Diego | better together...

For Diego on your Fourth Birthday

Aug 292011

Diego's best smile!

Dear Diego,

Your fourth year has been this wild rush of transformations that leave me dizzy and bewildered and so proud of the person you are becoming. Your list of “can dos” is so long and so varied that I now have no hope of keeping track. You can ride a bike, you can swim the length of the pool at the Y, you can sled down a snowy mountain at great speed, you can recite and recognize your letters and know what sounds they make, you can get dressed on your own – even down to your shoes!, you can ride Eclipse without a lead line, you can pour your cereal and milk, you can buckle your self into your carseat, you can sing songs that I’ve never even heard, you can draw cartoons and tell stories. Sometimes I look at you and it’s like you have grown taller and increasingly mature over the course of a minute! You have become a bit more reserved with strangers and yet, when you warm up to your surroundings, you ham it up, trying to win over anyone who might not have been charmed simply by your presence. You have nearly left awkward behind, becoming quick and lithe, whether jumping off of a curb or navigating the playground. Nowhere is this more profoundly evident to me than at gymnastics where you can go from doing the splits to swinging effortlessly from the high bar then letting your self free fall into “the pit”. The smile on your face is delight mixed with a splash of awe. I cannot believe you are so brave.

Our scariest moment of the year was probably when you became sick last Fall – you had a fever that just kept rising despite giving you Tylenol then Advil then Tylenol as often as we could safely treat you. We took you to the doctor the following morning and by the time we got to the exam room your were bright red from head to toe and your fever was a whopping 105! It turns out that you had Scarlett Fever, a disease I thought kids didn’t even get anymore. Luckily you recovered quickly and it became nothing more than a short scare. Phew!

Not all of the transitions have been easy – we moved you from Buena Vista CDC, a school that you truly loved, to Merryhill after a very trying couple of months. You were not getting along with your fellow classmates and your teachers were having a hard time keeping you challenged and out of trouble. You hated the move and cried bitterly every morning for the first 10 days, as if I was leaving you in a torture chamber. Magically, by the end of the second week, you were a complete convert and you have been happy there ever since, to the point of lamenting that it is not a school day when the weekend rolls around. It turns out that the move was one of the best choices we’ve made for you. Your new teachers, Ms. Stephanie, Ms. Bouba, Ms. Blanca and Ms. Zalika embraced you immediately and have taught you so much! Two of the most vivacious children in your class, Wyatt and Jo Jo soon became your best school friends and the 3 of you, although mischievous, have been inseparable. Sadly, Jo Jo moved to Woodland just before you all started Pre-K. Luckily, we have kept in touch with her mom and she got to come to your birthday party. Now, since I mentioned Pre-K… how can it be that you, Diego, are only a year from Kindergarten! You are now in Ms. Sami and Ms. Staci’s class and expectations are getting a bit more strict. Still, they seem to genuinely enjoy your company and have recently commented that you are especially good at writing.

One of the best parts of being at Merryhill that is you get to attend these awesome music classes taught by none other than Music Matt – a living legend in these parts, and that doesn’t mean he’s old, either. He’s young and hip and kind of rockstar-ish and he comes to your school every week! He teaches you all about different instruments, teaches you new songs and about music. This summer, he’s started you on the path to reading music by teaching a “precorder” class – which reminds me of a funny story. One Music Matt day you came home and told me about the instrument of the day – the “precorder”. I corrected you, saying it was called a “recorder”. “No Mom, it’s a ‘precorder’,” you said emphatically. Then, when you got home, you told Dad about the instrument. “I think it’s a ‘recorder’,” Dad said. You totally stood your ground with both of us and we dismissed it as a cute mistake. It wasn’t until we got the literature from Music Matt about your summer class that we realized you were right! It IS a precorder. Guess we better trust you next time, huh?

We enrolled you in gymnastics both to develop you sense of discipline and to give you a little more exercise time to “get your wiggles out”. It never occurred to us that you might have some aptitude for the sport. You are so incredibly flexible and strong! Without a doubt, the biggest influence on your success has been Coach Gabe. He has been an incredible role model, has taught you discipline and pride in your accomplishments, and best of all, you love learning from him. He holds you and the other boys to a high standard and you respect him and try hard to do what he asks. Nana loves her job of taking you to gymnastics and proudly tells us of your progress each week.

I cannot forget to tell you about the impressive riding you do – both on your horse, Eclipse and on your bike. This year marked the first times you’ve ridden Eclipse on your own without a lead line. You have great posture and a natural seat but what makes me most proud is the kindness you show toward Eclipse and the other horses. You never forget to praise him after a job well done, the mark of a true horseman. Your love of animals has continued to expand beyond the horses, Baxter, Johnny and June. Another of my proud moments (and I am full of them) was at the petting zoo at the State Fair when you closely guarded your feed so that the less pushy, more shy and more skinny goats and sheep could get a chance at some treats. Baxter has slowed down quite a bit over the past year but luckily your Tia “Mitza” got her puppy, Morenita this Spring and you and she have become great pals.

We bought your trailer bike about a year ago and I have to say that one of our favorite weekend past times has been biking around town as a family. You always have a great time when we’re out biking and work hard to help Mom by pedaling your heart out. We love going out on our bikes so much that we don’t even really need a destination. Southside Park, Old Sac, Temple Coffee, any place will do as long as we are out together, pedaling along, enjoying our family time. You received your “pedal bike” for your third birthday and could ride it the very first day! I must say, I’m not sure we really believed the Strider bike hype until you proved it! Even though you could balance and pedal right away and have enjoyed your “pedal bike” throughout the year, you still love, love, LOVE your Strider bike. One of the highlights of our whole year was the Strider World Cup race at Laguna Seca in July. We had just returned from the family reunion in Oregon and we were all kind of over tired. You totally rallied for the race and dominated the 4-year old field, winning all of your heats and taking 2nd place in the finals. It was a proud day for your Dad and I without question, but for you? …just a fun day at the races.

Your love of water has not wavered and another one of our favorite summer pass times is to go swimming either at Nana’s house or at Meta and Sharon’s pool across the street. I would count Meta and Sharon as two of your biggest fans as well and some of your dearest adult friends. They love having you and Enzo over to swim and they have the best, I mean, THE BEST pool toys! We are lucky to have such fantastic neighbors. Some of the other neighbors, Laurie, Jason and Lisa, and Brian and his kids, Mikaela and Tyler are also some of your favorite folks. What an awesome neighborhood!

One afternoon you were drawing while we were driving home from school – you handed me the picture and told me it was, “Little Man with Big Hands”. You had traced both of your hands at the top of the page and then drawn arms attaching the hands to a small man figure at the bottom of the page – your first cartoon! The perspective was great – it totally looks like a little man with big, big hands. Later, Nana helped you write down the story of “Little Man with Big Hands”.

I guess what has impressed me the most about the last year is your profound connection to your brother. When your Dad and I look through all of the pictures we have taken of you both, the overwhelming theme is true brotherhood. While you and Enzo have your share of disagreements over toys, television and who gets to spend time with Mom or Dad, you have always been very loving to each other. I have never seen you turn him down if he asks you for help and you are a natural teacher when he is learning new things. You run to him when we come to pick you up after school, give him a big hug and then show him off to all of your friends. One of my biggest and strongest wishes for the two of you is that you are close and can always rely on one another. So far, my wish has come true and your friendship makes your Dad and I proud every day.

Your abuelo Gilberto was away for about a year and we welcomed him back with love and gratitude early this Spring. Since then, you and Enzo have become much closer to both your Abuelo and your Abuela. In fact, if we ask you what you want to do on a free afternoon, your answer will invariably be to go see your Abuelos. This also marked the year that you and Chito Carlos really became close. When we visited last Fall, he’d take you off on the Komoto at a moments notice, careening around the logging roads and visiting the trout farm. By far the best day of our trip to Oregon, as far as you were concerned, was wading in the creek. I have never seen you, or Chito, for that matter, laugh so hard and look so happy. Pure bliss! There are so many more wonderful people in your life that you love and that love you that I could write on and on. You met some new cousins, Johann, Ardina, Tracy and Derek, at the Beil family reunion this summer. Johann took you under his wing, playing with you and performing magic tricks for you and you loved it! You still bring him up in conversation when we talk about your cousins. Ashley, Brian and Mel also top the list of favorite people in your life. You and Ashley have a great friendship and you love our trips to Cloverdale to visit.

Jacob and Savannah are still your very very best friends and some of my best memories of the year were times we spent with them and their families. Trick-or-treating in Curtis Park was such fun! You, Jacob and Savannah were master trick-or-treaters this year and couldn’t get enough. Remember when we had our own little “screen on the green” and Dad hung a white sheet over the window and we watched Ponyo with Jacob and Savannah and their families in the front yard? The neighbors and passing cars would stop to watch for a few minutes before moving on. Of course, we can’t forget Mother’s Day out at the barn, either-you, Jacob and Savannah are the wildest cowboys and cowgirl in the west. What a team! When I make up bedtime stories at night, you still insist that the characters are named Jacob, Isaac, Savannah, Diego and Enzo whether you are super heros, race cars or fish.

I think I’ll end your letter with some of your best quotes of the year:

Just after your 3rd birthday 2010:

Mom: When we get home we’re going straight to bath, then books, then bed.

Diego (whining): But I don’t want to take a bath. I don’t want to go to sleep.

Mom: Well, it’s past your bedtime.

Diego (matter of fact): If I don’t want to, I don’t. If I want to, I…. (thinking), If I want to, I AM.

August 27, 2010

Waking up after a long nap in the car near Olympia, WA:

You look around then out the window at the lush forest surrounding the highway, rub your eyes and say, “Is this mother earth?”

January 22, 2011

In the car:

Diego: Mom, can I have a motorcycle?

Mom: When you are a grown up and have your own house, you can have a motorcycle. As long as you are in Mom and Dad’s house, you cannot.

Diego: MOM! I wasn’t going to ride it in the house…..

Diego (after 5 minutes of silence): I need to get my own house.

April 22, 2011

After your Easter party at school:

Mom: Diego, I don’t want you to eat any more candy today. I think you’ve had enough.

Diego (grabbing a chocolate bunny): Mom, chocolate is NOT candy. It’s just regular food.

And that about sums it all up, my son. I love you just as you are with all of heart, always. I can’t wait to see what next year brings!

Love,
Mom

For Diego on your third birthday (otherwise known as the you’re-really-not-a-baby-anymore-and-I-already-miss-it birthday)

Betsy and Marco, Diego No Responses »

Aug 152010

Dear Diego,

If I could choose one word to sum up your persona in the past year I would choose undaunted or maybe even undaunteable even though that isn’t a word. You are, my son, adventurous and brave and I cannot think of a thing we threw at you this year that you didn’t attempt with gusto (except eating spicy food – sorry, Dad). We have so many fantastic memories from the past year that this letter will be only a brief glimpse.

You learned to do so many things by yourself this year and your mantra, if you have one, has been, “I CAN DO IT” and sometimes “I CAN DO IT MYSELF” accompanied by tears of frustration when we didn’t at least let you try. But you know, honey, many times you COULD do it by yourself and did – sometimes to our complete surprise! Your Dad and I are proud of all the little accomplishments we see every day but this year held some really big ones. The one that tops my list, at least, is swimming. You have loved water since your very first baths as a baby and have never shown an ounce of fear despite waves crashing around you or stumbling face down in the baby pool only to exclaim, “Mama, I’m swimming!” when I pulled you out of the water. Well, son, now you really can swim! One of the highlights of our summer has been heading to Nana’s after school for a swim before dinner. You are truly a little dolphin when you have your life vest on, but you’re now swimming pretty well without it too. You beamed with pride when your swim teacher said, “Congratulations, Diego! Now you have graduated to the next class where you swim without Mom and Dad in the pool.” You couldn’t wait to tell everyone that you’d “gradulated” in swimming.

Your second but equal love is bicycling and you are truly amazing at it. We gave you a Strider running bike for your second birthday and you were thrilled with the idea, but a little intimidated by the reality. It was a challenge though, and a big one, so you threw yourself into it and were soon cruising around the neighborhood. Of course, just cruising along walking then even walking fast wasn’t enough for you and you started picking your feet up and balancing a few seconds at a time. A few seconds turned into a few minutes and then (even though it scared Mom to see it), you began coasting down hills with your feet up whole blocks at a time. I had crazy visions of you careening into the middle of the street but somehow you always remembered to stop before (if only inches before on occasion) the curb. One afternoon you were cruising down the hill at “90 miles per hour” so to speak and you lost your balance, fell and scraped your knee pretty badly. Not only did you not cry , but you jumped right up, picked up your strider bike, pushed it right up the hill and rode cruised down again. At that moment, I saw your future career at the X games as clear as could be. Nana bought you a 2-wheel pedal bike for your third birthday and you rode off down the sidewalk your very first pass – no training wheels! I’m sure the biggest even of your 3^rd year was the birth of your brother, Enzo. When you got home from school on the day we brought him home and you realized that Enzo wasn’t in Mom’s tummy anymore, you ran to the bedroom and peered into the bassinet. You were in absolute awe – he was finally here! From that moment you have treated him with love and understanding almost all of the time (almost). You often want to involve him in your play and share beyond your years. You are so eager to spend time with him that we have to watch and make sure you don’t sneak into his room and wake him up because he “wants you”. You are constantly translating his baby talk so we know what he wants, you stand up for him if we scold him and you call our attention to him whenever you feel that he wants or needs us. Your Dad and I couldn’t be more proud to have raised such a mature, loving and fair little guy

One of the best things about being 2 was that you could finally start attending Buena Vista Child Development Center. Your Dad and I visited your school long before you could actually attend there and we were thrilled when you became a student there. Ms. Amber, Ms. Sonia and Ms. Gloria are now 3 of the most respected and influential people in your world and your Dad and I delight daily in the lessons you’ve learned at school. You’re friends are all terrific but you especially love Love who plays with you and watches out for you with just a little bossing you around on the side. Highlights of your school year have included a field trip to Effie Yeaw Nature Center with Nana at your side, the trip to the Sacramento Zoo and a wagon ride to the Old Spaghetti Factory where you all went out to lunch together.

You have really begun to look after Baxter as he gets older and like to be the one to feed him his dinner. He sleeps in your room with you every night to keep you safe. He’s been having more health problems and you were very grown up and strong when you and Dad had to bring him to the veterinary hospital because he was having neurological problems. The vet that saw him thought he was recovering but wanted to make sure we left a light on for him at night so he could see if he had to get up and wouldn’t loose his balance. You took this advice VERY SERIOUSLY and still make sure we leave the light on “just a little” for Baxter when you are going to bed. You have really begun to love other animals as well and always make sure that you give Eclipse a pat on the neck and a “good boy” when you are riding him. You were the only kid that pet his pony while on the pony ride at the state fair and that made Dad beam with pride. At the petting zoo you were very careful to make sure that the more timid goats and sheep got some of your treats and didn’t just feed the pushy piggy goats that wanted all the grain to themselves.

Some of my favorite memories include a warm afternoon in Berkeley while your Tia Ellen was visiting. We visited the botanical gardens there and were resting on a sunny patch of lawn. You had a wonderful time rolling down the grassy hill with Dad and playing with Tia. At your Tia Maria’s birthday on Stinson Beach you and Ashley stalked the waves “hunting sharks”. I loved making cookies with you at Christmas time and reading book and singing every night before bed. I love that you are lightning quick when solving puzzles – definitely faster than I am and that you paint amazing abstract paintings with color combinations that delight me. You’re sense of humor, infectious smiles and uninhibited laughter delight me every day. I’ll leave you with your current favorite joke that you figured out almost by accident!

“Knock knock…”
“Who’s there?”
“Boo…”
“Boo who?”
“Why are you crying? (Except you usually say, “Why you cryin’?” in your Brooklynesque accent.)

Most of all, I love you just as you are with all of my heart. I can’t wait for all the fun that awaits us next year.

Love,

Mom

Ice Cream Efficiency

Betsy and Marco, Diego No Responses »

Apr 222010

Diego’s new improved and efficient way to eat ice cream…

Directions…

Betsy and Marco, Diego No Responses »

Apr 202010

Car GPS: “In 200 feet, please turn to the right.”

Daddy turns to the left at turning point.

Diego: “That’s not right! That’s left Dada!, turn right now!”

Dad: “Diego, I know the GPS is wrong and I need to turn to the left.”

Diego: No, Dada you turn to the right… now!

Dad: Silenced

Yucky Chicken

Betsy and Marco, Diego No Responses »

Feb 212010

Mama: When we get home we’re going to have teriyaki chicken for lunch. You’re favorite!

Diego: NOOOOOO!!!!!! I don’t want yucky chicken.

Mama (not getting it yet): But you love teriyaki chicken.

Diego: I DON’T WANT YUCKY CHICKEN!!!!! I want CLEAN chicken!!!!

A few hours later at dinner:

Diego (about to eat some pork ribs): Is THIS yucky chicken?

While cleaning up before bed…

Diego: Look! I found a coiny! (pointing at a penny on the floor).

Today was a great day.

The wild rush of time going by

Betsy and Marco, Diego No Responses »

Jan 232010

Wow. It seems like just yesterday that I sat here typing Diego’s letter for his second birthday and yet, nearly 6 months have gone by, we have added dear Enzo to our family and Diego has grown up so much that I hardly remember the toddler he was when last I wrote. I want to be a regular blogger – and have been good about journaling intermittently in the past but can’t seem to steal the moments to do justice to my fantastic family life. Never have I had more to write about! Our family life has just gotten better and better since Enzo’s arrival. Marco and I are much more in tune with each other – family decisions are much less stressful – and we can focus our energy on raising our happy healthy boys without succumbing to as many silly arguments.

So many funny things are sprouting from Diego’s mouth these days – he keeps us in constant laughter. His new favorite phrase is, “I have a good idea.” He then elaborates, ending with, “is dat a good idea, DaDa, is dat a good idea?” I could listen to him speak night and day. His 2 1/2 year old accent sounds a little like he is from Brooklyn, a little Mexican and occasionally British. I haven’t the slightest idea where it all comes from! His imagination is astonishing – he tells long involved stories, some of which start out with, “Once upon a time, in a land far away when Nana was a little boy….” Priceless!

Enzo laughed for the first time 3 days ago. Like everything he does, it was a little understated but no less delightful. He is a mellow little guy that is constantly charms me with his beguiling smile. He is content to sit and watch family life unfold in front of him and, of course, especially likes to watch his older brother play and carry on. He has a hard time sleeping in the early mornings, waking up every hour after 1am, making me feel a little delirious from sleep deprivation. I hate letting him sleep in the swing all the time yet that is the only place he seems to get any prolonged rest. I have visions of him as an 18 year-old sleeping poorly unless he is in a car or on a plane or on some futuristic perpetual motion machine. I know, logically, that he is only 2 1/2 months old and this is only a phase but the little voice inside my head is repeatedly telling me that I’m enabling a miniature insomniac!