For Spencer

 Dear little blueberry boy,

The other night, as your stroked my face and hair before falling asleep in my bed (I admittedly love this), you said to me in your sweetest, most reassuring voice, "I'll wake you up in the morning, Mom. As soon as the sun comes up." 

I smiled and signed, both, knowing you'd be true to your word!

A few months ago, when we woke up together, you rolled over close by me and asked, "Is it morning, Mom?"
"Ahuh" I answered sleepily.
Your echoing groove, "ahuh, ahuh, ahuh!" (think Emperor Koozco) as you climbed out of bed was, truly, the perfect way to start a day. 

You do make me laugh, little son.  Often.  We were eating chocolate chip cookies one Sunday evening recently, and I exasperatedly reprimanded you for wiping your chocolaty hand on the light green sweater vest you were wearing.  You gave a hasty glance at the chocolate smear and told me in your typical, nonchalant way, "It's ok.  It looks like a sticker."

Very decisive and opinionated, you're already becoming the man of the house.  When you saw me hammering a nail in the wall to hang a picture the other day, you cried out in shocked dismay, "Mom!  You're not a worker!"  That comment did not help my masculinity complex at all! =)  But I've already taken comfort in the fact that someday I'll turn the lawn mowing over to you.  In five years maybe?  Think you'll be tall enough to see over the handle bar? 

In the meantime, I'm trying to appreciate your smallness (which is rapidly slipping away!).  I know that someday soon you're going to stop spontaneously clutching my head and pulling me to your cheek, whispering, "Give me a butterfly."  (You're going to have to mow the lawn to make up for that kind of loss, my boy!)

But for now, you are small.  And you still love butterfly kisses.  And you're learning so much.  Sometimes I have to remind myself to teach you things.  Things I assume you already know because your sister knows them.  I had to remind myself after Thanksgiving, when Grandma Packer pulled out a laminated nativity scene for you and Lucy to play with.  When you saw your sis arranging the manger in the middle of the stable floor, you quickly intervened.  "The nest goes up here!" you said, repositioning the manger high in the rafters.  =)

It hasn't taken you long to get the story down accurately. 

I smiled to my ears the other evening when you prayed sincerely at the dinner table, "Thank thee for Baby Jesus and the Stable." 

I'm glad you're learning to be thankful.  I want you to know that I'm thankful for you.  (And for the pirate booty you leave in the laundry.)