June 2015: 57 months (4 years and nine months old)

Dear Patrick,

• On Friday 6/5 you told me a bug flew in your ear. To humor you, I got a flashlight and looked, and there - in your ear - was an actual, tiny bug with wings and legs. I removed it with tweezers and made a mental note to believe everything you tell me.
• This month you learned how to crack lobsters from a Massachusetts pro.
• You met a new friend named Spence at the pool, who is also four years old. He taught you to jump in from the side. You also love when we throw you in (with puddle jumper on).
• On 6/2 Biggie took you and your father to a baseball game after work and you sat in the front row behind third base and ate peanuts. There was only enough time for one inning before your bedtime, but you came home with a ball and a huge smile.
• Thank you (I think!) Suber family for introducing us to "Larva" - a totally disgusting weird cartoon, but makes you laugh like I've never seen.
• You tell us regularly that you have a really old grandfather who lives in Egypt and you use to visit him when you were a tiny baby.
• Your toy “Greenie Bob” speaks with a Jamaican accent, thanks to your father.
• You like for us to count to twelve when you are asked to stand still (like when we brush your hair after your bath.) You came up with the counting method of patience all by yourself. You are a statue while we count and you don’t mind if we count slow or fast, but when twelve is said out-loud, time is up.
• You made a decision about which “lovie” to bring to school by saying “eenie meenie miney moe” on 6/19.
• The “It-doesn’t-matter-which-foot-you-put-your-sock-on” song, which you made up and sing in the mornings, is catchy and gets stuck in my head.
• You read out-loud from the back of the cereal box: “no fish oils.” I was amazed. Not only because there is a possibly of fish oils in mini-wheats (who knew?!), but also by the fact that you sounded out the letters all by yourself. You needed a little help with “oils” but you basically did it alone. That was the first time I saw you read.
• Netflix carries old Sesame Street episodes and we’ve enjoyed watching those this month with you. The aliens that beep make you laugh the hardest.
• On the annual Dad/Patrick beach trip to Pawley’s Island, you were sick, but I hear you guys managed to still have a lot of fun. I loved the photos I received of you and Jack and Abigail together - what a cutie crew.
• When you crawl into our bed in the mornings, you will saddle up next to one of us and basically suctioned yourself to us as you fall back to sleep. Its so amazingly comfortable - except when you flail your arms around and knock us in the head. Then I second guess that arrangement.
• For Father’s Day weekend, we went to the Satterfield’s lake house with the Okupinskis and had a great time on the boat and in the pool. We brought extra goggles to share with Sylvie and Quinn. And you picked up some Mindcraft tips from the older kids.
• We had an adventure at the end of the month as we drove to Atlanta, took Marta to the Airport and then a shuttle to meet Omi & Pop’s plane from Spain. This would be the first time you would go to Macon without your parents and I had a momentary fear that we had not prepared you for the separation...But when you followed everyone out the doors and didn’t even look to say goodbye, we knew it was fine. There wasn't a moment hesitation. You are happy wherever you are.