Dearest Sir Zazz-a Lots,
Oh goodness are you a fun little guy to have in our family! Most days you are a HUGE source of our entertainment around here with the funny things you say and the songs you sing. It just cracks us all up. We love everything from, “Mom can I play on your BUM-puter (computer) today?” to “Dad this bread takes like Jesus Christ” while taking the sacrament. You often have us in stitches with the way you see the world.
Just a few weeks ago you came downstairs and brought down your Dad’s tablet saying, “Look Dad I brought down your tap-lip (thats how you say it) for you. You left it upstairs.” I lovingly said back, “that was so thoughtful of you Dawson. What made you think to do that?” You responded with a confused look at questioned “the church of Jesus Christ?” Dad and I couldn’t stop laughing. You just are so cute.
Even your expressions are adorable. You got a new primary teacher a few weeks ago and she came up to Dad after class one day and pulled him aside and told him how much she just adored you. “He’s my very favorite” she commented, “he’s just always smiling and laughing and happy.” Yep, thats you…for the most part. We love how everything makes you smile and that you are always trying to make people laugh and are happy. Your a joy to be around.
The one thing you really are struggling with right now though is EATING. You make up your mind about what food we are having for meals without even seeing it. Almost everyday for the past month when I call you down to eat you just simply say, “I’m not hungry” because you most likely know that we aren’t having pizza, or hot dogs, or mac and cheese but something HEALTHY and you are not a big health food guy. And then you fight and scream and throw tantrums and run away EVERY DAY when we try to get you to come and eat with us. Its really been a struggle for Dad and I and we aren’t sure how to deal with it. Or how to get you to eat. Its been a real challenge.
You are also just about the stubbornest kid we’ve ever met. Right now it means a lot of battles with you on our part but we are hoping that someday it means you won’t stray away from what you know to be right under pressure or that it will mean you are solid in your values. Once you make up your mind about something there is rarely a way to make you see differently.
One thing that does work with you though is affection. Even when you are in a full blown crazy mad fat tantrum you will still just melt into us if we pick you up and try to cuddle you. You would think that your reaction would be to kick and scream if you knew you were being taken to bed upstairs to calm down but you actually just put your head on our shoulders, and tuck your arms in under your belly on our chests and calm right down. Its the quickest way I know to bring you back from the angry place you are in. You really seem to crave affection and need it often. I love it though because it means lots of snuggles, kisses, nuzzles, and holds. You love to just snuggle up to me when I’m reading my scriptures or working on my laptop and often will fall asleep with your head on my lap.
Speaking of sleep of all our kids…you seem to need it the most. You stopped taking naps about 6 months ago when we realized thats what would motivate you to potty train but man alive has that had some negative consequences. Not only do you fall asleep in the most random places (the toilet being our favorite) but you get MEAN and grumpy too if you go too long without sleep. So we’ve seen an increase in the amount of tantrums you throw, the amount of fights you get in, and the stubbornness you often display. We are really hoping its just a phase. đ
One of the things we love that you do right now is some of your artwork. You love to draw what you call “Roller coasters” which are just really squiggly lines all over. But you beam when you show us and we get excited about how fun your latest roller coaster looks. It really is so cute. You also have started to love to give presents and will often go and get a gift bag and put something you love in it to give to someone. You gave Dad one of your toys for Christmas and he got so excited about it that now you love to give other people stuff too. Its really pretty darn sweet.
You also love reading and love to bring me books to read to you or you will just sit and look at them over and over and make up your own stories. One day you were looking at one of my pregnant books and making comments on all the pictures like “this is what mommy looks like when the baby is in her tummy,” and “Here is when the baby is getting bigger,” and then you will come across a picture of something like a uterus and say something like “and sometimes Mommy’s get big ears when they have babies!” It just about kills me its so funny.
We also love the little songs that you go around singing. Right now your favorite is “how ba-a ba-ad can I be? I’m just doing what comes naturally” from the Lorax movie. You sing it in the most adorable voice with the funniest accent on words. We just love it. You remember words to songs and phrases in movies so well. It cracks us up.
In any case Dawson, you are a gem in our lives and so precious to us. Even though we have hard moments we wouldn’t trade them for anything and we love the dynamics and fun you bring to our family. Thanks for being ours! We sure love you Zazzy pants!
Love,
Your Mommy who adores you.
