The struggle

You are growing and still little.

You know what you want and still struggle to find peace when you get it. 

Always something out of reach and you stretch and strive for it.  

I wish you could be peaceful and joyful in what you have more often. 

It doesn't get better. It doesn't get worse. 

It gets different. There will always be struggle. 

You will always be growing. 

You don't have to hurry and try to get it over with. 

You can just be in it. 

I want to protect you. To help you. 

You want to be independent, to not need help. I know.  

I want help. I want someone to help guide me. 

I know you really, secretly, do too. 

I love you baby mine. 

Know that you will always be a baby something. 

I am still a baby something. 

Let your mom and dad hold you. Listen to you. Help you.

There will be lots of time to try it all on your own. 

I promise. 

The Potter effect

Way back in November, I was trying to subtly convince Felix that he could really enjoy reading chapter books. He didn't believe me. So I moved on to Leo, who ate up us reading him short books like, Freckle Juice, and Chocolate Fever. I think we read Freckle Juice 3 times.

Then, during one particularly bad night of sleep, I told Felix I would read to him, but only if it was a chapter book and he closed his eyes to listen. I offered Wrinkle in Time and Harry Potter. He picked Harry. Then he was hooked! He finished the first book in a little over  a week between us and him reading.

Then Leo felt left out when the big kids wanted to play Harry Potter, so now we are reading it to Leo. He's on book two.

Felix is on book 5. Peder thought he should to wait until he was a little older to tackle the last half of the series, but clever Felix checked book 5 out of the library, and told us we couldn't stop him (with a grin on his face). So we relented.

I'm just so amazed at the change Felix has gone through, from, "chapter books just aren't for me.", To sneaking a three inch book home from the library, in just a few months.

Leo has been asking to go to bed early so we could read longer. Last night, he told us "it's time!" and headed off to brush his teeth!

British

Leo:
I might turn into a british man.
No it's not anyone's fault.
I just might start speaking British.

(The Harry Potter is strong in our household right now)