Dear 4-year-old Jake

Dear Jake,
  You are now four years old and you remind us of it daily!  You are so funny, everything you do is because you're four now.  "I am super fast because I'm four."  "I can play longer now because I'm four."  etc. etc.  You say the funniest things and you are very smart.  There are a millions adjectives I could use to describe you!  You are sweet, brave, smart, funny, curious, sensitive, loving, trusting, creative...I could go on all day.  I hate to be writing your birthday letter and have to include the word "cancer" but, you are who you are in some ways because of your fight against cancer.  You are so strong and mature, yet sometimes I wonder if you even know that you are fighting for your life.  Daddy and I are doing everything we can to keep your life as normal as possible so that when you read this letter some day you will wonder what it was like because you can't remember life ever being abnormal. 
 
  You have grown so much during the year of being three, it's remarkable.  You are now a little boy and you try so hard to be like your brother and you are a wonderful big brother as well.  You still have a hot temper and you love to throw things when you are mad.  You have become quite the Daddy's boy, although you are very sweet to me as well.  Your independence is inspiring as you insist on doing most things for yourself even though you can't walk and haven't been able to for almost four months now.  I can't wait to see how much you change and grow over the next year.  You are so excited to be starting pre-k in the Fall and we are very excited for you.  You are a very special boy and your smile can change the world.  We love you so much.

Mommy