I was looking forward to writing a post all about how you're the best big brother, but I guess that's going to have to wait another month. Baby Sister seems to want to be on time, if not late. I much preferred your time table of coming a little bit early. You and I were talking the other day about what will happen when Baby Sister is coming. I realized that I should warn you that I would have to sleep at the hospital for some nights, so I made a point of bringing it up the other morning. When I told you that I would be gone for a couple of nights, you were quiet for a second. Then you said, "Where will Dada be?" I said, "He'll be at home with you. He'll be here to take care of you." And then we were on to different topics, so I guess you weren't too worried about it.
You have been insisting a lot that I do things with you, or for you, instead of Dad. I finally told you that you have to let Dad have a turn helping you sometimes. In fact, I told you that we would all have to take turns helping each other and helping Baby Sister, since she'll be a little tiny wrinkly baby who won't be able to do anything. That got a giggle out of you.
You slept in your big bed two nights in a row this week. You've got another molar coming in, which you've decided will help you eat frozen pasta. And we've had a heat wave, which means I had to get out all of your summer clothes early. I have a sneaking suspicion that I either didn't keep enough pairs of shorts from last summer, or that I've put them somewhere I can't remember right now, because your shorts supply seems way too small. And also way too big, since you haven't gained any weight over the winter like I expected. You had your three year old check up early in the month, at which you came in at the 3rd percentile for height and weight. Nobody is worried about your health--you're certainly doing everything a normal three year old should be doing, and you eat like crazy. It just might mean that I have to learn how to sew some extra elastic into the waistbands of your shorts.
The warm weather means we've been outside a lot, which is nice. You've learned to ride a tricycle already. It's really fun to watch you pedal your way down the block, but we often end up having to push you on the way home. Uncle Alex and Aunt Lena sent us a new wagon, just like the one that they have. It's pretty fantastic--very robust with a nice sun shade. It folds up for storage or transport, and it's got a nice handle and good steering. It's even got a storage basket off of the back end. It's a pretty sweet machine. We've also dug up several worms, and cut down a bunch of dead flowers that got ignored last fall. I'm looking forward to taking you over to the mulch piles again. We had a lot of fun with that last summer. I'm also looking forward to getting several things in the house washed, not the least of which is the dogs, and I think you'll enjoy helping with that, too. You tend to enjoy anything that involves squirting the hose around.
The really exciting news from this month was that Dad got a new job! We're all very excited for him to have a job that he enjoys again. When Grandma Lam told you that Dad got a new job, you said, "Go see it!" which made us laugh. We were also joking about the possibility that Take Your Child to Work Day would be pretty fun, if you got to go to work with Dad and use table saws and soldering irons, instead of plug in monitors or file paperwork.
And other than that, it's been a quiet month. When I was in high school and college, I used to think that quiet meant boring, that you were clearly missing out on terrific, mind-expanding adventures. I feel differently now, although I still hope to have travel and exploration in my life. But it's much easier now to understand the blessings of an ordinary life. It feels good to be able to give my time and energy to our family, instead of to worry or to work. I like being able to show you how a microscope works, or watch Mighty Machines videos, or get you your own egg beater and help you make scrambled eggs for yourself. And if it means that our vacations are to National Parks instead of nations abroad, well, I think there is still plenty of excitement to be had, if you're open to it.
Love,
Mom
This is the self-portrait you brought home from school in your Friday Folder. It's you, with spiny arms. We think it's pretty awesome.
