Starting with the day you arrived, a month early and with barely any warning, you’ve kept me on my toes. Most of the time I find myself still processing one thing you asked for/announced before realizing that you’ve asked for 3 more things. You rattle off stats, interesting facts, commercial jingles, news about your day, scores, etc. at such a rate that my head is constantly spinning.

What a balance it is — to constantly be intaking all this information from you, quickly filtering through it to pick out those nuggets I need to hold on to, all the while not missing something important.

Because I see you, my tender-hearted child, and I hear you. I hear you when you are sad that a weekend or vacation is done because it’s hard to get back to normal. I see how you love to make people laugh. I hear you when you are frustrated about classmates who make school challenging or recess not fun. I see how you go above and beyond to help your teachers whenever you can (including needing to be the first kid at school each day so you can help take down chairs for your teacher). I hear you when you worry about the people you love being sick. I see how hard you try, how much you give, how completely you love.

You taught me something so huge this year: to stay in the moment. To notice the little things — and appreciate them. After not taking a vacation in 2 years the first words out of your mouth when arrived in Florida in February: “It’s grass!” Something so minor but you took that moment to be grateful for something as little as the sight of grass in February.

You are my heart and I love you more than I ever could have imagined it possible.

And now…a few other things you said this year that made me smile.

Always trying to get us with a riddle…

“What is a word that starts with a ‘F’ & ends with ‘K’.” 

{THE WORD WAS FIRE TRUCK}

Talking about a player he likes in the NBA switching teams. 

Me: Is there talk that will happen? 

B: There’s talk in my brain it will. 

First year of having his own fantasy football team—which he took very seriously during draft night.

How he decided on a bouquet for me for Mother’s Day. 

“Well, I was thinking birthday…I’m thinking colorful…. and boom “pretty in pink” looked like a good one.”

And how he decided on a Christmas gift for me.

"After walking around the store for a bit, turns to Marc and says, “Well we know she likes pillows.”

Never being shy about “requests”…

“Hey daddy, after Wednesday’s practice maybe you’ll surprise me with a clean car.”

Always one for a good pun.

Holding up the bowl full of oranges. 

“I won the Orange Bowl.”

Observations while watching TV.

During an episode of The Good Place where two people think they are in love with the same person, without missing a beat:

“Is this an episode of The Bachelor or The Good Place?”

Never missing an opportunity for more food.

B wanting some of my food. I tell him no because I’m hungry. 

“Well if you get full, you know a guy.”

I mean…he really loves food. This was also the year that B realized he could not only order off of the adult menu at restaurants (something he’s been doing for years) but he could order more than just a burger or pizza. Dinners out became much more expensive this year.

Eating a steak: “This is merry Xmas to my mouth.” 

Oh, but do NOT offer him mashed potatoes. And, if you do, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

He knows his strengths.

Playing 20 questions.

Subject: athlete

“Yessss, my time to shine.”

Trying to grow up a little too fast?

B, commenting on his nonexistant facial hair… “I’m starting to grow a mustache”

Not shy about things he finds…annoying.

Iko Iko comes on the radio. 

B (semi-disgustedly): What’s this song? 

Marc: An oldie!

B: Well does anyone “likey”? 

This includes movies made in the “nineteen-hundreds” …

Introducing kids to the goonies & first thing B says is “ugh, 1985.”

Always a quick reply…

B: What are you doing

Daddy: Picking up leaves, you wanna help?

B: Sadly, I have to play a game with Elena. 

And

Ask B to do something. 

B: Nahhhhh

Me: Why

B: I gotta tight schedule. 

And there are times he doesn’t even know why he’s so funny to us…

Got a hand carved wooden box from grandparents for his birthday. Decided to put his money in it. “Look I have a place for my stash now!”

For real…it’s the simple things in life for him.

We spent an afternoon organizing his room & then a friend rode his bike over to play. After his friend left, we finished his room and he says “I love this day.”

Finally, after getting a walk-off hit to win a baseball game, Marc was reminding B to hold onto that moment and remember the feeling. To which he says, “Ok, I’m remembering it and thinking about it so it’s in my head and in my heart.”

B, hold tight to your joy and kindness. And even though the world can be tough sometimes, I hope you don’t lose your tender-heartedness.