Jay Bird,
A few days ago you sat across the kitchen table from me at lunch, grabbed two grapes and explained (correctly I might add) how the earth revolves around the sun and about night and day/light and dark. After you were finished you grabbed one of the grapes, bit it in half and jokingly announced “now there is only half of a sun!” I sat there in awe of you. Lately, you seem to be growing and maturing overnight. I am constantly amazed by all that you already know and what you are so quickly learning. I wake up one day and your pants are two inches too short and the next day you’re trying new tricks or telling me the most amazing stories. It is baffling really how easily the days turn into weeks and the weeks to months and so on. It feels like just yesterday they placed you in my arms making me a Mommy. I constantly find myself wishing for time to slow down so I can enjoy all of the craziness that is our life right now but for whatever reason time keeps speeding past me like your constant car races- zooming by with endless speed, energy and enthusiasm.

Speed, energy and enthusiasm are wonderful ways to describe you these days kiddo. You, for the most part, are a ball of constantly moving energy. You don’t sit still, you are constantly moving and always have something new and fun “planned”.  You frequently say “I was thinking…” or “Mommy, don’t you think that is a good idea?” inserting whatever new plan you have.  You are still infatuated with cars and race them daily. When you have been away at school you come home and go straight to racing without much talking or awareness of anything else for that matter. It’s as though you have gone through withdrawal while you were away and need to get your fix as soon as humanly possible. While racing, you dream up scenarios and stories for your cars and lately you have built elaborate “sets” with our wooden blocks to race your cars in. I am not exactly sure how long this infatuation of yours will last but right now it is still holding strong.

Aside from racing cars you still love the outdoors and adore being able to run, play soccer, hit the ball off of the tee or ride your bike while you are out there. You would dance in the rain every chance you got if I would let you and dig in our sandbox until the sun is down and you can no longer see. You are moving from sun up to sun down lately, which has honestly been a bit of a challenge. We’ve been making it work with a mandatory “rest” time in the afternoon although it is seldom that you actually “rest” during rest time. You usually are racing your cars or reading quietly in your room. You want so desperately to be able to read on your own right now and are making great strides towards achieving that. You know your letters and numbers like the back of your hand and are starting to recognize the sounds of words and letters. It truly is amazing to me how much you absorb these days. You have really enjoyed going to school (no real surprise there) and Mrs. Coates is usually complementary of how much you know and what a nice friend you are. I am so proud of you sweet boy! Aside from books and cars, your other love would have to be art right now. Frequently, you ask if you can color, draw or paint. Most of your pictures are of cars or of you with other people. You are getting really good and most of your pictures are easily deciphered without much explanation. You add details that are so accurate and will color for hours if I let you.

Kiddo you are exhaustingly awesome and each day you make me so proud to be your Mommy. You love hard, you play hard and you do most everything 110% of the way (Daddy’s note: this dedication includes your stall-tactics). This is not to say that we don’t have struggles dear boy because we certainly have. 3 was really tough, but nothing that we haven’t been able to work through. I love watching you grow. I love watching your learn new things and I love the bone crushing hugs that you so easily give. I hope that you continue to greet each day like it is an adventure, an adventure to be met with enthusiasm, curiosity and a kind heart. You will go far sweet boy, I have no doubt, and I am thankful every day that you are taking me along for the ride.

I love you sweet boy!
Love,
Mommy