January 14, 2012 - Dear Alex,

 Dear Alex,
You have this way of explaining things that amazes me and makes me laugh.

Today you were crying and I couldn't figure out why.

You (the self-dubbed Baby Elephant) explained "Baby elephants always cry when they hurt themselves or want something."

I hope you didn't hurt yourself.

And I hope that my laughing was what you wanted.

August 23, 2011 Dear Alex,

Dear Alex,
Today you turned three, started school and decided to stop wearing diapers. In a couple days we'll be moving into our new house.

You call yourself baby elephant.

You love legos, stuffed animals and applesauce.

You have a remarkable sense of humor and an infectious laugh.


You love to sleep with your mama and if she's not around, papa will do. You're the smallest one in the family and you take up the most bed space.

You've kept those big blue eyes you had at birth.

You love and admire your brother.

You've given up bananas.

You've started to want to play soccer.

You had your party at The Monkey's Treehouse and you didn't much care who was there (we invited your new classmates).

You're a determined little guy.

You're fine playing alone.

You give great hugs.

The charts say you're about exactly average height and weight.

To me, you're the perfect size for snuggling and holding in the lap.

July 1, 2011 - Dear Dr. Doolittle,

Dear Dr. Doolittle,
My two-and-a-half-year-old insists he's a baby elephant. What should I do?

We were reading a book about elephants in the wild and the takers who try to capture them. There was a baby elephant in the story who ends up the hero. Ever since, my Alex calls himself a baby elephant.

I'm all for imagination.

I love animals.

And I appreciate that he may feel like he's growing up and trying to find someway to stay a baby after a year of getting mad when his brother calls him a baby.

But am I supposed to do something about this?