Dear Catfish
It’s been about a year since I last wrote to you and I thought that, even though we live in the same house and all, there are things better communicated in a letter. “Write the good stuff down to remember it” and all that jolly rot (and not at all so that your father and I will have proof later on that I wasn’t making all this stuff up.)
So let me start off by saying that you are growing very fast into quite the young man. Your father and I are especially proud of how eloquent you have become. And just the teensiest bit curious about where you’re learning all of those phrases. Some I can pinpoint pretty easily, like the time you dropped your cup on the floor and started saying “Oh Jesus!” over and over until you were able to pick it back up (thanks go to daddy for that one) But where did
“That’s not a book! That’s SOUP!”
come from? You love to shout that at us randomly. We’re taking it in stride for now but should you decide to tell us, we’re both dying to know. As for “dying” I should probably point out that it is not necessary for you to shout
“I’M KILLING MY FATHER!!”
every time you get to jump on daddy be it in public or not. Some people don’t know you very well and it occasionally causes them some concern. Perhaps that’s one phrase we can just use at home?
No, I thought not.
Oh, and one more thing? It is a little embarrassing when you and mommy are out in public and you start yelling about how you NEED COFFEE at the top of your lungs. Admittedly, it secretly makes me proud to know that you recognize the importance of coffee in the structure of our daily lives. It’s just that other people tend to think that I actually let you drink coffee which is totally not true. I let G.G. feed you coffee as I sit aside and feebly admonish her for corrupting you. See how nicely that works out? Then she feeds us both cookies and we end up spoiling our dinner. But please don’t tell your dad that part because he works so hard to cook such lovely meals for us.
Well, okay, for me.
You have yet to eat one of his lovely meals preferring instead a steady diet of macaroni and cheese, chicken nuggets and oranges. It is one of my greatest goals in life to get you to eat something green that is not ice cream-, frosting- or cookie-based.
As for the next major shake-up in our lives: yes, it is true, mommy is going to have a baby. I am sorry to have to be the one to break it to you. I tried to tell you gently so as not to hurt your feelings but I think I bunged that one up a bit because now, for some reason, you are convinced that you have a baby in your tummy. So now, if anyone asks if you are going to have a baby sister you tend to whip up your shirt, point to your belly and patiently explain that you already have a baby, why would we want another?
I’m not quite certain how I screwed that one up but I am quite certain that your perception of the world is going to change pretty drastically come May. We’re all a bit anxious to see how you will handle the newest addition. To be honest, I am not sure how mommy and daddy are going to deal with the change either but we’re excited to meet your new sister even if you don’t cotton to the idea right away. You have nothing to fear from a baby sister.
(Well, wait a minute. Mommy herself is a baby sister and that’s not exactly true. You should watch out for her fingernails if she gets mad. Especially if she’s going to have finger nails like mommy. If that’s the case, I would say you should definitely stay on her good side.)
But don’t you worry my sweet heart, you won’t ever be replaced in our hearts. Loving you any less would be an impossible feat and loving you more is an immutable outcome.
I love you dear.
Happy Birthday.
Love,
mommy