MY SWEET LITTLE BUMBLEBEE

Lance, my little bumblebee, will be turning 4 in just a few minutes. It's hard to believe my little preemie who came 6 weeks early is now a smart, rambunctious little pre-schooler. I wrote this letter to my husband, Lorenzo on March 20, 2001, when Lance was just 16 months old. Reading it now, at the eve of his fourth birthday, I am once again reminded that time waits for no one...a cliche, I know, but bittersweet nonetheless.

Hi Daddy!

Mommy and I went out for a walk after taking my kuyas to school. It was still a little cool, so Mommy bundled me up in my sweater and we were on our way. I saw many black birds, some big, some small. I was also amused at the water sprinklers, which were always threatening to wet Mommy and me. We didn't get wet, but I felt the cool mist on my face.

Mommy picked out dandelions for me. She taught me how to blow on them to scatter them in the wind. I know how to blow, but I have to put them close to my mouth because I can't blow too hard yet. Mommy also plucked a little yellow flower for me, which I held for a while. She thought I was trying to eat the flower, but I was just blowing on it like she taught me to blow on the dandelion.

On the way home, Mommy sat on the park bench and took me out of my stroller. I practiced walking while holding on to the park bench. Then Mommy saw a ladybug and picked it up from the ground so I could play with it. I was laughing and having so much fun. The ladybug crawled on my hand and back to the park bench. I kept picking it up and Mommy said I was very good because I was gentle with it. When I was done playing with the ladybug, Mommy put it back on the leaf so it could eat. I had dropped my cracker on the ground. I wanted to pick it up, but Mommy said to leave it there for the birds to eat. I picked it up and ate it anyway, when Mommy wasn't looking.

At around 9:30 it was getting to be really warm, so Mommy took my sweater off. We started walking home because Mommy noticed that I had taken a doodie. On the way home, I saw a shopping cart on the curb. I pointed it out to Mommy because I wanted to ride in it, but Mommy didn't think it was a good idea. She promised me that I would sit on a shopping cart next time we went to a supermarket, which she said would be soon because we're out of bread. Speaking of bread, Mommy says you forgot to bring your sandwich, so Mommy had it for a snack after we got home.

I am now taking my nap. I can't wait to see you again, Daddy. I love you very much. Will you come with us to pick up my kuyas later? They don't get off till 4:45, so Mommy thinks it would be a good time to stop by the bowling alley to put down a deposit for Kuya Joey's surprise birthday party. I'll see you later!

Love, LANCE