My dear Callum,

As usual, this month has been full of moments of laughter. You say the funniest things, and you’re so smart and perceptive. One of the very best times of the day for me each night is our bedtime routine, when we read from a book, say our goodnights, do a couple of puzzles on my phone, and fall asleep. I don’t always fall asleep next to you, but I often do, and it’s always a snuggly and cozy time.

You are absolutely capable of reading on your own; in fact, you’ve gotten hooked on a book series and are anxiously awaiting the latest installment. You still let me read to you, though, and I really enjoy it. Right now, we’re reading The Candy Smash by Jacqueline Davies. It’s part a series, and the one of the main characters has a consistent problem (maybe due to neurodivergence?) understanding other people’s emotions and motivations. That’s not an area where you struggle; you often palm your face in frustration with Jessie’s insensitivity and bluntness. It’s given us good opportunities to discuss how she could make better choices in human interactions.

Like the rest of us, you’re getting excited for our upcoming Spring Break trip to the Florida Keys. You and Tobin have started marking off the days on the calendar Skitter gave you. Right now the aspect you’re most looking forward to is mozzarella sticks. We don’t do a lot of in-restaurant dining these days, out of an abundance of caution for your health, and mozzarella sticks don’t seem like they’d do well as take-out. But there are many restaurants down in the Keys that are open air, including one that has both mozzarella sticks and mini-golf. It will be fun to order freshly-fried delights and do a little putt-putting in a tropical environment. We’ve been to this Key enough times that we have old favorite places to go as well as new things we want to try.

You’ve been taking swimming lessons, and you’re making big improvements. On our last trip, you only wanted to swim using a pool noodle. I hope this time you’re more confident and able to have a little more freedom. You told me that it’s your goal to do a cannonball into the pool at the same time as your siblings, and I really hope the three of you can make that happen. I’m getting pumped about the fun that awaits us.

We have an appointment with your GI specialist in a couple of weeks, but it seems like your health is going well. I’m doing my best to keep pushing food into you, since weight gain has been a challenge for you. It’s also been a challenge for your older sibling Artemis, who doesn’t have any GI disease, so I’m not sure I’m going to be very successful in that area. You may just be a skinny person by nature. Still, I rarely say no to snacks, and I try to offer you a lot of tasty and nutritious food. You’re a pretty good eater, though I wish you’d eat more vegetables.

Unfortunately, due to scheduling constraints we can’t avoid, we have to do a Humira shot while we’re on vacation. A friend of our who has diabetes has given us some good tips about traveling with syringes, and we’re going to be getting a special insulated container to hopefully keep it cool throughout our travels. My worst worry is that we’ll accidentally leave it in the hotel refrigerator in our scramble to get out for our 7:10 a.m. flight, but surely I can do something to make it obvious that we need to empty the mini-fridge.

School seems to be going well. We’ll have conferences in a couple of weeks, but I haven’t heard anything that makes me concerned. You seem to have friends, you’re doing well in all the academic areas, and you really like your ELP class. Your wonderful ELP teacher is retiring after this school year, so I hope the next one is just as good. You went to a Valentine’s Day party at your friend Norah’s house last weekend, and you were really excited about that. You have a birthday party for your friend Connor coming up too.

You’re also excited about this summer’s adventures, including your first time going to Filmscene Animation. That’s something Artemis has done many times and Tobin did once, so you’re ready to take up the challenge. We go to movies at Filmscene pretty often, and it will feel like a pretty big deal to take you to camp there, just like the big kids. Whether I want to admit it or not, you’re becoming a big kid. You’re creative and capable, and I can’t wait to see what you do.

Your current favorites: your cozy sweatshirt-blanket garment, playing Gorilla Tag on the Oculus with your friend Griffin, playing with your friends at school, basketball, the big cat pillow Suzy and Joe gave you, ice cream, chicken wings, and being snuggly.

You’re a sweet, kind, smart little guy. I’m so lucky to be your mom.

Love,

Mom