Dear Eliza, 116 Months Old

You got your ears pierced!

This is a big deal. For years, you were scared any time we brought it up, naturally linking the idea to the pain of doctor shots. I used to kick myself for not having them pierced when you were a baby like Nonno suggested—but none of that matters now. Your studs are in!

Getting to the appointment at Ulta Beauty was a journey months in the making. You started wearing sticker earrings almost daily (SO CUTE) to match your outfits, and I’m glad that satisfied you for a while. As the school year went on and more of your friends got their ears pierced—especially your bestie Aliyah—you began dropping hints: “I might want to get my ears pierced soon,” or “My friend said it doesn’t hurt that bad.” Then, suddenly, you turned a corner: “I want to get my ears pierced next week!”

Whoa. We thought you’d wait until your birthday in the fall. But you were determined to have them done in time for your big dance recital and before the school year ended, so you could show your friends. We even offered Matteo the option to get his ears pierced too. I told you the story about getting my eyebrow pierced in high school—not advisable. Matteo gave it some thought but ultimately passed. This moment was all yours.

You and Mom went to our local Ulta to scout the piercing process and earring options. You came back beaming—completely convinced you were ready. Mom booked the appointment for a few days later, and we all went as a family, joined by Aliyah and her mom (and our friend) Lindsey. When our little support crew arrived, the piercing specialist said it was the biggest audience she’d ever had. Little did she know just how big your cheering section really is.

You sat in the chair with your classic stoic look: big eyes, chin dropped, silent and focused. You were ready. The specialist lined up the piercing gun, and—bam—one ear done. You smiled right away, realizing you were already halfway there and it wasn’t so bad. Just moments later, the other ear was pierced just as quickly. We clapped, cheered, and snapped a ton of photos of the new you.

Since then, you’ve done an amazing job keeping your ears clean and turning the earrings. You probably over-clean them—you tell me at least twice a day when you’ve done it. Better safe than sorry. The earrings look fantastic, and your birthstone tourmaline (that lovely pink!) suits you so well. I can tell you’re proud of yourself—and we’re so proud of how brave and grown-up you are too.

Love,
Dad

Dear Matteo, 95 Months Old

We made it to our first couple of Tacoma Rainiers games this season. As I wrote in my last letter, you’ve become a full-blown baseball fanatic. You love jumping on the TV to catch the latest highlights. We throw the ball and practice pitching in the backyard a few times a week, and your interests have shifted from collecting Pokémon cards to collecting baseball cards. You even asked for a pack of baseball cards from your tooth fairy, Trevor, when you lost your last tooth. Now, what to do with all those Pokémon cards? (Asks every parent.)

Uncle Scott invited us to our first game as part of one of his client appreciation nights. We sat in box seats right behind home plate. You were a little bummed that we weren’t in prime foul ball territory, but the views were great and you stayed glued to your seat. I think you love learning the game—the stats, the pitch counts, the field positions. You insisted we stay through the end of the game, making for a late school night, even though the Rainiers had been trailing most of the time. Good call: in the bottom of the ninth, down two runs, the Rainiers came back to win!

Our next game was for your “school night.” We arrived early on a warm Friday evening so you could catch batting practice and try to snag a game ball. An outfielder noticed you and tossed one our way! You then posted up near the Rainiers’ team tunnel and got half a dozen players to sign it. You were winning before the game even started. We didn’t see much of you during the game—you were off running around the stands with your buddies, dancing during every song break, and even made it onto the big screen out in the outfield. The Rainiers didn’t win that night, but we stayed for the fireworks show afterward, which was genuinely impressive. Since we’re usually not close to any big fireworks displays for the Fourth of July, I know you and Eliza enjoyed what was probably the first show you’ll really remember.

Baseball has become such a special thread in our lives this season—not just for the games, but for the moments in between: playing catch in the backyard, the car rides filled with questions about stats and trades, the shared excitement in the stands. I can’t wait to see where this love of the game takes you next.

Dear Eliza, 115 Months Old

We have officially entered your hair-dying era.

I’m sure this idea sparked from your circle of friends, but one day, out of the blue, you asked if we could order a temporary hair dye kit from Amazon. Of course, we said yes. You’ve always been tuned in to your personal style, so this wasn’t a big surprise. The kit arrived the next day, and it works a bit like watercolor paint. You added a bold red streak to your hair and immediately said, “Coooool.” Naturally, your brother wanted in on the fun, and you happily gave him a colorful series for school the next day. Since then, you’ve been choosing colors to match your outfits a few days each week.

Hair dye and bleach were all the rage when your mom and I were in junior high and high school, so you’re catching this trend a bit early—not that we mind. Your Uncle Scott and I used to bleach our hair, though he would sometimes get too close to the scalp and end up with a stinging burn. I can’t speak for your Mom, but I know she once had a misadventure trying to lighten her hair that ended in an unexpected shade of red. These phases are all part of growing up, and they make for some great stories and even better photos.

What really surprised us, though, was your sudden interest in getting your ears pierced. Your Mom and I have always been supportive of this, and in hindsight, we all regret not listening to Nonno and getting them pierced when you were a baby—it would have saved us all a bit of stress!

Over the past few months, as more of your friends got their ears pierced, we’d occasionally ask if you were interested, but you’d always brush it off, comparing it to the dreaded feeling of getting shots at the doctor. Recently, though, you’ve taken to wearing sticker earrings regularly, and it’s honestly the cutest thing. I have a hunch that you’re starting to feel like they’re just not quite the real thing, and the allure of real hoops and studs is pulling you in.

Of course, your brother has toyed with the idea as well, though he’s been back and forth on it. We’ll support him either way. Naturally, we all have to joke about whether his first piercing might be as bold as mine—a single eyebrow ring. Like I said, these phases hit all of us, and I have the photos to prove it.

Love,
Dad

Dear Matteo, 94 Months Old

It’s official: my 7-year-old son can out-throw me.

As spring arrives and the days grow warmer, you've been asking to throw a ball after school almost every day. This is partly because Mom and I had a parenting slip by not signing you up for a spring sport like flag football or baseball. Based on our backyard sessions, I can confidently say you'd excel at either.

Lately, we've been reaching for the football most often. You’ve got a tight spiral down, hitting a stationary target with impressive accuracy. I’ve been pushing you to pass on the run, which takes a bit more finesse—anticipating where your receiver is headed and leading them just right. You're already tossing 30-40 yard bombs with a pretty spiral, a clear sign that all that recess football at school is paying off.

We throw the baseball less often, but you have a solid arm there, too. I’ve never had much of a baseball arm, which might explain why I stepped away from organized baseball in the second or third grade. Meanwhile, your Mom has a real cannon, thanks to years of softball, including her days at Bethel College. Go Pilots. Your catching is coming along, too, though I think a bigger mitt might help you snag those tricky high ones.

We've started batting more, too. You’ve always had a knack for making solid contact. We set up the bases and play with ghost runners. When it’s my turn to bat, you fire fastballs from 10 yards away, daring me to make contact. I can still get enough of them to keep the game competitive.

Some of our best conversations happen in the backyard. I think you put up with my questions about school and friends mostly to keep the game going. You're a nonstop talker, filling our playtime with off-color recess jokes, updates on your favorite athletes, and stories from recent playdates with friends and cousins.

I hope we have many more springs ahead, throwing balls in the grass.

Love,
Dad

Dear Eliza, 114 Months Old

I found myself in a surprising and delightful place the other night. We were up at the cabin, and Matteo was ready for lights out before you were. I had planned to read before bed—just like you always do—so I invited you to join me on the couch under the arching lamp.

And that’s exactly what we did. We sat together and read in silence for an hour. It’s hard to describe how cool it is to have a daughter who not only reads big, chunky novels but tears through them even faster than I can. Just a couple of years ago, we were still sounding out words together. Now, we can’t keep enough books on your shelf.

Right now, you’re deep into The Land of Stories series by Chris Colfer. You can finish one of those 500+ page books in about a week—something that would take me at least a month!

You’ve also been busy with dance, which now takes up a couple of nights each week. Your mom and I were especially impressed when you told us you wanted to audition for the school talent show with your friend Nora—on top of your regular dance schedule. We were a little nervous for you, since performing in front of classmates is a whole different experience than dancing in a recital full of parents and family. But you proved just how brave and talented you are. Not only did you make it into the show, but you were the closing act—the best performance of the night!

You and Nora choreographed the dance yourselves to a Taylor Swift song and practiced at each other’s houses after school. The result was an amazing performance that brought the show to a perfect finish.

For someone who’s generally introverted and shy, you really know how to pick your moments. Your reading and dancing continue to inspire, impress, and entertain me.

Love,
Dad