To Xander: Things I love about you.

I love that you say nonononono while you are committing a “no no” so that I can tell, no matter where I am, that I need to rush in and pull you away.

I love how you are so enthusiastic about helping me in the kitchen that you throw away food scraps, then take them back out of the trash so you can throw them away again.

I love how you plunged back into the tub after I had taken you out and dried you off, replacing the plug before splashing around some more.

I love how you say bye bye to me with this big expressive sad face.

I love how trucks, motorcycles, and buses are so exciting that you go beserk every time we pass one.

I love how you want to say hi to everyone, including our perpetually grumpy groundskeeper and Hawaii’s many homeless.

I love how you pull spoons out of the drawer and tap them on the stove, “stirring” the food in the pots (though you are not supposed to touch the stove).

I love how you pluck wildflowers one by one and save them in your pudgy fists, refusing to give them up even when you need to use your hands.

I love how you plunge headlong into the ocean, laughing.  I can never take my eyes off of you at the beach.

I love how you call a slide an “up up eeeee!”

I’ll admit, some days I am counting the hours until bedtime.  But deep down, I am savoring this time.