My dear little Miles,

This has been a summer of toe baths, corn on (and off) the cob, swimming and splashing, and sweaty little curls plastered to your scalp.

Toe baths are a local invention intended to address your serious pew-pew-stinky-feet problem.  It’s not your fault, really.  You’re a a little kid, your sandals get wet, your feet get stinky.  But it can get pretty serious, so we plunk you on the side of the sink and give you a little foot Jacuzzi to handle the issue.  We’re looking into some bathroom remodeling downstairs, and I like pedestal sinks.  I think it’s going to be important to keep at least one traditional counter sink in the house as long as there are stinky toes running around, though.

Another big thing you’ve discovered this month are classic fairy tales.  It started with me telling you the stories of Jack and the Beanstalk and Goldilocks and the Three Bears, which led us to pick up a collection at the library.  You especially like The Three Little Pigs, The Gingerbread Boy, and The Three Billy Goats Gruff.  When we were at the Ames aquatic center the other day, there was a pool break in which all kids under 16 had to get out of the water.  Mubby stayed with you while your dad and I floated along the lazy river, and she told me that as we passed, you said, “Little pig, little pig, let me in.”

(Photo above by Gary Clarke)

You love all things categorizable, such as the jar of sprinkles I bought for you and Beanie to use in decorating her birthday cupcakes.  It’s divided into six sections, and each section contains a different shape of sprinkle.  You like to go around the jar and name each one.  Sometimes you ask for a hint, like “This is the kind of animal Papa has” for the cows, or “This is the animal Mommy likes to kiss” for the dolphins.  I know you know all the animals by now, but you still often ask for hints, just as part of the ritual.

You love to sing and dance, especially the monkey dance, and you like making up new lyrics for your favorite songs (sometimes with actual words, sometimes with gibberish).  You’re getting good at drawing faces, complete with eyes, noses, mouths, and eyebrows.  You love your iChat AV sessions with Mubby and Skittergramps, and you carefully tracked Skittergramps’s healing process from his hernia surgery.  As he recovered, you reminded him every day that his “owie [was] muuuuuuch better.”  When you skinned your knee, you enjoyed finding parallels between his healing process and yours.  And on our recent visit, you were thrilled that he had been cleared by his doctor to lift you once again.

Last weekend was a big one, with a trip to Ames and then a visit to the Crall family farm near Albia.  Mubby picked up a crazy inflatable contraption for you, which you named “Weird Toy.”  It was indeed weird, but you had fun tossing the balls around.  You also had fun with Aunt Suzy and Uncle Joe, who were kind enough to make the long drive from Minnesota to see you.  As usual, Aunt Suzy picked out the coolest toy ever, and you had a good time putting outfits on the magnetic doll.

Down at the farm, you got to play with Nana and Papa and assorted cousins.  It was an outrageously hot day, and you didn’t get a nap, but you were a great sport.  You kept cool by splashing in the wading pool, and you were a great sport through all our travels.  Next month at this time we’ll be at a wedding in Colorado, which means another plane trip for you.  This one should be pretty painless, though, since it’ll be a direct and relatively brief flight.  Besides, you’re a travel pro, as long as there are enough cookies and Matchbox cars to keep you busy.

I’ve had two dreams in the last couple of weeks that involve being on vacation on a tropical island, and in both of them, you and your daddy were right there with me.  I guess that means that whatever adventure I have, you’re a part of it (or more often, the cause of it).  Thanks for being my little adventure buddy.  I love you like Baby Bear loves porridge.

Love,

Mommy