46 Months - April 2011

As I write your letter this month you are hanging out at grandma's. About 8:45 this morning you and Tess were running around already driving me nuts, and my house was a mess. Then I had the brilliant idea that I'd call grandma and see if she wanted to have you guys over for the night and bring you back in time for your game tomorrow. Of course she said yes, and of course you flipped out when I told you the plan. Then, just like every time I make plans to send you to one of your grandma's houses, I got sad. I think oh, this would have been a nice day to go to the park (we've been 3 times this week already), or my cleaning didn't take that long, I didn't NEED to send you, but I know it is fun for you, fun for grandmas and grandpas, and a nice break for me. It always helps me realize that as crazy I am when I spend all day every day with you and Tess, I go even crazier when I am here by myself.

You are still in a big-time drawing mood lately and every blank piece of paper you can find is soon filled up with your drawings of monsters, dragons, or people. Grandma brought over some extra big Cars coloring sheets for you last week, and as soon as she opened them up you flipped them over so you could draw on the blank side. I think for your birthday I might just go ahead and buy you a ream or 2 of copy paper and 3 boxes of crayons and let you have a blast.

You also got in on the colored bubble action with Tess when I sent you both outside so I could mop the floor the day daddy got home from Texas. You weren't quite as messy as she was, but I suspect that has more to do with you making her messy rather than you keeping yourself clean.

I LOVE this picture. You look so handsome, and if you look close you can tell the spot right in the front and middle where you cut your own hair with scissors!

Preschool is just about over, and even though I think you haven't learned as much as you would have if I hadn't been there you sure have learned a lot. You can count to 100 (with a little help here and there), and you are getting better at using scissors to the point where I don't fear losing fingers when I help you hold your paper. Just the other day we had a breakthrough when I got you to say Logan instead of Wogan. You still have to think about where to put your tongue, which makes you make this ridiculously funny face some of the time, but it's progress! It almost makes me sad though to have you lose some of your childish lisps and language quirks.

Another handsome picture

Your dad and I were bummed earlier this year when we realized that you were going to miss the deadline for t-ball by about 6 weeks. Luckily we have some good connections and were able to get you on Ms. Teresa's team with your buddy Kashton. Your dad and I are SO nervous about you playing though. Things definitely have to be your idea for you to like them, and the point where you go from enjoying something to throwing a fit and never doing it again is very easy to hit. It is hard to be a parent and know that as bad as you want your kid to like something that you can't force it on them, so we are struggling to find the line between encouraging and pushing.

In the end I hope you know that neither one of us really cares if you love sports, science fairs, or scuba diving, but we want you to do what you enjoy doing. Both your dad and I were "too cool" types in school and missed out on a lot of things because we didn't want to risk looking stupid. That, right there, is the definition of stupid. If there is something you think looks fun, try it (not drugs!). Don't ever stop yourself from doing something because you might fail or not make the team or think that one of us will be disappointed because it isn't what we had in mind for you. You do that, and we will do our best not to push.

You are SO cute in your uniform. I love how your hat squishes your ears down. It just screams "t-ball" to me.

You are such a sweet kid. I love the moments in the morning when you wake up and come in the office to snuggle with me and get a back scratch for a few minutes before you start the day off with some Blue's Clues. The other day during this routine I asked you what I was going to do with you. You weren't sure so I suggested throwing you in the soup. (Somehow this became something we say when Tess is being naughty.) You said that wasn't a good idea and I asked you why not? Didn't you think you'd taste good? Maybe like chicken? Again you said no, so I asked you what you thought you tasted like. "Apples." I about fell off the chair. You always have something funny to say, even when you don't mean for it to be funny. I'm not sure where you got apples from, but it sure made me laugh pretty hard to start off the day.

Keep your sense of humor and do what you love to do no matter what, because the people who enjoy life and laugh are the smart ones - even if they look stupid while they're at it.

Love you Bones (you've started calling yourself Bones. I personally love it)

Mom