to luke, on the occasion of your sixth

 "Remember to smile."
-- Nelson Mandela

Dear Luke Taylor,

While I was in your town this past week for work, I got to swing by your house for a quick (outdoor) visit. I climbed out of the car, asked you what was new, and you said, Well. Only four more days until my birthday.

And indeed, here we are. You are six!

A year ago, your birthday party was cancelled because of the pandemic (I won't address this again, because it is old news and tiring), and this year may also be understated. But you did have a guess for me about what might play out: Probably all my presents will be LEGOs.

This year you have developed quite a knack for building and creating those kits, and it's fulfilling to see you accomplish projects like these.

You and your brother were surprised this past Christmas with your new pup, Teddy. You enjoy him so, and I think he likes you too.

For all his cute, Teddy will never compete with your big brother. He's still your favorite. This is a broken record, but there are worse broken records to endure.

You started kindergarten this year, and although there are many things about it that you are smitten with, you have thoroughly enjoyed learning to read. The wonder of language is never lost on me, and it's a delight to see your eyes light up when you sound out a new word or finish a book. Books and stories and characters will expand your world for a lifetime, and I hope you never stop imagining what's behind the words on those pages.

You also are venturing into t-ball, which is a thrill. Your team is the Trash Pandas, and you are very pleased with your uniform. You are fast, so base-running might be your forte. We'll see. What I do know is that our family has single-handedly contributed to an uptick in merchandise sales of the (actual) Trash Pandas minor league team. We are all in.

Here are a few things your mom and dad will want to remember about your sixth year:

I'd describe Luke's personality with these few words:
mom: Competitive, brave, determined, loving, stubborn.
dad: Trash Panda.

Luke is happiest when he ...
mom: Is with Carter.
dad: Is running around outside or playing Legos with Carter.

Luke is not-so-charming when he ...
mom: Whines and complains in an attempt to get his way or when he is bored.
dad: Is asked to eat a vegetable.

My proudest moment as a parent this past year was ...
mom: Watching him learn to read and really enjoy it.
dad: When Luke told me we should give food and drink to someone on the side of the road who was asking for it. So we did.

One time this past year when I thought I was going to lose my mind was ...
mom: Both times we were quarantined for Covid. Luke is a social kid. Isolation is not great for him.
dad: Either when he pooped on the bathroom floor, or when he pushed a bowl of corn onto the floor breaking the bowl (see above comment about vegetables).

Luke's best qualities are ...
mom: He is very loving and affectionate. He's a great helper.
dad: His willingness to try new things; speaking his mind; his desire to finish; his excitement for just about everything.

My heart broke a little bit this past year when ...
mom: He had trouble with a friend at school. He just couldn't understand why the relationship changed and why someone was being unkind to him.
dad: He came home and told us that one his buddies at school told him he didn't want to be friends anymore. First dose of rejection.

I laugh out loud when Luke ...
mom: Gets talking about what's on his mind and just doesn't stop. We went on a walk once, and he barely let me say one word. He also does an epic eye roll for someone so young.
dad: Dances. And when he told me we should get Mom a dress from Lowe's for her birthday.

After his sixth birthday, I'm most looking forward to ...
mom: Watching him continue to be his own person. He spends a lot of time doing what Carter wants to do because Carter is his favorite person, but I've seen him slowly developing his own thoughts and opinions, and I'm eager to hear them and where that might lead him.
dad: Trying new sports, and continuing to find his own voice in our family.

One of the high low-lights of the past year was a dental emergency where your teeth were literally knocked out of your mouth.

Look, it wasn't fun in the moment, but you handled it like a champ. You told me earlier this week that your family's goal for this year was "to keep all your teeth in your mouth."

Here's hoping, Lukey, because your smile is killer. You are exuberant and cheerful and jovial, and I can't imagine the world without your signature grin.

Happy Sixth, Littlest. We sure do love you and your smile.