November

Dear Sebastien,
So often you look into my camera and look so serious, but you really have this light and bubbly personality. That is never so clear as when Grandpa Warner comes to visit. You just love to get silly with Grandpa Warner and he loves to get silly with you. Let's take his arrival for Halloween as an example…through the garden in dinosaur pajamas? dueling roars through the windows?

 This guy sure knows how to get you to smile.

 You are blessed with a wide extended family. Grandpa Warner and Felicia keep you company often. He takes you to swimming lessons and soccer on occasion, and they both spoil you rotten with ice cream, books and iPad games. We took a few pictures by the ocean for Grandpa for his blog. That guy is an environmentalist for the ocean and his wife runs the state water board! Maybe their idealistic intentions will rub off on you…that is, if you your stint as Dark Vader on Halloween has not turned you to the dark side :)

I am so honored to be a part of a 'letters to our sons' blog circle. I am joined by some amazing photographers and moms. We are writing these letters in honor of our sweet little boys. Please be sure to click through to follow our circle-up next is 

Bedtime through the kitchen and bedroom windows

Oct 23, 2013 830pm

I was closing the window in the kitchen, which also looks into your window. You were snuggled up with Dad. So sweet. Reading Caps for sale, to be followed by superheroes. I knocked on the window as Dad switched over to superheroes. You looked up. I smiled and blew you kisses before I closed the window. Dad asked you,"Why is Mommy looking at you through the window?" And you replied, "Because she loves me. She is smiling at me. She likes to smile at me."

Yes I do.

This month your newest thing to say is "I forgot."  Baba, do you want to wear your Star Wars shirt or your spiderman shirt? "I forgot."  What do you want for breakfast? "I forgot." What did you do in Spanish class today? "I forgot." But then we cuddle up at night after after reading books and, for the few minutes before you fall asleep, you start to tell me about your day. Who you played with, what happened, if the teacher gave you a sticker or if you got into trouble a "little bit."  Last week , you said "Momma, do you know what the color orange is in Spanish?" No Baba, what is it?  "Naranja!"

I am so honored to be a part of a "Letters to our sons' blog circle. I am joined by some amazing photographers and moms. We are writing these letters in honor of our sweet little boys. Please be sure to click through to follow our circle- up next is Kelly Tonks

August

Last month mom was locked out of the house with you and the phone inside. A lovely neighbor walking his dog helped hoist mom in through a living window. Tree climbing was involved and you had to finish pushing open a window. You thought it was like superheroes. I saw that man again yesterday walking his dog and we had a lovely chat. He said that we must be doing something right as parents because you were such a sweet boy. Grandma Annie and Peter took you to the zoo and echoed the same thoughts. Grandma Macias just thinks you are angel.  Grandpa Warner and Felicia adore you, so much so that Grandpa Warner stopped on his way from Santa Cruz to Tahoe just to come put you to bed. You shower mom and dad with I love you's, kisses and hugs, you play with everyone at school, and you regularly announce that today is the 'bestest day ever.'  You are a good kid and just full of joy.  Your dad and I are feel so lucky to have you.  Love, mom.

I am so honored to be a part of 'letters to our sons' blog circle. I am joined by some amazing photographers and moms. We are writing these letters in honor of our sweet little boys. Please be sure to click through to follow our circle-up next is Julie Nelson Hardy

July

Mark Twain is credited with saying, "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco."  Luckily, we've got family in hot places. Your mom grew up in Livermore and July 4th we escaped the usual fog for triple digits on the thermometer. You and your cousins did not make it to the fireworks after a day of water guns and slip and slide.  Aside from a fun 4th, July has been a tough month for your parents. Our jobs are crazy, we are getting ready to move (yeah!), and we have raccoons marauding the plum  trees on the side of the house we rent and leaving fleas for us to battle outside.

So mommy was not at her best today; there were 4 year old tears at the end of a long day of work and a long day of preschool. We hugged and ate a cupcake and smiles reappeared. It turns out that life is not always so easy, sometimes physically or emotionally or both. Hopefully you don't really have to grapple with that for a long time. Still in the lovely bubble of being four. Let's keep you there for a bit longer.  I love you.

I am so honored to be a part of 'letters to our sons' blog circle. I am joined by some amazing photographers and moms. We are writing these letters in honor of our sweet little boys. Please be sure to click through to follow our circle-up next is Julie of Julie Harding Photography

Cousins. From oldest to youngest. Galen, Max, Aidan, Sebastien. 

Video games in the bar.

Impromptu evening walk. Dad is everything. 

June

Transformers! More than meets the eye.  

Dear Sebastien, 

This month you have taught mom all about rescue bots, autobots, and deceptacons.  It started in April as an interest and now we are in full on obsession!! Your first obsession was Tommy (Thomas the Tank Engine). Then we had Cars (Mater was your favorite there), Little Einsteins, Jake and the Neverland Pirates and Octonauts.

I'll admit you got Boulder the rescue bot in a complicated bribe, involving you promising to wear shin guards in soccer practice for all of your days to come. But thank goodness we did find a few rescue bots that you can transform on your own! You were asking Dad to transform the bigger BumbleBee. The minute it was done, you wanted it transformed immediately back again! Repeatedly.

This summer will be another big transformation. We are moving, and your super secret super spy friends are moving on to kindergarten. One more year of preK and then onto a new school. You keep asking if that is tomorrow :) I hope time does not move that fast. Love, Mom

I am so honored to be part of a letters to our sons blog circle. I am joined by some amazing photographers and moms. We are writing these letters in honor of our sweet little boys. Please be sure to click through to follow our circle. Up next is Christi Kidd!

May

Dear Sebastien, 

Spring is here! Skipping rocks at the pond and hazy summer-like days down by the Russian River with your buddy Riley. You had your first expedition with Dad on the kayak and there was a quick baptismal dip in the river as the kayak rolled over! Then you, Riley, Nick and I went wading into the river with the fish and tadpoles in our pajamas.  Here is to your many upcoming spring and summers.  I love you. Mom.

I am so honored to be a part of the this Letters to Our Sons blog circle with these beautiful photographers and moms. Please read through the circle with the talented Miranda Snyder Hagan of Pixel Perfect Memory.

April

Sebastien, it's such a beautiful day.
Mom, I want to ride my bike.
Ok, which bike?
My green bike.
Ok get your socks and shoes on.
Mom, look at my sockie!!!!!

Ha! Ha!  Ok, get your helmet.

We live in a neighborhood called Rockridge. I love it. Close to a school playground, close to restaurants and stores. So much for us to do as a family and perfect for a spring evening bike ride! When you were born we lived way up in the hills and close to the state parklands full of trails. We would hike-literally for hours-with you in a Bjorn to put you to sleep. By the time you are to go to kindergarten, we will hopefully live in another neighborhood as we try to buy a house. Two bids, no house yet. But we keep trying! You want a purple house.

This past month at school. Who do you play with? Sylvan, Joshua and Emmett every day. Some days it's super secret super spies, some days its autobots and deceptacons. Star Wars is also starting to take hold...

i love you pumpkin.

I am so honored to be a part of 'letters to our sons' blog circle. I am joined by some amazing photographers and moms. We are writing these letters in honor of our sweet little boys. Please be sure to click through to follow our circle- up next is Miranda Snyder Hagan:
http://www.pixelperfectmemory.com/my-baby-boy-will-be-2/

March

 My little only! (To borrow a phrase from one of my other friends with one little boy). You have no siblings but you are surrounded by love. You have so many friends,  adoring parents and grandparents (an extended family). Your cousin Max came to visit us this weekend. Their was running around the grass at Concannon winery, hide and seek under the bushes and trees and bocce ball. You looked over his shoulder as he played mindcraft and as he read you the Hulk! You went to the the terracotta swarriors of the Qin dynasty and then came home with bright new blocks to build with. Finally after legos, blocks, knights and pizza, you guys settled in under a blanket for a little Star Wars.

I worry about when your Dad and I are gone. Who will your network be? I am a little sad to leave you without more family. But you are such a warm and loving personality, I know that you will be surrounded by a supportive network... that you have a life rich in friendships to come. I love you.

Please read along our circle to the amazing Kelly to see her beautiful photos and letter to her sons: http://wp.me/P36BZy-1N

My Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day Sebastien! 

Valentine's is a special day for you. Your due date was February 14, 2009. This year we spent Valentine's Day in Honolulu. All day at the beach and pool. Sand castles and lemonades. Napping by the pool. It was a good way to spend your "4th" birthday ;)

I often wonder how much of this time you will remember.  

Maybe you will remember being in Hawaii chasing the waves on Waikiki beach or going down the big slide on your own.

Or maybe you'll remember days at home flying paper airplanes, building legos, train  and hot wheel tracks or biking to La Farine to get madeleines on College Ave. 

I think you'll remember how much you love Mickey Mouse, pirates and just about anything that goes...cars, trains, planes, in that order. Cheese is yucky (except on pizza), broccoli is good and seaweed is yummy!

I will remember what a happy boy you are. Running circles around the soccer field far away from the scrimmage, what your Dad and I like to call your happy run. That infectious laugh as Dad holds you upside down ("Mama, I caught a fish!"). Begging Grandpa Warner to tickle you more!! Wiggling yourself to sleep. I will remember that you let me take pictures to make mom happy and that when you flop on the floor, pictures are done! :)

I am so honored to be a part of this 'Letters to Our Sons' blog circle with these beautiful photographers and moms. Please continue along the circle with Christi Kidd of Mama Sparrow Photography

January 2013

Dear Sebastien,

I am so excited to be writing these letters to you. The days move by and you are changing so quickly. As you like to say: you are not a baby, you are a BIG BOY. From the time you were born into the NICU, your sweet personality has been a constant. You are an incredibly loving and loved child. Your Dad and I marvel at how beautiful you are inside and out almost every day and how lucky we are.

January has been exciting!  We took you up to Squaw Valley to see the snow for the first time. You and mom went sledding for the first time. After mom kicked up all that snow though, you had more fun sledding on your own. Then skiing...despite looking quite dazed at the end, you loved ski school.

But this month has really been all about the alphabet... in the house, at night, in the car, you are singing the A says "AA", the A says "AA", every letter makes a sound and the A says "AAA." The S is my letter! When you forget the letters in your name, you run into your room to check the letter train that Grandpa Warner and Felicia gave you. It's a long one.

At night, I look forward to curling up with you at bedtime as you say so sweetly, "I love you mama. Will you sleep with me tonight? This is your spot." I love you so much and I am looking forward to the adventures, boo-boos and whatever else may come this year of four. Hopefully my photos will grow with you and reflect your infectious love.

I am so honored to be a a part of this 'Letters to Our Sons' blog circle with these beautiful photographers and moms, with whom I can share this amazing experience of being a mom, your mom. Up next is Miranda Snyder Hagan