Your Rock Star

Dear JJ,

As you grow up you are going to find lots of music you like. You will talk with friends about one artist or the other, and how you enjoy hearing them at different times. I know that because it happens to everyone, but you have a rock star now.

Every day you look forward to hearing her - in fact, you use sign language to indicate you want to hear her.  After your shower you dry off and watch her DVD and about 4 pm every afternoon you sit in the swing in the kitchen and watch her DVD.

Even at a year you were loving Signing Time

Her name is Rachel Coleman, and you know her as the signing time lady. From her, in your earliest days you learned different signs for "more" "eat" and now you know a whole bunch of them.  Since you sign it means you are able to communicate with us the things you want- and it makes it less frustrating.

There are a lot of "stars" out there- but I wanted to tell you something about her: She discovered her daughter Leah was deaf, and started to communicate with her in sign language - from that built a program that so many of us use.  But that isn't the whole story. 

This nice lady started out life in the conservative state of Utah. When she was 17 she had a daughter, Laura, who she put up for adoption. A difficult choice.  She was reunited with her on Mother's Day in 2010.

She had another daughter, Lucy, who had spina bifida - but through sign language was able to communicate.

Now you will find Rachel Coleman happily on many DVD's, where her songs touch your dad, and bring him to tears. 

She is a special lady, who took every adversity and made it into something that benefits a lot of people- and especially your mom and I owe her thanks, because of her we were able to start communicating with you.  Her songs, about the love for her children, speak to us.

Food and Rachel

There are going to be a lot of artists you will like - Rachel Coleman is your first, and probably a great example how to rise from adversity and give to others. Then, when you are a dad, you will discover signing with your child- and somewhere a memory will hit about this very nice lady, who was your first star.

Love,

Dad

Its ok not to be cool

Dear JJ,

I love singing to you. Mostly I make up words to songs we know. You love it too. Before you go to sleep you like me singing versions of "got a whale of a tale to tell you lads, a whale of a tale or two. About your mom I love, and a flappin fish, and nights like this with the moon above (at which point we both point our fingers to the sky), a whale of a tale and its all true, I swear by auntie Kim's tatoo."

You like music too- the wind chime tree

Snuggling up in the morning

Your morning coffee with your morning cartoons

With the aid of a stick you can make the wind chime play

whack it son!

In the morning there are songs we sing together, like from Mickey Mouse, and Jake the Neverland Pirate.
But as I sang to you I thought of how you will grow, and these songs that I know will be not sung to you anymore, and if I try to sing them you will say "oh dad." I won't be cool.
Its ok though. Because I know that someday you are going to be a dad, and when you are, you will realize that learning and singing songs to your children will be important to them, but more important to you.
Until then, son, I am going to keep singing.

Love,

Dad

Holding you tight

Dear JJ,

Today one of my patient's told me about her young husband who died.  They have three children the youngest is 9 years old.

Our time on this earth is limited, son. We can't live forever, and you are named after my brother, who died at age 55 - the age I will be soon.  I don't know how long I have on this earth, or you have, or your mother has.  But I know this - every morning when  you see me and smile and say "daddy" gives me a big smile. Every day when I come home and you want to show me something, or have me pick you up and wrestle with you, makes me glad.

My life has been made better for you.  I am lucky to have a dad who is still alive - and I hope you get to know me for a long time.

But forgive me if tonight I just hold you extra tight.

Love,

holding you tight as we watch the moon

Dad

Pointing to Poo

Dear JJ,

Being a dad means I get to see things that someday will make you smile, or be embarrassed.

You love being outside, and in our backyard you like to go on poo patrol. Where you find the dog poo, and point to it, yelling "gaagooo" - which we think means garbage - until we scoop it up and dispose of it.

Poo Pointing

Nothing like a photo though.

Yes, these photos will be associated with you for a long time.

Love,

Dad

Wondering what you can get into next

Tossing rocks into the yard is a favorite pasttime

and watering plants

Nothing like water

Not a bit you won't go into

Then you discovered the flowers in my mom's garden

A kiss for mother's day