Here are things I hope to always remember about Scotland at this age:

“Have I had my vitamin yet today? Have I had my pickle?” (As you can tell we have a one pickle a day rule.)

He played happily with play-dough while I got ready this morning. When I came up, after I had finished, to get breakfast ready I found everything picked up and put away, even his play mat!

“I'm going to go get my X (insert blanket/teddy/pillow/friends).” And lately, he'll add “Should I go fast?” (Clearly, I'm starting to weary of these interruptions!) Every day when we read books before nap he will stop at one point and realize that he is missing something. Usually this happens several times until he is covered in blankets, pillows and his stuffed animal friends. He keeps a strict inventory of his “friends” and is always sure to request the presence of any missing member as a way to prolong the nighttime routine. As indulgent parents of one, we usually concede and go in search of the lost sheep.

“I'll share with you!” as he hands me the crust of his sandwich.

We've talked a lot about baby brother's eminent arrival. The other day Scotland was referring to it, and threw his arms open wide (like he was throwing open french doors), lifted his eyebrows and said “He's coming!” (It made me wonder how he imagines the process happening.

We go to our community center's open gym once a week. Scotland always amazes me with his incredible politeness and patience. He initiates “taking turns,” waits patiently or even steps back to allow smaller children a chance to climb the stairs in front of him, and is quick to help clean up, never stopping until everything is put away.

Last week, and then again today while we were playing at our neighborhood playground there was a group of older kids playing (4 and 5 year olds). Both times they said something like “A baby's coming, a baby's coming!” Last week, they even jeered at him, playfully, saying some silly phrase including “poopy baby.” On both occasions Scotland had made attempts to join them in their play, and was, as a result, a quietly disappointed by their lack of acceptance. I was surprised at how sad it made me. The mother bear in me wanted nothing more than to run up to those children and chew them out. Instead I stood, watching, waiting with open arms as Scotland came over to me and said “Those kids are being silly.” Last week, after realizing that they weren't willing to let him play he headed off to his scooter where he quietly conquered some particularly steep hills. This week, when they called him baby he decided to go down the fireman pole, with little assistance from me. The kids all gathered around with wonder as he descended hand over hand. Needless to say, they didn't call him baby after that. Scotland loves to be a part, and will always try to join “the group”- something that shocks me because I never would have, still don't. It's when I see Tom in him so clearly. But what I also love is that when the group doesn't accept him, or when they don't behave as he would have hoped, he sluffs it off and happily goes off on his own.

“I love my Da-dee!” He says “Daddy” like an Italian with a slight pause between the double D's. He pronounces ukelele (oo-ke-leh-leh instead of you-ke-lay-lee), and “pasta” says with two bright A's. His ear for pronunciation astounds me. Unfortunately, that means that I have passed on the speech defect that all of my voice teachers have tried to correct- a slight umlaut in the pronunciation of oo. Scotland says “two,” like me, with a slight “ee.”

Last weekend Tom said to Scotland “So, we're going to go get hot chocolate, eat some lunch, read some books, then have a nap.” Scotland replied precisely “I was thinking we should go get hot chocolate, eat some lunch, read some books, then play toys!”

This past month Scotland has developed a great interest in shelf work. (A montessori term for educational work.) He'll often of his own accord get out his binder of school work and trace the numbers or letters.) He loves to get out his paper and “tweezers” (his mis-learned word for scissors) and cut and glue. He eats up our time at the flannel board, and likes to switch roles and play teacher: “What shape is this?” His focus is increasing, as is his tracing ability. He can write on demand an S, T, and O, but will often identify other letters when he scribbles them by chance. He loves the “Paper” app on my ipad and typically draws all through Sacrament meeting. His ability and desire to navigate through the app is very cute. He loves his floor desk and is often found drawing with his “special markers” (dry erase). He has yet to abuse his accessibility to said markers and knows which markers are for dry erase, which are for paper, and how to put each away separately. He is, for the most part, very diligent about keeping their lids on so they don't dry out.

He loves to laugh and be silly. The other day I was in his room helping him get dressed when I saw that stretched across one of his hangers was a pair of underwear. Not wanting to make fun of an attempt to put something away I didn't say anything, only smirked. Moments later Scotland looked at the underwear, then looked at me and we both burst out in deep belly laughs! When Tom get's home we always know because the garage door opens. Scotland's eyes will always light up, his brows heighten, and then he'll usually say “I better hide!” He adores the chase that always ensues- usually followed by rolls of laughter as they proceed into a tickle-fest.

I love that he adores sharing grapefruit with me. He loves them like I do, peeled like an orange with all the hard white parts removed so only the sweet juicy wedges remain. He gobbles them up, begging for more, drinking every last drip of juice from his bowl. No sugar needed with this kid! I was telling my sister about a kale salad we love and I told her, as if to confirm her children would love it as well, Scotland loves it. She called my attention to Scotland's unusual culinary pleasures- the kid's a foodie and tries and generally likes everything. The server at Costco said I better start saving up as she watched him eat and enjoy a cracker with cream cheese and smoked salmon.