess not to the point where he screamed as if in tremendous pain.  And I was trying to get both slippery kids out of the tub safely and to reassure both of you that it was okay.

But I was so glad that you were so remorseful.  You really love J-Bear so much, and you would never intentionally hurt him.

I love listening to you play and speak.  You explain everything so beautifully and clearly.  Today, Zaidy was going to set up your bed so you could take your nap at their house.  He asked you which bed you wanted and you said, "I want the princess bed with the princess sheet and my pink blanket on top."

If I left you alone all day to role play with your princess figurines, you would be in your glory.

One night, I left you downstairs playing and went to try to put J-Bear to bed.  I came down a while later and you were sitting in complete darkness still playing.  You were so wrapped up in the characters and the storylines that you didn't realize the sun was setting and the room was getting dark and I hadn't turned the light on for you.  I'm so sorry that I had to leave you....I always try to put you to bed before J because he is so difficult to put down, but you really didn't even notice.

I'm so excited to see your preschool graduation.  You are singing three songs with your 8 friends who are also graduating, and you get to speak in the microphone for one part.  I am one proud mommy.  

Now we just need to work on your being a slow poke and turning on those listening ears.  Is it a "3 year old" thing or is it your blossoming personality?

******

Your graduation has now happened.  Your teachers and school really did a wonderful job preparing for your graduation.  You won the "speaking award".  They were recognizing you for your terrific storytelling.  You were so cute up on the stage.  You kept calling out to J-Bear.  I was grinning from ear to ear, my cheeks hurting so much.  

This photo was taken the morning of your graduation.  I think it's my favourite picture of you EVER.  It just captures everything about you at 3 1/2.  

Now we have the whole summer ahead of us before you start JK and I go back to work.  Today you officially turned 3 1/2.  All day you were telling people, "Today is my 3 1/2 birthday."  

You are my little lady, a convincing negotiator, your head is up in the clouds dreaming and wondering and loving the moon (still), you have empathy and you are so kind.  And you love kisses!  I love when you surprise me by kissing me!

I love you sooooooo much and can't wait to spend the summer with you!  

Love,

Mommy