Dear Sam,

Today you turned four years old. You were especially thrilled to be four, but when I asked you how it felt to be a four-year-old you just smiled your shy smile and said “pretty good.”  From what I can tell, it feels better then that.  You’ve been walking with a little strut, talking with a little bit of sass and giggle, and seem to have a little extra pep knowing that you are one whole year older.

For your birthday party you asked for a “big party with small friends.”  This meant that you wanted a full party at a  bouncy house place, but you didn’t want to many people there.  Your birthday party (on the morning of Halloween) was an entire bouncy house facility for you and six of your friends.  You loved every minute of it and didn’t sit still once.  You raced from corner to corner with a little smile on your face. You ended up winning a few little prizes for being the birthday boy, and you immediately turned and gave them to friends.  Even on your birthday, you have a generous spirit.

You’ve had a big year with lots of learning, growing and adventures.  You spend hours on your scooter and are the best scooter-er in the west.  You like people, but you love animals and insects.  When I ask you what you are grateful for, you will often tell me ‘elephants and beluga whales.’

Your favorite question is “how does it work?”  A frequent sound in our house is the crash of the toilet lid hitting the bathroom floor.  When we walk into the bathroom you look up from peering into the back of the toilet and say “how does the toilet work?”  You want to know where the water goes down the drain, how the airplane flies and how the car drives.  We don’t always have the answers, but when you aren’t satisfied then you just patiently ask again.

Your sister is your favorite person on earth, but you have a best buddy who you are inseperable with at school.  You love your grandparents, cousins and neighbors, but you don’t open up to just anyone.  When you do share your thoughts, they are often unique, contemplative, silly and funny in a very dry way.  I remind you that your words are your power, but you are discreet when you use them.

We absolutely adore you and we can’t wait to see what the next year brings to you.

Lots of love,

Momma