Sammalamma Random Stream of Consciousness

My kid is crazy. He is also tall (4 feet!). I cannot believe he will be four in two months. He is starting to read and spell and can write his name. His vocabulary is "ridiculous" (to quote one of his favorite words) and crazy big; never meeting a word he doesn't immediately ask the definition and put into rotation. He loves bowling, but not nearly as much as he loves playing Mario with Daddy. Or doing ANYTHING with Daddy, actually. He is crazy independent and timid all at once. My sister said the other day that Sammy is the MOST stubborn kid she has ever seen. Which, trust me, is saying something. She knows a lot of kids. And a lot of stubborn. He is super tender hearted and wants everyone to love him. He sees the good in everything and calls everyone his friend. If something is difficult for him, he simply says "this is kind of tricky" instead of saying "I can't" and that may be my most favorite thing about him. He just graduated up a size in puzzles. He is full of hugs and kisses and I Love Yous. He's the biggest right fighter I've ever seen and while that makes me crazy happy, to know he's following in my shoes where personal responsibility and dependence is concerned, I also know what kind of difficulties lie ahead for him and worry. We spend our days and nights spelling everything for him and explaining everything to him. He wants to know the whys and hows and ins and outs of everything. He is so accepting. His laugh is so infectious - well, his REAL laugh, which isn't given freely. He is the best of kids; a kid among kids. I so rarely have to supervise him doing anything "notoriously toddler-ish" because he is just that trustworthy. I shouldn't laugh when he gets exasperated and sighs, but I do. Or when he tells me, "That is not a good choice, Mommy. That is not a choice at all". He's very exacting. Very precise. This week started a) his first real chore (aside from picking up toys) of making up his bed. Which has turned out to be an exercise in patience for me! and b) his first trip to the store with his OWN money where HE had to make decisions of what to buy or not. Seeing his excitement at having "10 BUCKS!" and deciding between choices was glorious. He is the only kid I know who will turn down sweets if he isn't hungry or truly doesn't want what is offered. He's loving and kind. He will put himself to bed when tired. He reminds us of the right things to do. He always asks before touching something or doing something new. His favorite thing to say when he messes up or says something wrong is, "It's just a joke...". He loves singing and making up songs. He loves dancing. He loves watching Tom and Jerry. He will sit on the couch with me and read or watch the news. He reminds me to say our special "You I Love" thing at night and won't go to bed without it. He adores his Daddy. He cleans up after himself without being reminded. He loves to wash dishes with Daddy, bake bread with me and watch the baking soda / vinegar volcano in the tubs and sinks on cleaning day. As we pulled weeds this week, he looked at both of us and said, "this is so much fun, pulling all the tumbleweeds!" and meant it. He wants everything to be correct, the way he sees it. He's right and knows it. He rarely misbehaves and when he does, a quick trip to time out remedies it. His favorite thing is to be together with mommy and daddy..."my happy family".

In essence, he is 3.75 going on 30. But that isn't really surprising, given his genes...

(sammy, abc's)