Dear Dominick,
How is it that you turned four?! Leading up to your birthday I would often think, "oh he's just turning three", but no. You are FOUR. Four seems so much older. It's amazing to me how much you've changed, learned and matured this past year. You had quite a big year and it was a good one at that.
Buddy, you are the MOST amazing little boy that I've ever met. Your daddy and I are so, so proud and blessed to be your parents. Most nights after you've gone to bed we talk about you and things that you say or do. You make us laugh like nobody else can, you make us happier and our lives so much fuller by knowing you. I am SO grateful God trusted us to be your parents because I can't imagine my life without you. You've become a little security blanket for me and I feel the most complete and comfortable when I'm with you.
You really do have the greatest personality and are told that often. You are so incredibly funny and have a lot of little one liners that we laugh and laugh about. You are sweet and have a tender heart, but stubborn as an ox. You are resilient and handle change like a champ. You love your family, friends and your two dogs and are incredibly loyal. You love being around others and are very friendly. You are kind of bossy, but tend to be a "follower" (much to my dismay). We have been told it's okay and it is partly because you are an only child, but you are a leader also in so many other ways so we do our best to help parent you with both qualities. You get SO excited over the littlest things and it makes life so much more fun. You are ALL boy and I do love that. I never imagined I would love being a boy mom so much, but I LOVE it. I love being YOUR mom.
This year your daddy deployed and it was his first. You have handled it so well and it showed me how amazing you really are. We had been talking about him going for a very long time, but I don't think you fully understood until we took him to the airport. When I would cry you would ask if I was okay and then you would tell me it was okay. When you were sad you would internalize as you were nervous to express your emotions and if it would be okay. You talk about him often and love the times you get to facetime with him (which is nearly every day).
This year we didn't go on many adventures, but we did experience a lot around Dayton, Cincinnati and Columbus. We went to Myrtle Beach in May and I think that was the greatest week of your entire life. You are a beach baby for sure and you talked nonstop. Your daddy and I said that we have never seen you more happy or in your element in your life. You lived for the pool and the beach and spending that quality time with us. We will never forget how amazing that week was. We also spent almost a week in Pentwater and you had the time of your life with your family. You LOVED being near the beach and with the people you love the most. Also, on your birthday we spent the weekend in Indianapolis for a wedding. You also spent a few weeks in Michigan with your Papa and Gigi. Those weeks are weeks that I hope you remember for the rest of your life. And I know how much they truly treasure that time with you. You are never sad to leave us and are usually more sad when they have to go back home, but we always look forward to our "reunion".
You still love trains, cars and any other motorized transportation. You love things that go. You played tball this summer, started in tae kwon do in February (and are now an orange with white stripe belt) and are in swim class. You love to build things and some of your favorite toys are your legos and duplos and magnatiles. Your favorite tv show is Paw Patrol and have all the pups and toys. The one thing you REALLY wanted for your birthday was the air patroller and robo dog. You've been asking for months for that. You are slightly obsessed with all things Star Wars even though you've only seen one movie. You think stickers are the bees knees. And this year you learned how to ride a bicycle without training wheels, which is SO exciting. People always stop and ask us how old you are because you are so little.You also are not a huge fan of having your picture taken. You are in this stage where it's awkward for you and you give this smile that is like it hurts. We have to tell you to laugh to get a real smile or you have to look at me and how I smile and then will give a real smile. Most of the time you're just silly.
You are crazy smart. People tell us all the time that they are amazed at how smart you are. You recently moved up to the pre-k class at the CDC and your penmanship has improved in just the week or two that you've been in that class. We've started with word recognition and having you read BOB books. You love working in your workbooks and can sit and concentrate for a very long time. You talk nonstop (I'm pretty sure it's just to hear yourself at times) and often times surprise us with the things that you know and can say.
Oh and you LOVE to sing and dance which is always fun. The male artists you tell me are only boy songs and I cannot sing along and girl songs are only for girls and I can sing those. You also never turn down a dance party.
This year, your fourth birthday you REALLY understand the excitement of it. You would ask if it was your birthday, how many more days and you would tell me that you wanted a ___ kind of party. You would also tell us what you wanted for your birthday. It was truly magical.
I pray for the little boy that you're growing up to me and eventually the man that you will become. I pray for your future, your mistakes and all the lessons that you will learn. I pray for your heart and the relationships that you make. I pray for you every single day. I pray for your happiness and your success. I also pray for your failures and that you always get back up, you always know your worth and you always, always know just how loved you are.
Brown Bear, I am so excited to see who you become and am so in love with you buddy.
You make me proud, you made us a mommy and a daddy and we can't wait to
see you become a big brother this year. The love you already have for
the baby and the friendship that you will have. I never want to forget your one liners, the way that you wrap your arms around me, ask for lovings or kiss all over my face. I hope that you are never too big to stop holding my hands, coming to the window to wave at me and still need me to snuggle with you. I hope that I never forget your excitement for life and can continue to learn from you. How quick you are to forgive, how easy it is for you to love and how being happy and smiling is ALWAYS the way to get through a day. How even though you struggle you never really want to give up and ask for help. I always want to be as determined as you. I never want to forget who you are in this moment. In my eyes you are imperfectly perfect. Some days I just look at you and wonder how I deserve you. I also want to cry and my heart nearly bursts. All the heart eyes and all the feels for you.
I love you to the moon and back. I love you the most!
Mommy
