(a letter to my father who passed away in 2004... This picture was taken just about a week before he passed. Growing up, we called my dad "Pop" or "Papa" and I like to imagine that my Kumquat would have, too.)
Hey, Pop. You've been on my mind - and heart - so much lately. I miss you so much. I so wish that you could meet the little girl. I like to imagine that you met in Heaven before she was born. I wish you were here to play with her and watch her grow. She's such a funny kid. I kinda think that if you were to meet her today, she'd seem very familiar to you. She's such an interesting mix of me and [DKG]. A lot of the time, she's so easy-going just like him. But don't be fooled. Little girl has plenty of Irish fire in her, too. She doesn't have many words just yet, but one she does have - and uses all the time - is "Nay." She was saying "Nein" and we joked that our girl was really German. She has some strong opinions and does not hesitate to express them. BUT, most of the time, she is the sweetest, funniest, happiest little girl ever.
When she was first born, everyone said how she looked exactly like [DKG]. Yesterday, one of his sisters said she looked like a mini-me. What do you think?
Well, I guess like an Asian mini-me, anyway. :) It's fun to see how much she's like her cousins, too. There are some things she does, like the way she runs or scrunches up her nose to say "cheese!" to the camera that remind me so much of Em.
Knowing that both of these little girls do them makes me think that maybe I did, too. Who knows? Oh, you would. :) I really wish that she would know you as she grows up. She does have the best uncles in the world, though, and I think she'll know you that way... even if she doesn't realize it. I started singing "Sippin' Cider" to her when she was itty bitty. For a long time, it was her very favorite. Now, she really loves "Itsy Bitsy Spider." She lives to play "Ride A Pony," too. And, of course, "Too-Ra-Loo-Ra" is our favorite lullaby.
She's really just amazing. She's able to unzip things now. The other morning, I went into her room and found her with her jammies mostly unzipped and one arm out. I think it's just a matter of time before she manages to get them (and her diaper, sigh) off! I also think it's just a matter of time before the little girl is talking up a storm. She has quite an elaborate vocabulary now... unfortunately, it doesn't resemble English very much yet. :) There are lots of different sounds and inflections, though! It really does seem like she's on the verge of saying a lot of words. She does say "dada" well and says "baba" for "mama." Just in the past couple days, she started asking for "wawa" (water) and yesterday said "nigh nigh" when it was time for bed. I'd swear she also said her name the other day! I'm really excited to see (hear!) what the next few weeks will bring. She does use sign language and is a real signing machine. It may sound funny to you, but teaching babies to sign is the thing to do these days. She amazes me all the time. We went to the zoo yesterday and signed "horse" when we saw the zebras!
She has more than 20 signs that she uses really well. "Please" is her new staple. She's a smart girl; she knows that's the one that'll get her what she wants. Her most sophisticated sentence so far has been "more banana, please." She blows kisses for "thank you." (The sign is very similar!) Every morning when her daddy goes to work, she blows him kisses and waves bye-bye. Kumquat kisses are the best. :) We look up new signs all the time. It used to drive me crazy that I'd ask you a question and you'd always say, "I don't know. Let's look it up." Why not just tell me??! Now, I love looking things up for her. She'll try a sign for something that's close but not exactly right. Initially, I'd just tell her it was close, but now we try to look up the real sign... like for zebra. You'd really be amazed at all the technology we have now and how easy it is to look things up! No more heavy dictionaries and encyclopedias necessary!
We're starting a couple classes with K this week... partly because we have an underused Y membership and I need some schedule where I have to get us there. I also keep thinking about when you'd coach us in soccer and you telling me not to be scared of the ball. I don't know how it happened that I was so scared of it, but I really do hope K will be bolder than I was. (Speaking of soccer... you should see her kick her soccer ball around! You'd be so proud!) So, we're doing a toddler gymnastics class & swim lessons. I think it'll be fun for both of us.
Well, those are all the big things she's doing right now. We're doing lots of planning for Joe & Jill's baby shower coming up and can't wait to welcome your first grandsons to the family. I wonder if they'll look like you. :) I guess it won't be too much longer before we find out!
I do miss you a ton, but every day, I'm so thankful for you and all the things you taught me. I know I'm the mom I am because of you. I love you, Papa!
