Dear Tyler -- your sister's first lost tooth

Dear Tyler,

I sat down at the computer to write a letter to your sister (since she lost her first tooth tonight!) only to realize the last several letters I have written have been to her and not to you. In fact I haven't written you a letter since you turned three. I am so sorry. Ugh…mother of the year.

I want you to know that I love you. More than I could ever tell you or write you in a letter. You are warm, kind and hilarious. You still tell me you love me a "million trillion billion gazillion" about ten times a day…and I never ever get sick of it. You certainly have your moments, but for the most part you are still such an easy-to-please, go-with-the-flow kind of guy. I love that about you.

You are finally FINALLY making some real friends. Daddy kept telling me you would eventually, and I trusted him. But it wasn't looking too pretty for a while. Up until this week all of your playdates ended with your "friend" screaming and crying because you had hit/pushed/smacked/etc. and with you screaming and crying because you had been sent to your room. I never gave up on you though. I gave you space and time to be yourself and I didn't force it…but we did keep trying. Last Saturday you went to a superhero birthday party with all the boys from your preschool class. This was the first time I saw you actually interacting with the other kids. And I realized you are all EXACTLY the same -- running around wild, full of energy, pushing/smacking/hitting (within complete appropriate limits) without a care in the world. YOU ARE TOTALLY NORMAL. YOU ARE A 4-YEAR-OLD BOY. Phew!!!!!

Since that party you have had two amazingly successful playdates (Jack Dugas & Cooper Sisti). I honestly could not be any more proud of you. You shared your toys, played superheroes the way all little boys do (way better than I ever could), ran around "gunning" one another (I seriously love that you call it that) and had a total blast. I am so so happy for you.

Still though, your favorite friends are your family. You and Avery are -- and probably always will be -- best friends. You do everything together. I couldn't imagine either of you without the other. You absolutely adore Daddy and want to be just like him in every way. He has recently introduced you to the world of video games and the two of you play together just about every night. Cutest thing ever. And me. We have a special bond. You still like to cuddle with me and are always happy to do just about any errand with me. You recently started to come along to my classes at the gym. You are so stinking adorable cheering me on and shouting out "I love you Mom" every so often. I just about burst with pride every single class.

So even though my letters to you might be few and far between please know that my love for you is not. It is constant. It is full. And it is extraordinary. I love you a billion, million, trillion gazillion…and I always will.

Love,
Mommy

p.s. your sister lost her first tooth tonight!!!!!!