Dear Max & Jake,
This month I am changing my newsletter format. Instead of writing an individual letter to each of you I am going to start writing one letter a month to both of you. You two are such buddies that I feel like I am repeating myself a lot in your monthly letters. I think it will be easier on me to just write one letter a month and it will also be easier to categorize the letters by month and year instead of how many months old you are.
We went to the 4th of July Springfield meeting a few weeks ago. I must say, I was pretty nervous about taking the two of you. Not only was I dreading the 7 hour drive, but I was also a little worried about the 4 of us staying in a hotel room together. I must say, you two exceeding my expectations! The drive was really no big deal at all. The two of you watched movies on the portable DVD players, but Jake also stayed occupied by looking at books and eating lots of snacks! We had a great time at the meeting and I really enjoyed getting to see lots of friends that I hadn’t seen in years. I loved singing out of the new song books and the singing was nothing short of amazing.
When we came back from the meeting you guys started swim lessons right away. I found out about this program by stumbling on the website www.infantaquatics.com. This program is incredible. They teach what is called survival swimming which is called swim-float-swim. The first day you and two were swimming under water. The lessons are one on one but only last 10 minutes, but it is an intense 10 minutes. After the first day you both were hesitant about coming back and the only thing that you looked forward to was getting a sucker afterward. Jake, you pretty much cried the entire swim lesson and Max, you were constantly trying to bargain and ask if you were done every 30 seconds. We went to swim lessons Monday through Thursday for 3 weeks. The program usually takes 4-6 weeks, 5 weeks being the average. After the first week I could tell that Max was making more progress and kicking a lot while swimming. Max, you are great at floating, but for some reason you hate it. Jake, you absolutely hate being on your back and you first started trying to float while holding onto your feet, we have no idea how you maintained your balance enough to do it. After only 3 weeks of swim lessons you both were ready to graduate! I couldn’t believe it, and neither could miss Jennifer! She told me that having a student finish in 3 weeks is rare, and it is really amazing that both of you finished in 3 weeks. Jake went from not floating very long, to flipping over on his back and floating the instant he hits in the water. Jake, you still don’t kick much, but I’m no longer worried about you falling into the pool and drowning because you know to flip over on your back and just float so you can catch your breath. Max, you have done absolutely awesome with swimming and I am so proud of you! You are swimming underwater longer and longer. You will try to hold your breath and swim as far as you can just so you won’t have to flip on your back and float, but I still make you sometimes just because I don’t want you to forget what you learned. The other day you swam 3/4 the length of the pool! Your breath control is getting better and we have been swimming almost every day since we got done with swim lessons.
Jake, you are talking more and more! You say lots of words, here are some of the words I can think of that you just started saying. Drink, truck, Jojo, bird, airplane, baby, eyes, mouth, Batman (even though it sounds like batba, we know what you mean), and you also say “batba” for Spiderman. You love Spiderman. Just 2 nights ago you said “Max” for the first time. I was putting you to bed and Max wanted to help me tuck you in and you were saying “night-night” and then you reached your arms out and said “Mama” and I hugged you. Then Max gave you a hug and I asked you, “Can you say, Max?” At first you just kept saying “Mama” but finally I repeated it one more time and you said it, clear as day, “MAX!” I cannot explain the look on Max’s face when he heard you say his name, he was beyond excited, it was absolutely precious. In the past month you have started to really enjoy books, you even try to “read” them to yourself. You also still love penguins and we got a penguin book at the library the other day and you have made me read it to you at least 15 times in the past 2 days! I can tell that you are learning so much by being read to. You point to the pictures and what to know what the names of things are and your vocabulary seems to be doubling every month. Watching you and Max acquire language has been one of the most remarkable things about watching you grow.
Max, you are getting so excited for your birthday. You know it is coming up soon, but you have no concept of time. You will tell people that your birthday is August 8th and when people ask you how old you are you tell them, “I’m going to be 3, but I’m just 2 right now!” Even though it’s not your birthday yet, you just got one of your big presents, a train table. You and Jake love it and I’ve already had to break up a few fights over playing with a certain train or you being scared that Jake is going to break something, which I don’t blame you because that is definitely a legitimate concern. You are having a Batman birthday party at Jump Zone in Southlake and you are very excited about it. I’m excited too because this will really be your first birthday party with your own friends. Even though we are having it on a Friday I think we are going to have a good turn out.
In the last month, Max, you have started making a “mean” face. It is pretty funny and you are very expressive. Jake has started to take notice and now he makes a “mean” face too, it is really cute and not mean at all. Max, we have started practicing writing your name and you want to practice writing letters and stuff all the time. We have also started memorizing Bible verses and working on some pre-reading activities to help you learn new words and letter sounds and things like that. At first I thought it would be hard to get you to focus and do some of the things with me, but the first day we did it you asked if we could do more. You just love learning and I am taking advantage of that. I hope you continue to love to read and learn, I sure do! I am staying very busy with my class and everything, but this summer has been great and I have had a blast with the two of you. This summer has been the best one yet! I remember last summer being kind of difficult. Jake, you were still pretty little and I couldn’t do much with you. We didn’t really get to do that much last summer, I’ve definitely enjoyed all the time we’ve been able to spend outside enjoying the sun!
You two little boogers are my best buddies and my constant entertainment. You are both so sweet and I’m having a blast being with you and playing with you everyday. All the money in the world could not replace the time I get to spend with you two and watch you grow.
Love,
Mama
Jake Swimming
Jake’s Clothes Test
Max Swimming
Max’s Clothes Test
