A Letter Before Your 4th Birthday
Another birthday is coming, and this year has been particularly insane. Between becoming a big brother to sheltering in place at home, this year has been one that we will remember! This year we dug for dinosaurs, found new splash pads, went to Howl-o-scream, and Christmastown for the first time, ran around like crazy, and took another road trip to Pittsburgh where we saw Thomas Town, but also discovered that you get car sick. You called throwing up in the car 12 times a "big spit".
Watching you grow into a kid who celebrates his brother's victories has been the highlight of my year. You're attentive, loving, and responsive to your brother. Last school year you were quiet, shy, and reserved, but this year you've found your voice and really grown into your own person. You still are obsessed with trains and all things Thomas, but you also really like Mickey Mouse, Ninja Turtles, and most recently Chico Bon-Bon.
We spend our mornings working on your online schooling and the afternoons running through sprinklers, working in the garden, doing arts and crafts, riding bikes, building with legos or on the train table. You love the beach, fireworks, the jump park, playgrounds, and ice skating. You don't love taking your afternoon rest and all of a sudden you don't like grilled cheese. You're an expert at the claw machine and love getting little prizes which you almost always give your brother.
Since this birthday will be a little different, we are camping in the back yard for your first ever sleepover with your two best friends. Being four means that next year you'll need a real backpack, to go into real preschool. It might seem like such a small thing, a new backpack, but in a way it shows the transition into the new changes to come. Happiest of birthday wishes to my first born, my number one, and my favorite dance partner. Here's to another year of laughs, snuggles, and all the joy in the world.
-Mama
