My Son Is Becoming a Person

He has opinions now, and favorites. He has memories and wants and preferences. He loves baseball, Curious George, fruit of all kinds, Lucky Charms (or just "Pucky" as he calls it), cars, planes & trains, bath time, and pushing the button to turn on the dryer. He even does bits. In fact, it seems that at least once every day, he does something so delightful and hilarious that I feel the need to write it down for posterity (yes, I'm totally That Mom). Here are a few recent stories:

When we tell him no, he flops down dejectedly and sighs, "I'm tired." It is adorable, and every time he does it, I have to stifle my laughter. The kid knows how to work a room.

A few weeks ago my best friend Kellie came over to spend the afternoon, and Henry wanted to draw. We all sat down at the dining room table with some paper and crayons, and when Kellie asked Henry his favorite animal he announced it was the noble giraffe (he did not say "noble," I added that for your benefit). She drew him a blue giraffe on the savanna, and he loved it so much he asked me to hang it on the wall near his bed. Not a day goes by that he doesn't point gleefully at that drawing and announce proudly, "Kellie drew me a blue giraffe." It is darling.

His favorite activity these days is playing Angry Birds. That used to mean the actual game, played on our Roku, but now it consists of him standing on the arm of the jumping couch, squawking loudly, and then jumping (or, more accurately, flopping) down onto the cushions with an enormous grin. My favorite activity these days is helping back up to the arm of the couch, as he will usually plant a kiss on my arm or cheek, and then hug me tight before his next flight. He's such a little snuggle bug.

A few days ago at Half Price Books, he pulled the Very Hungry Caterpillar off the shelf and read recited it to the whole children's section before putting it back where he found it.

My sweetheart is not just becoming any old person, he's becoming my favorite person.