Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Dear Koen,

Happy New Year! You turned 35 months old on Saturday and your Mom and I survived another year without our hair turning gray. Like last year, you received an over abundance of toys, books and clothes. But it wasn't all at once. If I can recall, we traveled up and down the state to open and exchange gifts with family and friends 6 times in a matter of
2 weeks. Needless to say, each time you freaked out with excitement opening a package that hopefully could transform, drive or use for battle in your imaginary confrontations with "bad guys."

Christmas Cards
Every year your Mom and I normally send out Christmas Cards to family and friends, wishing them well during the Holiday Season and New Year to come. This year we were/are late. Not from the lack of addresses, but because we couldn't decide on which picture of you to send. I wanted to send the picture of you in the wreath box, but your Mom thought it wouldn't be appropriate so we decided to do a small photo shoot in our living room and eventually narrowed
it down to 2 images. Now we just have to pick one and actually send the cards.

Christmas in SoCal
We spent Christmas in Downey, CA. You, your Mom and Grandma drove down a week before Christmas, to help Great Grandma bake cookies and other treats that rot teeth. And on Christmas Eve, your Grandpa, Myself, Toby and Sadie drove down to meet everyone.

Judging from the amount of presents, Santa must have thought you were a good boy all year. I think you should
write him a letter and even send him some pictures or maybe the videos (below) of how thankful you are for
the wonderful gifts you received.

Power Wheels
Rain or shine, you were determined to drive your new Fisher Price Lightning McQueen Power Wheels 12V Battery Operated car as much as you could. You even played with it inside Great Grandma's house when it was dark and
raining. (On a side note: your Mom and I bought you a Speed Racer Power Wheels 12V car. However, we decided not
to give it to you for fear of favoritism. Plus, it was my boyhood dream of owning a Mach 5 and not necessarily yours)

Thanksfully, the sun did come out durning our trip to SoCal and you were able to enjoy your new Power Car without
fear of peeling out and causing a ruckus. The dogs were most thankful of us all. Lots of time to stretch their legs and
run around.

Christmas Continues
The day after we retuned from our trip to SoCal, we went to your Auntie Jenna's house for another gift exchange.
There, you received Ultra Magnus, leader and superior commander of the Cybertron Elite Guard. You may be wondering how I know this. Wikipedia baby!

On New Years Eve we exchanged gifts with Aunt Shannon and Uncle Jeff. On New Years day we went to Lola and Lolo's house for dinner and more gift exhanging. Then you and your Mom went to Davis to visit Nicole, Jacob and Matteo the day after New Years. Finally, we round out the season with one last gift exchange at your Grandma and Grandpa's just the other night. But wait, there's more. We are scheduled to have dinner with your Grandma Chris and Grandpa Ron this coming Saturday and there is rumor that you may be getting a present or two.

Perhaps I should mention that your Birthday is less than 30 days away and I'm pretty sure you will be receiving
more toys and books than our house can accomodate. But believe me when I say that you are well loved by our
Family and Friends.

Attitude
Though you are well loved, I think I need to talk to you about how you've been behaving as of late. You've been really testing what you can get away with by crying and having little tantrums when you don't get your way. I love when you start bellowing out a cry without tears and the mean father I am, howls along with you. Then you point your finger at me and tell me "NO, I don't like that mean talk!" (Yes, you learned the finger pointing from me...sorry) You'll find that your father loves to push buttons. Just ask your Mom.

Next, is your tone of voice with a very mad and devilish scowl. Not the Pilapil scowl, but a really mad and aggressive scowl. Your voice will lower and you will talk as if you are possessed.

Finally, if crying and talking like a demon-child doesn't work, you may or may not resort to pushing and flailing limbs. It's rare that you will resort to such behavior, but you have done it a few times only to your Mom and I. The few times you've tried pushing me, I redirected you and told you "Your Kung Fu is Weak." Needless to say for lack of a better term, you were pissed off. It's my way of messing with you and pushing your buttons. Yes, I am a mean father. But I only do it out of Love :-)

Seriously, That's GROSS! But we still love you
I'm not sure why kids do it, but you have now formed the habit of "Picking Your Nose!" It first started a couple months ago when you would wipe your nose on the couch. Then you slowly learned that by inserting your finger in one nostral, you could easily remove the obstruction. When we catch you in the act, you normally say, "I no pick my nose." There is only one instance where you thought it was funny to actually eat the little mountain hanging on your finger. Thankfully,
I wasn't there to bear-witness to what you thought was funny and said, "mmm, yummy." To be fair, you've been sick and have had a runny nose for several weeks. The uncomfortable feeling of a crusty nose would have the best of us chipping away as well.

I should mention that durning the Holiday Season, I taught you how to blow your nose using a tissue. Your Mom and I tried teaching you when you turned 1 year old, but you couldn't get the concept of a brisk exhale from your nostrils.

A gentleman in the making
Little man, I don't want you to get a complex and think that I only write about what is negative in your life; far from it.
It just makes for a fun letter. The truth is, you are becoming a fine young gentleman. Just the other day you went to Borders for "Story Time" and met some of your little girls friends' from your play group. Afterwards, as everyone made their way to the door to say goodbye, you rushed in front of the group and held the door open for all the Mothers and your girl friends'. This may not seem like a big deal to you now, but remember my letter about "The Top 5 qualities every guy needs before he can call himself a MAN." You are well on your way Koen.

I should also mention that you have a sweet and tender side that I don't always talk about. You are polite and say "Thank You" when appropriate and also say "Excuse me" when you are trying to get someones attention or when you need to get by them. Like most children, the crying and outbursts are your way of getting attention. But you are learning that there are other ways of handling the situation by being a little gentleman.

Web Slinger
Another year, another obsession. Let's make that another month, another obsession. The Amazing web slinging Spiderman is your new Super Hero of choice. You run around the house tossing a rope at our knees acting like its a web you shot from your hands. It took you a couple days, but you were able to figure out how Spiderman forms his hands as he slings his web. You've even modified it a bit.

Like Father Like Son
Koen, as you get older, it may seem like I'm being hard on you or I'm always getting after you for something you feel isn't wrong. I may raise my voice and my finger pointing may seem inappropriate at times. The truth is, I am trying to follow Lolo's example. He set a high standard of how your Tito Greg and I should act and behave. And, additionally ingrained very high work ethic in us, that I am trying to pass down. My hopes for you is to become a well adjusted gentleman, fall in love with someone, and have her family fall in love with you, too. Don't worry your Mom will be there to referee, pulling us apart, sending us to our rooms, as we continue our venture as Father and Son. Or, I like to say "Lone Wolf and Cub." (You can watch this link when you are much older >>) Below is a photo comparison of me posing as Ultraman and you posing as Speed Racer. I'm not sure how old I am in this picture. You'll have to ask your Lola.

Ako ay ikaw at ikaw ay ako (I am you and you are me)

Love,

Daddy