Julia's Technicolor Dream-Tablet

Julia, a few weeks ago you started asking for something very interesting: a tablet.

We asked you what you wanted one for, since you don't really like to play with the iPad like Aidan does.

You said you wanted one - even one that doesn't work- to buy a pretty case for and play pretend with.

I offered you one of the near-dead iPads. But you didn't want one of those. You wanted a silver tablet...to play pretend with.

A few days passed.

Then, your Mom and I were talking in the kitchen when a scroll appeared on the counter.

What was inside was 100% written, spelled, and conceived by you. And took us by surprise!

Later, the notes appeared taped to the computer screen with one additional letter.

Your tactics sound, your motivation clear, your cuteness and puppy-dog eyes off the charts...

...your mother came up with a great idea: you could MAKE one.

And so, the weekend came and you got right to it. You chose not to walk the dogs or go to the playground, because you wanted to stay home and work on your tablet. All day Saturday you spent working with Mommy: cutting, paper mache, drawing, coloring, gluing, researching...and you created your very own, amazingly awesome, Julia-imagination powered TABLET!

Candy Crush, Netflix, Amazon, Calendar, Disney oh MY!

You were so careful in which apps you wanted. 

You picked "Tuesday the 5th" for your calendar because "Tuesdays are when Aunt Sham used to pick me up from school and we had so much fun. Tuesdays are the best.!"

Later that week on a walk you asked me if I had my phone. I said no. You said "Good thing I put the phone and text messages on my Tablet!"

Saturday afternoon you spent your allowance and ordered a pink tablet case to go along with it!

Saturday night at dinner you came up to mommy with a concern: the case will prop the tablet up horizontally...but the tablet screen won't automatically re-orient itself. So Mommy suggested that you make a NEW horizontal-oriented tablet screen on the back of the tablet you already made.

You were so gung-ho about it that you spent a lot of Sunday morning and  Monday afternoon hard at work!

And you even inspired Aidan to work on one too!

You are so creative, so dedicated, so driven, and so amazing, young lady! There's an app for all that: it's called Julia version 5.0! 

I love you, amazing girl.

Sharing a song

On a cold Saturday in January, I witnessed something amazing and beautiful and adorable. And I hope Disney will let me post it!

Aidan, you grabbed your iPad and timer; and Julia you grabbed your sewing kit.

Embriodering a Strawberry- Photo and foreground legs by Aidan

You guys cranked the Moana, and just sat upstairs doing your own things....but singing....together...

The moment was so beautiful in it's serenity and simplicity. You both have your own interests and will always have things that make you unique, but I pray and hope that you can always come together as brother and sister to share that which you love-- and be with whom you love.

You are both Moana. #Strength #Dignity #Identity #Coconut

DFW => LAX: Your First Flight

About one week ago, you took your first flight in an airplane.

There was lots of build up: would your ears hurt? would you sleep? would you scream? would you want to run around the plane? oh no! will we survive? will our seat-C neighbor hate us?
And then, a very very nice let down: you were GREAT on board!
Our flight to LA to see Aunt Rebekka and Uncle Ross was early in the morning. We had to wake you up from a deep slumber at 6 am to get you to the airport, but, no, you did not fall asleep on the plane! We made sure that you were chewing food (yogurt melts, your favorite (which we chose on purpose)) and water! So, your ears never hurt too badly from the air pressure.

Take off was great! Then for the rest of the flight, you watched Baby Einstein on the iPad while sitting in my lap. I even successfully changed your diaper in the lavatory half way through the flight! Then, for landing we put the iPad away, and gave you more yogurt melts, so you didn't even think to meltdown.

You also occupied yourself during the flight by occasionally tearing up cocktail napkins into small pieces and handing the ones you didn't chew on to our neighbor in seat C, who was actually really pleased to be seated next to us. He learned your name and talked to you and everything. I kept you from taking his glasses.

Our flight home was equally uneventful, except that you fell in love. The little girl (about 7-8 years old) in front of you in 28A saw you for the first time when peered over the top of their seats. You saw her and got a little shy. Then she started playing peak-a-boo with you on either side of her seat, depending on where you were sitting. You would look for her, she'd see you and POP you'd fling back in joy. This little game was a big hit with you!



She was so super nice to play with you during no-iPad times and keep you fully occupied! She even tried to play with you during iPad times, but you were mostly ignoring her to watch your stories. But, on occasion, you'd get up, peer through the seats and grab her nose or touch her hand or just play more peakaboo.

Alas, the flight ended and we, in row 29, and the little girl in 28A went our separate ways. Perhaps you'll meet again someday, on another west-bound flight.

So, yes, it was very exciting because it was your first flight on an airplane! (and your second one too). But, besides the excitement of another "first" off the list, it was a peaceful, easy, uneventful experience! We'll have to travel with you again soon...and maybe sneak another free flight out of you before you turn 2 and the airlines start charging.

But, you ask, what about our trip? What about my first trip outside the great state of Texas?

Well, don't fly off the handle like that! We have plenty of stories to tell about your first out-of-state visit to Aunt Rebekka's and Uncle Ross's!

But for now, put your tray table up and return your seat back to its upright position (and put away your Baby Einstein-playing iPad), because this flight is over.