Moon

Dearest Ryan,

I haven't written you a letter since your first birthday. This isn't going to be one of my typical letters (one of those will come when you turn 18 months, which is only a month away and I CANNOT believe it!) But tonight, something really adorable and special happened and I don't want to forget it.

You LOVE the moon. We read Goodnight Moon nearly every night (though some nights you opt for "Curious George's Goodnight Book" instead, and that is no where near as special!) and you have noticed the moon in the sky since you were very small. Since you are usually in bed before the moon is out, it is on those rare occasions when the moon can be seen during the day or early in the evening that you see it, point to it, and say with great excitement, "MOOOOOOOON!!!" It's really quite adorable.

Well, tonight you saw the moon and you said, "Touch?" and I said, "I think it's too far away, Buddy. I don't think you can touch it, but you can try." You said, "Yeeeeahhhh! TOUCH!" And off you went to try and touch the moon. You marched up the sidewalk with great determination until you got to a point where the house across the way blocked your view. You then turned to me and said, "Uh oh! Moooooon????" You turned around and started to walk back towards our house, but turned back around to check one more time on your beloved moon. You had walked far enough towards our house that you could see the moon again, and you immediately turned around, and off you headed, again, to touch it.

This scene repeated itself 3 or 4 times until you finally looked at me and Daddy and said, "Mooooon? Touch??" with your head tilted to the side. Daddy said, "Its really far away, you can't touch it, can you?" And you looked sad, and headed back home. But not without looking back again to see the moon. You saw it, pointed, and said, as if it was your first time seeing it tonight, "MOOOOOOOOONNN!!!!"

Ryan, I hope you always reach for the moon. You may not touch it (though, let's be honest, you might one day with the way space travel is developing!) but never, ever stop trying. I hope you always remain determined, and enthusiastic, and utterly delighted at the most simple things in this world. You are such a joyful boy, and I hope you stay that way for a VERY LONG TIME!

Love always,

Mama