Dear Callum,

The summer adventures have begun.  It’s supposed to be a relaxing time of year, but it never really is, and you’re happy that way.  It’s probably nice for you to be doing things that are enjoyable for your age as well instead of just joining in on your brothers’ activities.  Last week we went to the library for their Monday Matinee series, and you sat through the entire movie Coco.  That may be the first time I’ve taken you to a movie and been able to watch the whole thing.  Usually I end up walking around with you in the lobby (or the library, depending on which venue we’ve chosen).  Maybe your attention span is finally long enough that we can all enjoy a movie.

We’re also past the worst of your allergies, which is wonderful because we can now go outside without fear of puffy eyes and itchy ears.  We’ve still been giving you antihistamines every night before bed.  It would be nice to stop that, but your allergies were so awful in May that I’m reluctant to stop a regimen that works.  We have an appointment with the pediatric allergy specialist this week, so we’ll see what they have to say there.  I don’t think allergy shots are an option for someone as young as you, but maybe they have some kind of therapy that would give you  relief during the hellish month of May.

We went to a Cedar Rapids Kernels game last week, as it was a special night with discount tickets for students at Miles and Tobin’s school.  Similarly to the movie, you stayed in your seat (or at least in our row; you did shift a few times between your own seat and my lap and your dad’s lap) almost the whole time.  When you did it get up, it was because you joined your dad or me on a snack run.  Last year, I spent almost the whole game walking around the stadium with you so your dad and brothers could enjoy the game.  It wasn’t too big a deal, because the game aspect of baseball doesn’t interest me much, but it was a lot more relaxing hanging out in my seat than going up and down the stairs with you all night.

The Kernels won big, which I don’t think they’ve done at any of the games we’ve been to in the last few years.  I don’t think you followed the action too closely, but you caught the enthusiasm from your brothers and did some good cheering.  We stayed late for the fireworks after the game.  You spent the whole fireworks show with your hands over your ears, but you watched intently.  Afterward, as we were getting ready for bed, you told me, “[The fireworks] were very loud…and I liked them.”

The summer has also brought the usual forays into the park, hanging out with neighborhood friends and riding bikes.  You haven’t been down into the creek yet, but you might finally be big enough that it would be more fun than stressful (for me).  One good thing is that your brothers are now old enough that I don’t have to watch them every second, so I don’t have to divide my attention so much.  I bet we can all have some good creek fun on some of these warm afternoon.  The gnats season has mostly passed, too, which is a reason for celebration around here.

Your current favorites:  our bedtime routine, which consists of reading stories (often something from the Pete the Cat series while you cuddle your enormous Pete doll) then giving hugs to your dad and brothers; helping me cook and bake; popsicles and other frozen treats; blowing bubbles; playing outside; and taking baths.  You are not interested in using the potty, though your dad and Tobin did manage to convince you to sit on it last weekend.  You know that when the current diaper supply runs out, that’s that.  I’m afraid it’s going to coincide with our trip to the St. Louis area, so we might have to make some minor adjustments to that plan, but in any case, the end is near for your self-soiling.

Don’t worry.  You can still get messy playing outside and dribbling popsicle juice all over yourself.  You rinse off pretty well.

Love,

Mommy