Brian's Birthday Gazette

Brian’s Birthday Gazette

April 6, 2011 FREE

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Extra! Extra! Read All About It –

Brian is Six!

Brian, Brett & Jonathan Brian Becomes a Big, Big Brother On November 11, 2010, Jonathan Mark Feldman was born and Brian became a big, big brother. He was so excited after nine long months of anticipation and waiting. During my pregnancy, Brian was certain that he was going to get a baby sister, so he was busy coming up with girl names. His favorite was “Dalaya.” We aren’t sure where he heard that beautiful name, but he was insistent that we choose it. However, since Jonathan was born, Brian has been smitten! He likes to “talk” to him by repeating the noises Jonathan makes, such as “a-gu, a-gu.” Quite frequently, you will hear Brian protecting Jonathan (by reprimanding Brett for leaning on Jonathan or hugging him to tightly.) He even chose to take Jonathan to school for show-n-tell when he was Student of the Week! Back to School Brian started kindergarten at Eden Christian Academy in August. His teacher’s name is Miss Davis. He loves everything about school, especially gym class and math class. We are absolutely astonished at how much Brian has learned so farthis year, including sign language, Spanish, counting moneyand how to read. One of the most heart-warming experiences was listening to Brian recite Psalm 23, which he was required to learn for his first quarter evaluation. We are so proud that Brian has “stayed in the game” and earned a trip to the price box each week!	Oh the Places We Go! Brian’s favorite places to go include the Consol Energy Center to watch the Pittsburgh Penguins and PNC Park to watch the Pirates, Panera, church, Neenee and Jerry’s house, any pizza shop, Eat ‘N Park and Rita’s (especially with Papa). Last summer, while Daddy was in Nicaragua, we went to Seven Springs with Grandma and Papa. The majority of the time we were there, we played baseball. However, we did spend one day at Idlewildand SoakZone. That was fun! Like Father, Like Son! Brian is still very passionate about hockey. He spendsmost of his play time playing hockey downstairs— sometimes with me, Brett, and/or Daddy; sometimes alone. You can hear him announcing imaginary plays if you listen very closely while he is playing alone. When he isn’t playing, he is watching the Penguins on TV. He knows when all of the games are thanks to the Penguins mousepad-schedule that he received at the first game he attended this season. He checks it every morning at breakfast to determine if he needs to wear a Pens jersey that day! Now that he is a little older, he is generally permitted to stay up for the entire first period (unless he naps, in which case he will be allowed to watch more!) If he isn’t allowed to watch an entire game, he falls asleep listening to the game on his radio. He got to go to five games this season!!! Ask him! He can tell you the date, opponent and score! He has accumulated a lot of hockey information andstatistics in his little brain. Some of which he learned from watching SportsCenter; Some of which he learned from reading the various hockey books that he has checked out from the library; Some of which he learned from his most trusted source – Daddy! Brian has completed the Learn to Play Hockey developmental program at Robert Morris Island Sports Complex. He is eligible for the in-house league next October, and he is very excited!
6th Year - In Review April 11th - First Tee-Ball Practice May 9th – First Tee-Ball Game May 21st – 23rd – Niagara Falls trip for Brett’s B-Day June 21st-24th – KIDZ GIG June 26th – 1st movie theatre experience (Toy Store 3) August 14th – Wildwood 50th Anniversary Carnival August 16th – Cousin Jack Matthew was born! August 25th - 1st Day of Kindergarten September 27th – Started serving at Food Pantry September 29th – School Picture Day October 21st – Duck for President performance by Pgh International Children’s Theatre November 11th – Jonathan was born January 28th – Brian lost his first tooth March 13th – Brian learned to give Jonathan a bottle March 23rd – Brian’s Kindergarten play – Goldilocks & the 3 Bears March 27th – Suessical the Musical at the Bynam Theatre Milestone Mania This has really been an incredible year of growth in so many areas. Brian essentially went from a preschooler to a school-age child! (He confidently gets on the bus all by himself – after blowing me a few kisses, thoughJ ) He played his first team sport. He was on the Boston Red Sox tee-ball team. With a tremendous amount of practice (I meanhours!) throughout the summer and early fall, he became quite a little ball player. He even got “called up” to play coach pitch with the 7 and 8 year olds! He understands the rules of the games --- like baseball and hockey--, and he is also startingto understand what it means to be a “good sport”, including being a gracious winner and loser. He has stopped watching “kids” shows and started watching Sports Center. (He is such a big boy!)He restores a tremendous amount of sports information. Brian has learned so much in Kindergarten already. Watching him learn to read has been fascinating. He is disciplined and cooperative regarding completing his 20 minutes of “Book-It” reading each evening and all other homework that is assigned, such as marking vowels and boxing sight words in his reading books.Math skills are developing as well, including telling time and counting money. Brian is incredibly social--comfortable introducing himself to new friends and carrying on conversation with…just about anyone! You know your child is growing up when they tell you that you do not have to stay at a birthday party to which he has been invited! Now, he just has to figure out how to tie his shoes! The most incredible milestone continues to be how God keepsdeveloping Brian’s endearing, encouraging heart. “You guys are the best. Thanks for praying for me.” – Brian, with 102 degree fever	These are a Few of My Favorite Things Brian has developed a passion for all things sports-hockey, football, baseball and basketball. Brian and Brettspent hours this winter playing downstairs and haveenjoyed heading outside for a football or basketball game.Brian loves going to the Consol Energy Center to see the Pens play. He is currently trying to save $800 to purchase tickets for an upcoming game! Brian is convinced that he is not going to college, but that he is going to play sports when he grows up. He recently said to me, “Mommy, I will miss you when I live in Boston and play for the Red Sox.” Brian’s favorite foods are still pizza, stuffed crusted pizza from Eat ‘N Park, pancakes and waffles and Panera cinnamon crunch bagels. However, he will eat salad with enough ranch dressing and he has tried hot sausage and rotisserie chicken! Brian loves being with friends and always asks if he cango outside to see if anyone is playing, such as Sam & Joey Perry, Cameron & Ben Tino and Charlie & Jack Mill. (He really likes babies, especially Jonathan, of course, Claire Mill and Keely Allan. He likes to blow them raspberries and talk baby talk to them.) Brian has made many new friends in Kindergarten, including Luke Lilja, with whom we have had several afterschool playdates. Brian also loves playing with his grandparentsand “Uncle Cici”! Of course, his favorite playmate is Brett. Brian has repeatedly told me that his favorite days are May 23, 2007 (Brett’s birthday) and November 11, 2010 (Jonathan’s birthday!) He loves his teacher Miss Davis! When I picked Brian up from school on pajama day, he said, “Miss Davis looked really cute in her owl pajamas.” In his journal he completed the sentence: I work hard to______ . withhonor Miss Davis. I did recently learn something new that Brian didn’t like. During the Courage series at church, Brian told me that he is afraid of the deep end of the pool. And one of myfavorite things is the look on Brian’s face when Bretttalks about his imaginary friendsJ With neighborhood friends after finishing our service project for the food pantry (March 2011). .
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