Dear girls,

Santa Claus has come and gone, and we're going screaming into the new year, literally. The two of you are at the age where you antagonize each other (and us) and I don't think there's been a single day during this break where at least one of you wasn't crying about something.

And that makes me sound like a mean and angry father, which I'm not. There have been a lot of great things that happened this month, and the two of you also continue to surprise us with everything you know and do, including how well you get along (sometimes).

Emily, in the past month, your speech went from barely understandable to WOW! There have been times over the past couple of weeks where I did a double take because the words that you spoke came out of your mouth so clearly that I had to check to see that it was you who had actually spoken them. You've gone from your toddler abbreviations of words, like "Pahk" for Sparky to actually saying two syllables, "Pah-chee." We were laughing when you started doing this because it seemed like everything you said sounded like "butt cheeks" which you've been saying for a while now, thanks to your mother and sister. You have monkeys on your pajamas: "Mah-chee" Your blanket has become a blankie: "bahn-chee." You get the point.

Rachel, you were focused like a laser on Christmas. You were doing everything you could to make sure that Santa knew that you wanted an iPod this year for Christmas. You wrote a letter, drew a picture, and you made sure to tell Santa when we went to visit him.

Secondary only to Christmas and the iPod was staying up to ring in the new year. It seemed like you'd asked at least once a day, every day, for the past two weeks if you could stay up until midnight. You have an acute understanding now that there is something special about that transition from 11:59 PM to 12:00 AM on the last day of the year.

On Christmas morning, both of you actually slept in. But once you got up, it was on. Santa had left a few things unwrapped, and once Nana and Grandpa got here, we started with the unwrapping. Both of you had quite a pile, and Rachel, you tore into your things like a wild woman. The very first thing you opened was your new phone. Except it's doesn't work like a phone. Santa left you a note saying that he'd run out of iPods this year, but that you could still play games and take pictures with this phone just like you can on an iPod. You didn't seem to mind at all, and you really enjoyed playing with it.

Emily, you opened about three things and decided you were done. You wanted to play with the things you'd already opened and didn't want to both with the rest of it. When you finally did get everything open, you had racked up three new train toys, since you'd really grown to love watching Thomas and Friends over the past month or so. In fact, every time you come out to the living room in the morning you ask us for "Choo-choo train," meaning that you want to watch Thomas.

When New Year's Eve rolled around, we had a small party with just the four of us and Nana and Grandpa. They left around 9, but Rachel, you continued to play games on the Wii right up until midnight. I was really surprised that you lasted the entire night, but you still had energy left when it hit. You even got to learn a little bit about time zones becuase we watched it change to 2012 in New York and hour before it was 2012 here.

Overall, 2011 was a really great year for both of you. As wel roll into 2012, there are going to be lots of changes for both of you. We can't wait to see how you handle them because we love to watch you both learn and grow.

Your Mommy and I love you both very much.

Love,
Daddy 

Dear girls,

Your grandparents are here! You were both so excited to see them...even more excited than your mother and I, I think. This has been a month chocked full of new things for both of you, so let's get started.

Emily, you have started learning how to play games on mobile devices. I never thought that a couple of years would make the difference in how you learned to use a computer, but it's amazing. Rachel, you learned how to use a computer by manipulating a mouse, and Emily, you've learned by touching a screen. Every computing device you come in contact with, the first thing you do is try to touch the screen.

That's probably because we have more touch screen devices in the house than anything else. Between our two phones, an iPod touch, and an iPad, you have plenty of things to learn on. And you're learning very quickly. You started by insisting that you turn off the iPod in the morning, so I showed you how to touch the pause button on the screen - the lines, or "yines" as you say it, so every morning when you wake up you ask me to get you out of bed so you can turn it off. You've also started asking for certain games by name - "Ahnie Bord (Angry Birds)? Oopah why (Super Why)?" I can't even begin to imagine when computing is going to look like 5 years from now, and how you'll both adapt to it.

You've been talking up a storm lately, strining together 4, 5, even 6 words to make sentences that we are getting better and better at understanding. You're also starting to use your manners saying, please, thank you, and excuse me (the latter was the hardest to get you to start doing), usually on your own, but sometimes we still have to gently remind you.

Rachel, we discovered this month that you really like math, and you're really good at it! You flew right through the easy addition and started right into double digit addition, multiple number addition, and subtraction. Just last week, we started talking about multiplication. You've been brining us your writing board and asking us to write math problems for you so much that we decided to buy you some math workbooks, and we even got you the first grade level ones! I hope that this love of math continues throughout your life, because it can really take you places if you do well with it.

You also started riding the bus to school this past week. It always amazes me how independent you are. You had been begging us for a long time to ride the bus, and now that your grandparents are here, we have someone that can meet you at the bus stop in the afternoon. We decided to give it a trial run coming home one day this week, but you liked it so much that you asked if you could ride the bus to school the next day. So the last half of this week, you rode the bus to school. That actually works out pretty well for mommy since she doesn't have to take you and because the ride to school is easy. There is only one place to get off. We'll see about you riding the bus home every once in a while in the coming weeks.

You both are really enjoying having Nana and "Wompa," as Emily calls him, around. Emily, you're finally old enough to really remember and have fun with them both. You were starting to come into that a little bit last year, but this year, you're really making memories. You and Rachel helped Nana make pies for Thanksgiving dinner, and you've been playing Wii almost every time you go over to visit.

We're really looking forward to Christmas and watching you both open your presents. We haven't gotten a tree up yet, but Emily, you're already fascinated with all of the lights that are up in the neighborhood. Rachel, you've already started on your list of what you want for Christmas, too. One of the first things on your list - an iPod. I don't know if Santa will be able to bring you one of those, but we'll see.

We love you both very much, and as always, we can't wait to see what the next month brings for the two of you.

Love,
Daddy 

Dear girls,

School has started, and fall is in the air. Wait...no it's not. It's still blazing hot outside, and probably will be for another month. We live in Texas, after all. Anyway...here we go with this month's installment of "what you did last month"

Emily, this has been quite the month for you. I think we're going to refer to it as the "me too" month. You've finally gained an understanding of what everyone is doing around you, and you want in on the fun. Whenever Rachel says she wants to do something, you follow right up with a cheery "me too!" You've gotten very good at communicating what you want, and when you want it. You've also gotten a lot better at differentiaing your words....either that, or we've gotten a lot better at understanding what you want.

You've also started changing up some of your words this month. In the last week, you've changed from calling us Mama and Dada to Mommy and Daddy.  Actually, Da-tee. You also started calling bananas "nanny" instead of "nana," while referring to your Nana the same way (nanny). So that confusion is still present and we have to use context to figure it out.

Rachel, you've been doing well at school, but your teacher tells us that sometimes you don't finish assignments during the day. We are going to have a conference with her in October, but I'm not sure if you're not finishing because you're a perfectionist, or because you're talking to your friends, or what the deal is. I do know it's not because you can't do the work, though.

The 10th anniversary of the 9-11 attacks was this month, and there was a lot of TV coverage about it. I remember when it happened and the discussions we had at my school about whether it was appropriate to talk about it with the youngest kids at the school. We knew that those children had seen a lot on TV, and now, as a father of a kindergartener, I can understand the concern so much better. Rachel, you were very worried about the people who died in those attacks and asked a lot of questions about airplanes and tall buildings. I can't imagine what those kids who witnessed those attacks as they happened 10 years ago must have felt. As adults, it's very hard for us to understand why people would do such horrible things, and your mother and I have tried our best to reassure you that some people are just not nice, but that you shouldn't spend you time worrying about it because we are going to do our very best to keep you safe.

Along the lines of keeping your safe, you also started worrying about earthquakes and thunderstorms a lot more over the past month. We had a tiny bit of weather which made you scared, but you spent an entire weekend worrying about earthquakes because there was one in the news early in the month. It's very interesting to see you try to process the things that adults take for granted every day, and to watch you worry about things that no one has any control over.

And for something you do have control over, Emily, you've started going potty in the toilet quite a bit now. You still don't usually tell us when you need to go, but when we sit you on it, you will make a little tinkle for us. You're not afraid of it like Rachel was at your age, and I think it won't be long before you're ditching the diapers altogether.

Your Grandpa Rick came down for a visit at the beginning of the month, and the two of you were so happy to see him. Your grandparents have decided to come to Texas a little earlier this year, so you'll see them again before Thanksgiving!

Your mother and I love you both very much, and can't wait to see what the next month will bring. We also can't wait to see what you both want to be for Halloween!

Love
Daddy

I had to stand and eat, since all the chairs were occupied.

Dear girls,

We are in the dog days of summer. July is behind us and in just a couple of weeks, we'll all be back into our regular routine for the year. This past month, you spent a lot of time with your mother and very little time with me. I've been working 10 hour days, which means I'm leaving the house before either of you get up, and by the time I get home, it's almost bath and bed time for both of you. Having Fridays off is nice, but the whole rest of the week, I miss you both terribly.

Emily, you turned 2 years old this past month. We had a small family gathering for your party, and you got to talk to Nana via Skype when you blew out your candles. It seems like it's taken you a lot longer to get to 2 years old than it did your sister. I don't know why that is, but I'm happy that you're growing up and starting to communicate with us more and more.

You're talking all the time now, and have expanded into three word sentences. A lot of your words still sound alike, so we have to use context to understand what you're saying, but you keep trying until we get it. One of the really exciting things to happen over the past month or so is you coming up with a name for your sister. Obviously, you can't say "Rachel," so it comes out at "Ya-ya"

You also have begun identifying things that belong to you and to other people. You were doing this last month with your things, but now you're starting to get that there's some order of ownership to the stuff in our house. "Mama tair, dada tair, yaya tair" you told me the other day while pointing to each of our chairs at the dinner table. For the past few months you've been saying "sky!" whenever you saw an airplane, then one day, this past month, you just came out with it...air-pane!

Emily, you have really gotten into reading books. You have your favorites that we have to read every night before you go to sleep. You will sit and let Rachel read to you, too. Although, more than anything, you enjoy looking at pictures and talking about them. When Nana sent you both a book of pictures from our trip to New York, and a copy (for each of you) of the Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Grey Bridge, Rachel sat down and immediately started reading the book, and Emily, you sat down and started looking through the photos.

Yaya...or Rachel, I mean, you have been going to summer camp a couple of days each week, and you're really enjoying it. You go on different field trips each week, and you're quite popular with the older girls who also attend day camp. You, in turn have picked up on, like, some of, like, their, like, nuances. I can only hope that when you start Kindergarten in a few weeks, you get over those things.

You know exactly what day you start school....I wouldn't say you're excited or anything.  We've been school shopping for you already, and I think you're fully prepared to start the new school year. I know you're going to miss some of your friends who are going to other schools, or are still in ECE at Braun Station, but I'm sure you'll make plenty of new friends.

Rachel, you had your first ever trip to the dentist this past month, and everything went really well. No cavities for you. You got stickers, a pencil, and a brand new tooth brush just for going. I think you're sold on the whole dentist thing.

We've been taking both of you to the park to play with friends in the mornings before it gets too hot, and in the afternoons, we've been staying inside, or playing in the pool. We've also been to Sea World a few times this summer because your mother and I got season passes for free. We bought the two of you passes, and they've already paid for themselves.

The two of you have really been playing well together the whole summer. You will go into one of your rooms and play, and play. Of course, there are always little fights here and there, but I'm constantly amazed at how well the two of you get along. I hope that continues as you get older.

We love you both very much, and look forward to what the new school year brings.

Love,
Daddy 

Dear girls,

What a month! We had a birthday! and a Big! Trip! to New York! So without any further adieu, I bring you June 2011.

Rachel, you turned 5 years old this past month. What a turning point for you. You are growing up so quickly, and there have been times over the past month where you've told us that you don't want to grow up. But there have also been times where you tell us about how you can't wait to go to Kindergarten, then turn 6, then go to first grade, and so on. You're feeling a little conflicted, and I think part of it has to do with the fact that your sister has really come into her own this past month, and I think you're feeling a little jealous.

I get it, baby girl, I totally do. If there's one thing I can relate to with you, it's being the oldest child. Your mother and I have noticed that you've doing a lot of baby talk this past month and craving a lot of attention from us, and we've been really making an effort to spend some alone time with you so that you get all of our attention during that time. It certainly is a balancing act having an almost 2 year old and a 5 year old, especially when the younger one is so demanding of your time.

And that almost two year old would be you, Miss Emily Marie. You are quite the little girl. There are days where you make us smile and laugh so hard, and there are other days (sometimes just minutes apart from the smiling, laughing days) where you try our patience to the very end.

You have started talking up a storm, and are saying two-word sentences all the time now. "Up pea" "Mine oos" "Mine bank" "Ma pea" and we pretty much know what you're telling us most of the time. It's been so nice to have you be able to communicate with us, but the times where you flat out don't want to do what we're asking are the most frustrating. Especially when we're on a 4 hour plane ride.

We visited New York at the end of the month, and it was the first time in a year that Emily had been on a plane. Since we flew before your birthday, Emily, we decided that you could go as a lap child to save us some money. And trying to save money was where we went terribly wrong. You did not want to sit on anyone's lap, let alone be in one spot without moving around very much for 4 whole hours. You only wanted your mother, when you wanted anyone at all, and your poor momma was at her wit's end somewhere over South Carolina.

Once we got to New York, everything got better. You both got to meet your newest cousin for the first time (as did your mother and I), and you both had a great time playing in the parks next to Aunt Sarah and Uncle Britton's apartment. Rachel, you were already a pro at riding the train from our trip 3 years ago, and Emily, it took you a few days, and one disastrous trip during rush hour, but you finally got the hang of it too.

We didn't get to do a lot of touristy things, but overall the trip was a success. We'll have to go back when both of you are bigger and Emily can sit still through all of the touristy stuff like bus and boat rides. I'm sure that we will not take another 3 years to go back, because ever since we've been back, Emily, you have been asking about the baby every day.

Right before we left for New York, Rachel, you started dance classes. Your Nana paid for the classes for you as part of your birthday present, and we decided that you would take the summer off from soccer. Just one class in, and I think you're loving it. We'll have to see what the fall brings, and you'll probably have to decide if you want to play soccer or continue in dance classes.

Next month we have another birthday, I go back to work, and the summer starts to wind down. I hope that we can enjoy the rest of the summer as much as we've enjoyed the first part. Your mother and I love you both very much!

Love,
Daddy

She actually stopped and let me take her picture.

Emily's sitter is out of town, so we got to spend the morning together. After breakfast at Wendy's, we went to the park, then came home and washed my car. While I was waxing, she played Indy Car driver.

OK, maybe not all those parts, but she does know a lot of them.