Here we are, my prince.  Four years under your belt now.  Time is moving too quickly and today in particular, I remind myself to hold onto my moments with you, to hold onto them really tight.   Happy Birthday to the only human being I know who prefers warm apple juice and cold blankets.  Thank you for everything over the last year, including:

The time when we watched something spooky, and you asked, “Ma, were you shaking in your boobs?”

Your bravery in the hospital and for defeating the baddies who invaded your bloodstream and kidneys.  And for being such a fearless little soul for all your subsequent hospital visits.

Declaring one morning before school that you no longer needed your beloved blanky, the same blanket that you would never so much as allow to leave your sight.   A week later, you introduced me to your new imaginary friend, Blanky Boy.

Constantly trying to take off your clothes, even in the rain.  That was a nice touch attempting to wear your birthday suit at your birthday party.

Teaching me that I am in fact perfectly capable of pretending to be Bert, Ernie, SpongeBob, Patrick, Sir Lancelot, King Arthur, Echo Echo, Humungousaur, Scooby Doo, Shaggy, Rapunzel, Flynn, Baloo, King Louie, Captain Jack Sparrow, Will Turner, Incredible Hulk and Iron Man immediately upon waking up on a Saturday morning, all in the span of 15 minutes.

Showing me how your muscles start bulging 2.7 seconds after taking your vitamin or a bite of broccoli.

Pretending to be Santa Claus whenever I put extra bubbles in your bath.  With a foamy head and chin, you couldn’t resist asking me to tell you everything I wanted for Christmas.

Telling me, “Even though I can’t marry you ma, I’ll always be your sweetheart, prince, pumpkin, love, and…what else do you call me, ma?”

Saying, “Fresh bread, no smell like it in the world,” when we smell bread baking on our walk to school.

Proclaiming that my Swampfire and Wolverine voices sound too similar, and that you would appreciate it if I didn’t mix them up because they really shouldn’t sound alike at all.

Being the most affectionate person I know, and for laughing and loving and having such a lust for life.