Logan

Logan is a neat kid. Yes, I'm biased but I'd also really like him if he weren't my son. He's curious, funny, intelligent, sensitive and kind. He loves books and music and both putting things together and taking them apart. He's as strong as a little bull. He has a rock-solid memory that continues to baffles his parents on occasion.

Just last night as I was making dinner and he was meandering around peeling crayons and drawing on the refrigerator (hey, you pick and choose your battles, right?), he said, "Not today, dear. I've spent too much already." At first I had no idea what he was talking about before realizing that he was reciting from the book Corduroy. Totally random.

He's learning the difference between a "whiny voice" and a "big voice," although he's particular about when and where he chooses to employ both. He knows that a big voice gives him a better shot at an affirmative response, but he sometimes can't help trying to sell the whine before it's time. His giggle is awesome, and just try turning down a kid who looks at you with a hopeful expression and asks, "Mommy, shall we do some being silly?"

He's never been very prone to temper-tantrums, although he does sometimes lose his composure when he doesn't get what he wants. He's only had a public tantrum once at a check-out line at Target (or, as he calls it, "Guitarget") when he saw the rows of candy and started begging, "Please, can I have one treat?" (Curse you, Halloween). When denied, he started crying and pleading, but thankfully didn't have a nuclear meltdown. He gets kind of shell-shocked when he witnesses other kids getting upset—it bothers him and he doesn't seem to quite know what to do about it, so he freezes up a little. When he gets upset himself—even if he's mad at me—he always wants to be held while he cries. He's also learning to calm himself down by taking deep breaths and when the crying jag trails off, he usually announces, "I'm better now."

He's great with his little sister, whom he alternately calls "Shay May," "Baby Shay" and "my little sister Shay" – like yesterday when she was fussing in the car and he said, "Stop crying, my little sister Shay." He kisses her head before he goes to bed at night, tries to give her Legos, helps her "beat" a tambourine, tickles her and often wants to hold her. After settling with her on the sofa, he asks with great expectation, "Shall we take some pictures and some video?"

He's just an awesome kid, my little boy Logan.