Real Housewife of the Bluegrass: 1,460 days

My dearest boy,

It's impossible to believe that I wrote this blog to celebrate your third birthday an entire year ago. So much has happened in the past year, and throughout it all, you have remained your sweet self.

Bubble boy

You have handled the biggest change of the year, The Move, with as much grace as a three year old boy could have. Sure, you have had your moments of meltdowns, but those have been few and far between. Overall, you have really taken to our new home in a new town with joy and ease. I was worried, to tell the truth, because change isn't usually your bag. When faced with a new situation, you tend to hold back, let things unfold, and then decide what you think about it all. But with The Move, you were ready to embrace something new. It helped that we had visited Valpo so many times and that we had family here, but it still could have been really difficult. You have taken to your new school...I think. You are happy when I drop you off and happy when I pick you up. Often, that's the only clues I get to however your day was. You're not big into talking about your activities of the day, but you share things with me throughout the week in little bits and pieces. That's just who you are, though, so it doesn't bother me in the least. I'm on a need-to-know basis with school information, and I suppose that's something I should get used to.

At one of Kate's volleyball games

You're still really, really obsessed with pirates. Your new room is loaded with pirate paraphernalia, and you love to play in there. One of my favorite things that you do is your "evil" pirate laugh: you fancy yourself as quite the scurvy cur. I'm pretty sure you would wear your pirate costume 24/7 if I would let you. Quite frankly, I have let you from time to time because it was a lot easier than arguing with you. We recently went to the courthouse in town, and you were in full pirate regalia. You couldn't take your hook inside because no weapons were allowed, but that's about the only time you haven't had a hook or sword in your hand. You're also crazy about super heroes, the Avengers in particular. I know next to nothing about all that stuff, but you don't seem to notice or care. We have supplied you with enough super hero shirts and shoes to last you a lifetime...or at least until you grow out of them.

I'll throw you in the brig, me bucco!

Your current favorite thing to do is browse Halloween catalogs. There is something about dressing up like a rough and tough guy that really appeals to you. I wish I knew if that was because that's how you see yourself or if it's who you wish you could be. Either way, it's fun to watch you change your mind a million times a day about what costume you want to wear for Halloween. You also love to sit at a little desk in your bedroom and look at books at night. I wish that you wouldn't feel the need to pull every single book off the shelf every single night, but I can't complain too much about reading. And you do read. You know how to spell like nobody's business, and you read a crazy amount of words. I'm not sure you understand how wonderful that is for so many reasons. Not only is reading awesome but you use books to entertain yourself all the time, so I know you're going to learn the joy of losing yourself in a book.

Don't bother me. I'm reading.

You have become braver and more confident in the past year. You used to be afraid of being in the pool, but you have come to enjoy it. You don't mind getting dirty as much as you used to as long as it's all in the name of fun. (Or if Lottie tells you to get dirty.) New things can still stress you out, but somehow you have learned to adapt to them quicker than you used to. You're growing and maturing so quickly that it easy to forget sometimes that you're only four years old.

Splashing in puddles on S. Ashland Ave.

Mud fun

You say "sometimes" when you mean "sometime" and it makes Lottie crazy. You tell your sister that she's being "undorable" when she annoys you. You like to call people "bilge rat" and "scurvy dog" when the mood strikes you. I mean, you're a funny kid, and you have absolutely no idea how hilarious you are. You make us laugh, and that's the best gift of all. One thing that I admire about you is the fact that you know exactly what you want: you know who you are. You like to play your own games, and you enjoy taking some time alone. If someone offers you something or wants to do something with you that doesn't appeal to you, you simply say, "No, thanks." You are politely unapologetic about doing your own thing. I think we could all learn from that.

Making silly faces at Cinderella's Royal Table

You still love to cuddle me, and I take advantage of that every minute that I can. I know that someday you won't run up, kiss me, and say, "I love you so much, Mom." You might still give me a one-armed hug now and again, but you won't want me to snuggle with you in the morning before school. You won't lay your big head against my shoulder when you're hurt and just need your mama. But in my heart I know that you will always be my sweet, tender, smart, empathetic boy. That's who you are, and that's who you will always be.