Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Dear Koen,

You turned the big 30 months old last Sunday. I'd like to apologize for not writting you a letter in July. Normally, I'd schedule time during work hours to write your letters but the entire month of July had proven to be extemely busy. Needless to say, your Dad needs a vacation.

July Letter
June was certainly a month to remember. It was a month of great laughs but also a month of loss and goodbyes.

First, our beloved Scrappy Cat had been fighting chronic pancreatitis for a number of years and her last flare up was just too much for her to suffer through. Your Mom and I had to make the painful decision of having her put down. We know logically it was best for her, but never-the-less a heart-wrenching decision neither of us ever had to make as adults.

A few days after we said goodbye to Scrappy, I was reading to you and stopped to ask if you missed her. Sitting on my lap, you looked at me, smiled, lay your head on my chest, and with a small whisper you said "yeah." Though it was a very endearing moment, I was very surprised at your response. It made me realize that you have a simple and intuitive understanding of sorrow and loss at such a young age. Poor Toby has the opposite response. Every time we move around the house he looks at us with a worried expression on his face. As though we are going to pack him up and take him away, never to return, just like Scrappy.

I can write an endless list of Scrappy's quirks and memorible moments, but what I'll miss most is her incessant behavior come meal-time. She would sit on the first step leading down to the laundry room and literally yell at us to feed her. And if we weren't on schedule, she would follow us around the house and intentionally try to trip us by running in front of our steps and bump the side of our legs.

There comes a time in every persons life when you befriend someone that you absolutely enjoy spending time with.
Some may call this having a best friend. For you, Koen, this person would be Kera. We met her parents during our first Parenting class. It wasn't until after the class had ended that our friendship with Kera's parents began. Your Mom and Auntie Sangi would have lengthy phone conversations comparing notes on how you were both developing and they would also complain about their aches and pains from being pregnant. Kera was born 10 days before your birthday in the same hospital.

Watching you both grow up for the last 2 1/2 years has been exhausting. I say this in a good way. Witnessing both your exuberant energies combined, is like watching a school of nurse sharks feasting on a piece of tuna. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Below are a few photos of the last 2 1/2 years you both spent together...

April 10, 2006 Your very first play date.

November 23, 2006 First Thanksgiving

Unfortunately, we had to say goodbye to Kera and her parents last month. They moved back to India because of Uncle Nithin's work. They have become a part of our family and we'd like to think that they will move back in a few years. If not, we have a tentative plan to meet in Florida when you are both four years old and spend some time chasing Mickey Mouse around his little castle.

Jokingly, your Mom and Auntie Sangi have already betrothed the two of you. This is to keep you both out of trouble as you grow up. Though Kera is the first girl you've kissed and visa versa, you have given five other girls their first kiss. I guess that is to be expected when the playgroups you attend, are mostly with little girls.

August Letter
Every year the family takes a little vacation and drives down to Southern California to visit your Grandma's side of the family. Unfortunaely, neither me nor your Grandpa were able to go with you because of work. So you, your Mom and Grandma ventured to SoCal alone and spent the first week and a half of July away from home.

While there, you spent countless hours playing with Uncle Jake, Stephanie and Aunt Patty. From my understanding, one of the highlights of your trip was going to the toy store and purchasing GeoTrax trains and rails. Your second favorite highlight was playing in your Great Grandma's backyard with Uncle Jake and Stephanie.

July had become a landmark for your imagination. We were all sitting around one weekend and you turned to your Mom and I and you said, "I'm Batman." Your Mom and I looked at each other and smiled. We couldn't figure out where you learned to say that. When you were just a year old, I had shown you a Batman cartoon that was on TV; but for only 5 minutes. I'm guessing those 5 minutes had an impression on you. It just so happens your Grandma bought you a Batman cape awhile back. Below are some pictures of you acting as the Caped Crusader with your sidekick BatDog.

I'm constantly amazed at how much you have been absorbing everything like a sponge. At times I feel as though I'm being selfish. I've introduced you to things that were part of my childhood and have wondered if you would like them as much as I did. I've even introduced you to things that I like as an adult. Your Mom is starting to call you Mini-Gary. Perhaps it's something that every new Father goes through. Wait until next months letter. You are totally into something I loved as a child. Guess which one: Ultraman, Speed Racer or Star Wars.

Love,
Dad