My Baby is Four

The long awaited day is finally here and gone. We have been anxiously awaiting the Big Birthday and counting down the days since just after Christmas.

We celebrated all day long - I think largely due to some Mama guilt. I had to work tonight and felt terrible about having to miss some of the birthday celebration. This morning, we woke up with singing some Happy Birthday songs. We followed this up with some cinnamon rolls for breakfast (a HUGE treat!). We met Daddy at the mall for lunch and enjoyed their indoor playground (it was FILTHY. SO. DISGUSTING). Not that it slowed William down for even one minute. After lunch, Mama took Amelia home for a nap and William had some special Daddy time. They hung out at the mall for awhile longer, browsing at the toy store and taking a ride on the train. When the boys got home, we opened presents and cards. William was VERY lucky birthday boy this year! After a special dinner of pancakes, we enjoyed a chocolate cupcake cake before Mama had to leave for work.

The birthday boy after some good morning singing - blurry pic, but I just love this face!
The birthday breakfast

Great Grandma Nona sings Happy Birthday over the phone. Several family members called to wish him a Happy Birthday - each and every call delighted him! He doesn't get many calls!
Debuting the new shirt. Several weeks ago, William reminded me on his birthday he would "need a new number shirt. with dinosaurs" I was on the fence about making one because even though it is something I enjoy, I don't want to waste my time if HE doesn't enjoy it.William's train ride with Daddy. He was so excited to stay "just with Daddy" while I took Amelia home for a nap.

We had our 4 year visit with our doctor today - somehow I didn't think this totally through. What a Happy Birthday present: FOUR immunizations. Poorly planned, mama.

Also, William weighed 39 pounds, which puts him in the 50-75 percentile for other kids his age. His height continues to impress, he is a whopping 42 inches tall which puts him at the top of the growth curve. All other areas continue to be normal, although I won't bore you with all the details.


It just seems like it is either midnight before I am able to get the computer anymore for all of this blogging. But, I still would like to get down some of the fourness that is William these days.

Here is a snapshot of William at four.

This boy does not have the time or desire to sit still for pictures. Nope.The cupcake cake - this is a normal sized dinner plate, for reference
The cupcake cakeThe singing and blowing out the candlesThe big birthday boy

He loves books and being read to. He especially loves nonfiction books about vehicles. Library day is a day of great joy as he returns his old set and gets to pick out a whole new pile. I can always count on at least an hour of solid quiet time from him on library days as he is very content to sit and page through the books by himself. He still loves being read to and takes any and every opportunity. Any time I am sitting down for more than a few moments at a time, William (or Amelia) will come, book in hand. Because of this, I strongly suspect there are words that he is starting to recognize and able to read on his own. We aren't pushing this at all, but he has recently started playing some spelling games with his letter puzzles that make me think he knows more than he is showing me.

William loves Lightening McQueen and racing cars. Although he has seen the movie twice now, he still is very creative with his play. I love that he isn't boxed in by the storyline of the movie and that he is able to invent his own plots to imagine out. Thomas the Train also holds a very dear place in my little boy's heart. I'll admit that Thomas isn't my favorite guy and I went to great lengths to avoid the commercial side of the trains. We don't watch the show and have only read the books - but the wooden track and engines have provided many hours of happy play. Thomas is one of the only activities the two kids will play happily together for any length of time (although it isn't guaranteed).


In general:
the eating has been better (vegetables! going! in! the! mouth!).
the sharing/kindness towards his sister is a source of much frustration
he LOVES school
he loves playing outside in the snow - what a wonderful discovery this winter!
he is much more willing to color and draw lately, which has been a lot of fun
he loves races: getting dressed, getting ready and picking up toys - I wonder how much longer that trick will work for me?
Loves oatmeal, bananas, raisins, feta cheese and pancakes (and cookies!)
Can be very helpful when he wants to be!
Questions, questions, questions. This boy has questions



PS These were too cute not to share. William was NOT cooperating, but Ms Amelia had plenty of smiles for her Mama!