Alera, now is as good a time as any to tell you whats been going on with you. You have progressed more in the last 6 months than perhaps any time in your life. Now we just take for granted that you understand us and, sometimes, that leads us to be a bit quick tempered when you dont listen. Truth be told, the silliness never bothers me. Its the not listening and the lying when I ask a direct question. I imagine this will always be true and never more so than 10-15 years from now. That would put you at a teenager so I am just guessing here.
Anyway, apologies for letting this post go awry. The intent was never to lecture and I can literally feel you glossing over as you read this. I bet you feel like you hear enough of this from me on a day to day basis verbally so the last thing you need is reading it in written form in what I bet was a long time in the past (I just assume you reading this as an adult or at the very least, many moons from now). Back to you.
Lately you have been using the phrase "And don't forget". The way you are stringing together sentences these days is really a very fun thing to be a part of. Tonight I said to you "Alvin starts with an A just like Alera. A is for Alera and Alvin" to which you replied "and don't forget Annie". Amazing. Your mother and I had a good chuckle at that one.
On to something else. Sometimes when I take the time to sit and write to you, I am overwhelmed. There is so much I want to tell you girls and I always feel as though I will leave something out. Suffice to say that no post to date gas been what I originally intended. But then again, I think that's okay. This is just another avenue for us to get to know each other better. And I am betting I can be pretty stoic at times and not sharing much of myself.
There I go, straying again. There are two things I need to accomplish with this post and here is the first...
Alera, when you were born you were so friggen tiny. You actually lost a lot of weight when we brought you home from the hospital. There were issues with formula and it was a whole thing. I dont think I am libel to forget that so I will go into detail another time. Because of your small stature i took to calling you Big Al. Grandpa thought that was hilarious. But then again, he would. From there it iterated to Albert and then simply to Bert. Somebody at day care actually asked Jill why I call you that. You are 1 week away from 3 years old and you even call yourself that sometimes. Just tonight we were looking through pictures on my phone (BTW, one of your favorite things to do) and you saw a picture of us and said "that's Daddy and Bert" . I loved it.
I am trying to refer to Zelda as Frankie more often (her middle name is Francesca) but it does not come quite as naturally yet as Bert. I really hope that is a nickname that sticks. I can imagine giving you away at your wedding and whispering in your ear "I am so proud of you and I love you, Bert"
And quickly about the song before I call it a night. There is a song by Richie Valens called "Donna". I remember watching a biopic on him starring Lou Diamond Phillips and that was the first (and possible only) time I heard that song. Your song is in that tune and very much a ripoff of it. But it's not like I am trying to produce my own version and make a profit. It's just for you:
I have a girl and Alera is her name
Since she found me oh I've never been the same
Cuz I love her
Alera oh where have you been?
Alera I call out your name
Oh Alera, Oh Alera, Oh Alera, Oh Alera
Makes more sense when put to music but I never wanted to forget it. Moreover, I never want YOU to forget it. You used to light up and focus completely on me when I sang it. You and Zelda have a way of making me feel like the most important person in the world at times and that is a reputation I look to uphold as much as I can.
Your mother and I are far from perfect, but we have always tried to do the right thing and teach you both that as well. More so since you came along.
Well those are the two things I really wanted to get to.
I am so proud of you and I love you, Bert. (and Frankie) . ...and even Dimi too.