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/