Dear Luca

Dear Luca,
Just a month ago we celebrated your THIRD birthday. I can't believe how fast time flies. Yesterday I put on a pair of new jeans that I was certain would be way too long...but they fit just fine. On Tuesday you start preschool at your new school. Last week when you went to orientation with daddy you were so excited about your new classroom, and you were especially excited about your basketball court at school! This summer you stayed busy exploring your new home. I think you are liking Indiana so far. It was hard leaving Arizona, and you asked a lot about your old home, and especially about all of your things that were stuck in storage. It broke my heart and I worried that you wouldn't like it here. I am so happy you are settling in! I am especially thankful that you now have your grandparents and cousins around. This move was so important for you, even if it was hard. I know one day you will be really grateful that we did this. As a now preschooler, you are still the same sports and monster truck loving kid that you have always been. You love being outside and would play soccer all day long if you could. You especially like playing goalie, and you just HAD to have the gloves (which we couldn't find, so Tia Mariana bought you baseball gloves instead). You also love swimming and this summer you actually started swimming under water a little! You have no fear. You can even jump backwards into the pool at the Y. For your birthday you received a real "big boy" bike with Lightning McQueen. You are so fast! You also enjoyed your second visit to Holiday World this summer, and even rode a "roller coaster". I am really looking forward to this fall and winter as you start soccer and gymnastics. I can't wait to watch you play and cheer "Go Luca!" as you always want me to do. I am also excited to see you as a big brother. I think you are going to be such a sweet, kind, and helpful older brother to this baby. I know you are excited as well, even if you are a little cautious. You are still just as talkative and funny as always. Sometimes a little too talkative. The other day you told me I needed to buy Oxiclean for the stains on my clothes. You also told Tio Xavi that he doesn't know how to play baseball. Forever my little firecracker, you keep my on my toes...and tired! My hope for you as you continue to grow into the person God made you to be, is that you are never afraid to dream big, and that you always remember the important things in life: kindness to others, thankfulness, generosity, honesty, integrity, and mercy. And I pray that God will always be stirring in your heart, and that He will call you to love and serve him in big ways. I love you, my sunshine. My big boy.

Love Always,

Mommy