Dear Bode,

Oh Bodes. It seems just yesterday we were welcoming your big, huge self to our family. Flash forward 3 years later and you are a little blond boy with a motor seemingly attached to the back of you, insisting we call you Fya-mam James. (A character from your current favorite show, Fireman Sam. Which you call, Fya-man San).
Two to three was a good year Bubs. We remained partners in crime for much of it. There were many days where Tessa was at school, and you weren’t yet, when it was just me and you. We played a lot of Lego’s, drove a lot of cars and made a lot of forts. We also used to take a lot of naps, but you have decided those are for the birds. Unless, we’re in the car after a morning that started at 5-5:30. You think this is a perfectly appropriate time to start the day far too often. Where you find your continuous flow of energy baffles me. You may find it humorous, or ridiculous someday to learn that we are currently locking you in you room at night and have been doing so for a couple of months now. Your little engine has a hard time shutting down at night unless we make it. And the only way we’ve found to make it, is to keep you from coming out of your room 49 times at bedtime. Interestingly enough, you don’t fight it. Once it’s not an option, you just go crawl in bed and go to sleep. But in the morning, you rise ready and refreshed to begin a new day and you always greet me with a hug and an, “It’s morning time mom!”.
You are still a sweet boy. You rarely deny me a smooch, except when you’re mad and I’m kissing your face, which I suppose would annoy anyone…you tell me, “Don’t kiss me!” You are a good friend and get so excited when you see a familiar face. You love your daddy, ask for him several times a day and are thrilled when he walks in the door after being gone for a few days. You have fulfilled your role as big brother better than we could have ever hoped for. You adore that baby brother of yours. You are so sweet to him, are concerned when he’s crying and kiss him, literally, 100’s of times a day. You struggle a bit more with the role of little brother, as this past year you have become more aware of your space, your toys and your way of doing things and you get irritated when they’re disturbed. For better or for worse, you never let your sister get away with disturbing any of those said things anymore. You let her know with a scream, a spit or a “Stop it Tessa!” when you are displeased. When the two of you aren’t pushing each others buttons, it’s magic. You laugh and squeal and make grand plans, which usually result in a mess. I love to watch the two of you together when you’re playing and having fun. I hope you'll be the best of pals your whole lives.
It should go without saying that when the time came to drop you off at preschool this past fall, I was a sad mama. As I said, you were my buddy. Truth be told, I needed you probably more than you needed me for much of this past year. Saudi was hard for all of us in one way or another but for much of last year, I worried about you a great deal and both the short and long term ramifications it would have on you. No school, no playgroup and no compound to speak of made for a very dismal social situation for you. You had Henry next door, but once he started going to school with his mom, I became concerned that hopping in the back of Iqbal’s car for another trip to Sahara Mall or Tamimi with mom just wouldn’t be enough for you eventually. There were several motivating factor’s for our family moving to Dubai, your well being, not the least among them. When I learned of a nursery school adjacent to Tessa’s primary school, I knew it was the right thing to do for you. And as you will eventually learn, I was right ;) . You were ready. You walked right into that classroom and didn’t look back. That confidence will serve you well in this life. I, on the other hand, walked out teary eyed, looking over my shoulder feeling like I’d just left my heart in the Happy Hippo’s classroom. You love school, you are seemingly happy there, kind to your classmates and as your teachers say, exhibit all the signs of an energetic little boy. Your dad and I joke sometimes, that academics perhaps will not be your strong suit…you care little about colors, or numbers, books or even going potty on the toilet (which is maddening). Perhaps you will surprise us. Until then, we are anticipating your charm and good looks will make up for any intellectual disinterest.
Let’s touch on your good looks for a moment…you are a handsome little devil Bode Banks. My California baby. Your white blond hair, blue eyes, skin that tans like a dream and a smile that will light up a room, are the envy of the Arab World. It’s all the Saudi’s and Emirati’s can do to keep their hands off you. And frankly, they don’t try very hard. You are ‘petted’ frequently and have had your picture taken, solicited and unsolicited more times than either of us cares to count. You put up with the attention patiently for quite awhile. But sometime, last spring, you snapped and took to telling any unwanted caress’s to, “No! Schtop it!”. The perpetrator's will look at me and I’ll shrug my shoulders and reply, “Sorry.”  There are other things you dislike…Basically anything that is healthy, being called a baby (you are a big boy), being told no and putting your head under the water. You can be unbelievably obstinate at times. Last night you refused for 3 freaking hours to eat 1, 1 single bite of dinner. When you are in the middle of something, I have to give you many a countdown/warning that your time is coming to a close, or you will be furious.
Your likes out number your dislike by leaps and bounds. You love drinkable yogurts and have been known to drink 7 in one day. Your sweet tooth is as bad as your mom’s, you love your soccer clothes, more than you maybe love to play soccer, and going to nursery at church. You prefer snacks to meals, iPad to TV and water to juice. You love Lego’s, all things transportation and riding your bike. Which you do either very fast or very slow. This is true in all aspects of your life really. You have two speeds. First and fifth. There is no neutral with you. No second gear even. You are either a totally maniac or motionless. Or, lollygagging like you’re going for the world record.
You are in most respects a mellow, low maintenance child. You’re not demanding, nor easily frustrated. You love one on one playtime, “Pay wif me mom. I want you pay wif me dad”, but can entertain yourself if needs be. You are funny and witty and your imagination is the stuff childhood is made of. We can go from rescuing a kitty from the tree, to a fire breathing dragon outside our window to pirates coming ashore all in the span of one hour. This week you were seeing and hearing ghosts in the smoke i.e. foggy marine layer and we were slaying them out the car window with your fireman axe. I am anxious to see what you do with this imagination as you grow, it is sure to result in remarkable things.
You cast a spell on every person you meet. Everyone loves Bode. You’re ‘the easiest playdate’ I hear. The security guard at the gate waves and smiles at you everyday and the ‘worker guys’ that you are FASCINATED with, are seemingly fascinated with you right back. With your matching yellow hard hat, you wave at them unabashedly and it ostensibly makes their day. Did I mention you love hats? Hard hats, pirate hats, fireman hats, ball caps. It matters not. You usually have one on, and I indulge it always because I find it the cutest dang thing in the world.
I love you too, of course. You stole my heart three years ago and I’ve misplaced the key. I fear I shall be under your spell until my dying day. You threw my phone down the stairs a few weeks ago in a moment of uncontrollable frustration and shattered the glass, requiring a $125 repair. I was furious. I put you in time out and then guess what I did when I got you out? Kissed you. Four times. I’m in deep Bodes. I feel lucky to be your mommy. You are the ray of sunshine, the moment of crazy, the dinosaur roar in my backseat that all consistently come into play at just the right time to pull me out of my funk or my moment of utter exhaustion. You remind me that life is too short to be tired. There is too much fun to be had. You are joy and alleviation in my life and in our home. I love you Mr. Jonesy Bear, Bubbacakes, Bodester. Happy 3rd Birthday.
Love,
Mom