Haircut

This is the first time I've cut your hair myself.
Dad

Porcelain smile

Dylan,

You slipped and fell in the bathroom. You tried to catch yourself on
the toilet bowl but your hand slipped in, leaving your face to catch
the porcelain instead.

The sound of impact was heard throughout the house, even over the
music playing.

Your lip is cut and swollen. And it's one of the few times you've
actually bled from injury.

Caps For Sale

Bouncing

yoghurt stache

Patience

DMG,

After some wildly wrong directions from Google Maps extended our hunt
for breakfast this morning I told you I appreciated your patience, and
that I'd need even more of it.

You told me you would show "more patience than <you> even needed to".
You said you could be as patient as an eagle.

Apropos, I thought, and I commented that eagles were verrry patient—
sometimes sitting still for hours at a time waiting for prey.

I guess you weren't as impressed as I was by the imagery, as you then
announced you could be more patient than an eagle. You would be as patient as a building. In fact, as patient as a skyscraper!

And you were.

—

Later in the day, standing in line for a ride at Legoland and frustrated that someone had jumped in front of you and taken your spot when you were next up, you started to get agitated. I leaned over behind you and whispered "patience of a skyscraper". Without turning your head, or acknowledging me in any other way, you suddenly stilled. Your hands eased to your sides as you seemed to grow an inch or more. You faced straight ahead, and there was a distinct lack of rigidity to your motionlessness, yielding a strong impression of poise well
beyond your four and a half years.

Dad

Initials

DMG,

Toward the end of our 8-hr drive yesterday you announced rather out-of-
the-blue that since your initials are DMG, I could call you that, and
that I shouldn't just call you D.

You re-iterated it this morning, pointing out that I was still calling
you by your name and not by your initials. I asked you to be patient
while I work on transitioning.

Dad

Mussels

DMG,

Out for dinner on our road trip to Legoland, you jumped at the chance
to have the "mussels with pomme frittes".

Our server was very impressed, and while you ate we got a visit from
another server who stopped by just to comment on how impressive were
your culinary preferences at such an age.

I was just glad you didn't take one bite and reject them outright.

Dad

Natural consequences

Dylan,

You just lost access to ~85% of your toys. And you took it seemingly
in stride.

A couple buds were over for Pizza Night and you decided it would be
funny to take every single item off the shelves in your room and pile
them on your bed.

Mom didn't find the humor therein, so she packed everything into
garbage bags while you played in the living room and I put them all in
the attic.

As I alluded to, you took it surprisingly well. You seemed to know—
even at the time—that your actions had crossed a line. You understand
what happened and why, and you've yet to complain or object.

It'll be interesting to see how this plays out. Sure makes for a nice
opportunity for a much-needed reorganization of your things.

Dad

Work buildings

Dylan,

Seven months and four days ago you looked at me, my deep sadness reflecting in your face, and listened intently as I explained that someone had taken away my job (and I did appreciate you saying you would punch them in the nose for the offense). I assured you—no, I promised you—that I'd find myself a new job and things would be alright.

Today I formally accepted that new job. Not just a new job, in fact a new career.

Losing that old job was hard, and it hurt, but it was apparently just what I needed. I am so much happier now about my situation, the work I'll be doing, and my future prospects.

It was really great being able to spend so much extra time with you. Going to Spanish class, swimming lessons, as well as lots and lots of fun and games around the house have been a real treat that I will miss.

Dad

Heartbeat

Dylan,

You're going to have a sibling, born right around the same time as your fifth birthday.

We don't know yet if it's a brother or a sister. And we're not planning to tell you about it until you start asking questions of your own accord.

Dad

Tooling around