Month sixty-two

Dear Henry,

Your birthday came and went. Thanksgiving came and went. And now, you are five years and two months old. My goodness, how fast you are growing. I know I gripe at you about brushing your teeth, making your bed, and putting your dirty clothes in the laundry room, to name a few. But I hope you also know how much I love you. It's this overwhelming feeling that never goes away, even in those moments when I am most annoyed with you, probably because you made us late, again. You are a wondrous creature. Inquisitive, lovely, kind, funny, fast, quirky, strong, gentle ... Where's the thesaurus? (Please note, that is not a type of dinosaur.)

We've spent a lot of time outside because once the real cold weather comes I won't want to go out as often and sometimes you act as if being inside is the worst possible thing ever. I've taken to letting you run around the building. It used to be that we just let you spend a few minutes in the hallway outside the condo, running up and down as long as you weren't too noisy. But now, you get the added fun of the world's slowest elevator ride. It's a good way to work out the wiggles when you've been indoors for too long. Other big kid things you get to do include taking mail out to the mailbox (I haven't told you that I watch for you out our bedroom window) and making your own bed (most days) and fixing your own breakfast! That's right. Our work with you is nearly done. 

The lower shelf in the fridge is your designated shelf. It is stocked with food you can eat at any time and it is in an area that you can reach. There are things like yogurt, applesauce, cut vegetables, cheese slices, and, well, other things you want to keep cool that are typical preschooler foods. We now put a bowl and spoon out and leave you milk on your shelf so that you can get your own cereal. You took that bit of freedom a step further and started making your own toast. I can't say the first time was a complete success as while you did complete the process without burning down the condo, you did mix up the order of steps so that the peanut butter was spread onto the bread before it was toasted. This did make a bit of a mess but nothing that couldn't be fixed. I was overjoyed that you felt confident enough to take on the toasting of your own bread. I envision a future in which you are preparing five course meals for us, and I'm looking forward to it.

We finished our first book project. Yep, a book of dinosaur butts. There are few things that you find funnier than butts, and there are few things you like more than dinosaurs. We were bound to get here sooner or later. You were so helpful, setting up the dinosaurs and helping me select which butt word we'd use to describe each dinosaurs rear end. It probably never occurred to you that there was more than one word but now that you have increased your butt vocabulary by twelve, you're a much happier kid. Methinks a sequel will follow, perhaps one involving sea creatures or reptiles?

You continue to challenge us. You continue to question. You are definitely not a people pleaser. But you are so awesome that we often overlook everything and marvel at the fact that we made you. That we get to know you and love you forever. Thanks for being on this journey with us, Bean. We wouldn't want it any other way. Okay, well, except maybe for that dang sleep issue. I mean, come on, go to bed when you are tired, kid.

Love,
Mama