Almost a big brother...

Dear Joey,

Tomorrow is a big day for you. You're not very aware of it, but your life is about to change. You are going to become a big brother! The new baby boy joining our family is so lucky to have you - to play with, learn from, look up to... and I am excited for you to share everything you already know at almost 22 months with your little brother:

• You can teach him to count from 1 to 20, and from 10 to 1 (carefully teaching him to say 'blast off!' at the end). You can even teach him to count from 1 to 10 in Spanish, too!
• You can teach him to say almost all of his ABCs, and maybe even recognize a few of them, too.
• You can teach him to read Mommy's license plate on your way into the car, and get every letter and number exactly right.
• You can teach him to sing some of your favorite songs: On Top of Spaghetti (achoo!), the Little Green Frog Song, The ABC song, Row, Row, Row Your Boat... and maybe you can even teach him to sing perfectly on pitch like you can.
• You can teach him to eat with a fork and spoon, showing him how both ends will work to deliver yogurt to your mouth and most of it can make it inside. You can show him that when you miss, it's ok because Rufus gets a snack, even if it makes you cry.
• You can show him that the best way to eat a strawberry is to stick the hole on your 'finken' and call it an apple.
• You can teach him about animals - how to recognize them, what sounds they make, and where their eyes, noses and ears are.
• You can teach him his shapes - the penta-agon, the diamond, the oc-ca-gon, the squay-ah, and most importantly the circle. You can teach him how to recognize them anywhere - in a puzzle, in a book, on a house when we drive by.
• You can teach him to tackle Rufus and Daddy. You can show him how to use Rufus (poor, so very patient, Rufus), as a tunnel. You can show him how to give them a hug and kiss when you are done, too.
• You can teach him to look for biiiig trucks when you are in the car with Mommy and Daddy. You can tell him that green means go and red means stop, and that stop signs aren't really stop signs, they're just oc-ca-gons. You can teach him how to look for planes high in the sky, and listen to their engines.
• You can teach him his manners. You can show him that saying 'please Mommy' is the best way to get what you want, and you should always say thank you when someone gives you something. You can teach him to say bless you when someone sneezes. (You can also teach him how to say 'Daddy biiiiiiig burp' when Daddy makes one!) You can teach him to talk to the announcements at the grocery store and Target, and say thank you when they're done talking.
• You can teach him about the playground - how to climb up the steps or the ladder to the slide, how to swing in the swing, how to run across the shaky bridge, how to fill every hole with acorn caps, how to spin the wheel, how to dig in the sandbox... and anything else you can think of.
• You can teach him his words. You can share with him your incredible vocabulary, and how to use every word you know nearly perfectly.
• You can teach him how to throw rocks into the water, looking and listening for a biiiiiiig splash. You can teach him to spot the duckies swimming by, too.
• You can introduce him to your friends Mickey and Elmo. You can show him how to snuggle with Mommy while you watch your show before bed, and then dole out hugs and kisses on your way down the hall. You can teach him to be a sweet little boy, just like you.

I cannot even begin to tell you the joy that you have brought to our lives. You are so full of wonder, so full of life, so full of love... it is hard to remember what life was like before you arrived! Your Daddy and I are the luckiest parents in the world to have you for a son. We are so incredibly proud of you.

Here's to you, Joey, the day before you share your blog, and your life, with your new baby brother!

Love,
Mommy