December 2016 (6 years and 3 months old)

Dear Patrick,

• Your Christmas list to Santa included ninja turtle and star wars Legos, shoes with wheels, a metal detector, beyblades, confetti, and a suit and tie, which made me laugh - Patrick P Keaton. Of course, anytime someone asks what you want from Santa, your list grows longer.
• I’m biased, but I think your cookies were the best at the annual Whitaker Cookie Party this year. You didn’t even eat them - you saved them to bring to Biggie and Gangie when you spent the night later that evening.
• We got our Christmas tree in the rain on Sunday 12/4. It was the quickest selection in history because we basically chose one by pointing from the car window and throwing cash.
• For a boy who prides himself on on greens and blues (and even a few pink superstars), you have tipped the behavior color chart scale in the other direction with two yellows and a red - in a row - this month. Your teacher explained how the excitement of the season is tough on most kids. We took your screen time and dessert away to make a point, but a part of me is really happy you have such good friends in your life. Of course I want you to learn self discipline - I just also love that you practice sign language across the classroom mat with your best friend Mason.
• On Saturday 12/10 after ice skating downtown with the Meredith family for Kate's birthday, you suggested that we come home and “get cozy,” which basically means you getting back into your PJs and requesting hot chocolate as we finish the movie Annie we had started that morning. What a Hard Knock Life.
• As I put you to bed Sunday 12/11, I asked if you remembered how angry you had become when trying to learn how to ice skate the day before. I chose my words carefully because although I didn’t want to bring up a negative experience, I felt it was important to discuss. “I want you to know that this won’t be the last time you will feel angry, sad or frustrated,” I said. “Life is full of new stuff and those new challenges are hard. But it’s good that things are hard because those are the times that push us to be better.” I asked you to try and remember the next time, when you think you can’t, to take a deep breath and try again. I said, “I’m most proud of you not when you win, but when you work really hard. The effort is the key.” I’m not sure that my ramblings in the dark at bedtime really sunk in for you, but I gave it my best effort.
• Watching you laugh at the movie, “Home Alone” on Saturday 12/18 made my entire holiday. I was nervous at first that the movie might be too old for you - or scary since robbers were breaking into a home, but you were laughing so hard that you had tears in your eyes. You laugh with your whole body. A great, big, huge belly laugh that comes pouring out of you and reddens your face. I will never forget it. I want to watch this movie with you every day.
• On 12/19 when I dropped you off for winter camp at The Children’s Museum, you walked right up to the front table, eager to meet new friends. The staff introduced you to another boy named Patrick and I heard you say, "You can call me Patrick B - everyone at my school does."
• Uncle Jono, Aunt Jen and cousin Jack came into town at the end of the month and my favorite time was having them over our house and then later meeting Big Mitchell and Gangie out for drinks and snacks.
• Omi and Pop were in town for Christmas and we ate the best Yorkshire pudding to date - cooking-in-law gave a strong performance. I also loved watching Omi help you read your letter from Santa. The day after Christmas, Pop dropped Omi off at the Atlanta airport on his way back to Macon so that Omi could go visit Uncle Bunky in Paris.
• When we drove the Shreveport this year to visit the Richards, we expected a great time with great friends. I did not expect breakfast in bed, mother-daughter violin serenades, late night PJs and spiked apple cider, beautiful weather and making homemade ornaments in the sunshine.
• After 12 hours in a car (on the drive home), it’s understandable to be a little frustrated behind the wheel. At one point, your father muttered under his breath and you, not understanding, asked from the backseat, “What’s a gass-old?”
• We celebrated the end of 2016 in Pell City, Alabama. The rain was relentless and although we wanted to keep driving, we made the decision to stop. As you slept soundly in our Hampton Inn hotel room, your father and I toasted with bourbon in paper cups. Happy New Year!