My baby boy,

The live action Lilo and Stitch movie came out a few weeks ago and we hadn’t seen it yet. I had to look it up because I wasn’t sure if you were still with us when they were filming on the island, but you were. Do you remember? We were excited to eventually go and see the movie and see some of the beaches we went to.

We went to go see it today since daddy was here. I wanted to wait for him so we could all see it together. I was not at all prepared for what seeing that movie would make me feel. For one thing, I had never even seen the original one until I watched it “with you” while you were in the hospital. I think that’s it might actually be the only time I’ve watched the entire movie. For what it made me feel, though, it’s going to be one I go back to watch over and over again.

With the movie just being set in Hawaii and some of the culture, I felt like I lit up seeing all that. I have told you a million times, but I will tell you again, I am so incredibly thankful for our time living in Hawaii. What I was able to take from that place in the darkest moments of my life, I will forever be grateful. When I go back to Hawaii in my mind, I also go back to you. I go back to Lt. Board, you digging like a dog on the beach, you trying to get different flavor combinations of shave ice that would still make a rainbow with the colors, and just being able to watch you live so freely there.

On the one hand, I felt so happy at and peaceful seeing Hawaii and thinking about our time there, but on the other hand I’m crying in the theater because I’m missing you and our times there.

There’s one part of the movie that I had actually forgotten about and they actually changed a little in the live action one. Somehow, the universe gave me a heads up, and I was headed to the bathroom and missed it. In the original, Lilo is surfing with her sister and Stitch, but Lilo falls in. They think Stitch is pulling her down when he’s actually trying to save her. They don’t go past the beach, though. It ends there. Apparently in this version Lilo drowns, is pulled from the ocean, and taken to the hospital. I missed that part and I am forever thankful. I heard them say something about “she wants to ride in the MRI” or something like that, but it didn’t even register what I missed.

Lucas set a special seat for you next to him at the theatre. He also made sure he set out some snacks just for you, to include some of his twizzlers. Once the movie was over, he asked, “why are all the movies sad since Isaiah had died? Why do we always cry in movies?”. He went on to name every movie we’ve seen and he’s not wrong. I told him it’s because we wished you were there. We never thought you wouldn’t be.

I love you more than anything, my baby. Goodnight and sweet dreams.