Prince Henry looks at 4.

Our sweet and joyful boy we are so thankful for these four years knowing you.  There is a love for life that pours out of you;  It is a contagious quality that makes our world so much better. 

The sound of superhero theme songs resonate through our home accompanied by the thud of size 11 feet.  There must be a four year old around!!!  When sports are in play your voice changes dramatically to a deep announcers grumble as you shout out play by play action and announce who is on tv.  “From the universe of Texas, Jordan Spieth!!!”  “Tyler Ulis dribbles the ball, he jumps up, takes the shot, IT’S GOOD!!!!!!”   Lately you have been practicing your animal noises and ask me to critique your tiger, lion, and elephant roars almost daily.  You have always been a lover of music and that has not changed but your creativity has grown with it.  Grabbing a guitar or your microphone and making up lyrics to tell a story through song is a favorite activity,  and honestly they are surprisingly great.  But maybe I shouldn’t be surprised at all; everything you do seems effortlessly wonderful. 

 You have an imagination filled with wonder.  It is beautiful and silly and surrounds our days in childhood memories to numerous to count or record.  You enjoy getting into character, using silly voices and having us call you by your newest identity to play along.  What a little entertainer you are!  The statements you make are so Henry profound I wish I could constantly have access to a rewind button so I could record exactly what and how you said something.

Being three was tough at times.  There was a lot of physical and mental stretching that happened over the past year that often came with growing pains.  These moments of discomfort were sometimes felt by you, and other times by your father and I.  You constantly tried to push the envelope and we constantly had to push back.  You are such a good boy but we felt it was so important to keep your boundaries in check.  (talk about exhausting)  There were months where you fought bed time for hours every night, then came naps.  On days when you wouldn’t sleep we felt like a wild bear lived at our home by 6:00….growing pains.  We turned nap time into quiet resting time and you slowly learned to stay in your room and play on your own.  Now you sleep during the day only if you've had an exhausting physical kind of day.  Gone are the days of falling asleep in my arms every afternoon;  and though I have always loved to watch you while you sleep I now make sure to peek in on you whenever you have an afternoon snooze just to soak it in.

 Sweet blanky has a few war wounds these days.  As you would say, the holes "are from all the lovin I give him."  He is still a must for you to fall sleep and you enjoy him the most when he's cold and scented with lavender essential oil.

 

Playing independently has been difficult to learn but once mastered it became enjoyable to watch you entertain yourself.  Having a sister and going to preschool presented challenges in sharing.  It’s a hard lesson and one that you will have to relearn at every stage in life.  The past few months we have delighted in seeing you voluntarily give up a toy for Mallie Lynn or a friend.  You have sweetly offered to share some of your favorite candy or treats with us simply because you wanted us to experience it too.  It makes a mamas heart smile to feel like things are clicking and know you are maturing in a beautiful way. 

 Learning to be a big brother was tough at times too, but you handled it so well.   Not being able to play as hard as that pent up boy energy would like proved to be a daily struggle.  You are loving and thoughtful with her while taking her one year old tantrums with a grain of salt.  You have learned to look out for her and offer help, which is a bigger blessing than you know.

 

In the past few months you have wanted to be more helpful around our house.  Instead of whining or complaining which we tried for so long to stop, you all of a sudden accept requests to do small jobs with us.  On several occasions you have even helped make my bed, fold clothes, or clean up toys without being asked.  These little moments are small yet pivotal because they show us you aren’t just turning four, you’re really growing up. 

 You're spiritual growth has been a beautiful gift to us, more than any other part of you this year.  The questions you ask and the way you comprehend them astound me.  I love that you don't just accept what you're being taught, but you soak it in ponder and absorb your truths.  It has been a sweet journey to grow in my own faith as I search for the Holy Spirits help to answer your pondering mind.  You have a greater understanding of who God is and what heaven holds for us than many.   I pray for your continued belief and a growing relationship with Christ, and I am forever grateful that I get to walk with you in your journey.  Our journey.  You have the most insightful questions about the world and the every day things you don't yet understand.  It amazes me to see how your precious little brain works.
I adore you more than you will ever know my precious and loved son.  With tears in my eyes I write this and say there has been no greater change or moment in my life than the day you helped make me a mom.  Thank you for challenging, teaching, loving, and living with such a passion that this world will gravitate towards your goodness.

P.S. you are so handsome it's almost not right.

All my love for all eternity,
Mommy

18 Months of Knowing Heaven on Earth - MLEC

What a serious joy and spice to life you add to our days.

Your independence, determination, and charm have been this months big highlights.

 Demonstrating that she is all girl, this little princess is happy to go get her shoes and admire them on her feet and is becoming opinionated about what outfit she puts on as well.  Almost every time we open the closet to chang she asks for her "hoas" shirt, and is delighted if it's a day she wins.

 This sweet pea is nothing short of precious with her daddy, and as he says "she just instinctually knows how to wrap you around her finger."

 We have been all aboard the food pass train until this month.  Feeling confident and hopeful that you had outgrown all food allergies we tried our hand at soy.  I'm so thankful we started small and didn't go past day 5.  We have seen a large regression in sleep, and at it's worst involved 2 hour wake times in the middle of the night.  We saw icky diapers, and food refusal, which eventually turned into liquid and formula.  We are still struggling to get formula back in your game.  After consulting with Cincinnati GI and allergists we discovered that we need to keep the formula in your diet and increase the amount.....so we are playing with a junior formula (that so far you won't touch) and hoping you'll gain confidence again soon to take it down again.  For now we keep offering, reluctantly tossing Neocate, and trying to give you as many fatty foods as we can.

 Independence comes in the form of being able to occupy yourself when engaged in an interesting activity.  This could be anything from playing the drums, to putting coins inside a small box and pulling them out again.  Being independent also means that you will scream, throw, and swat if your request to do something solo is met with resistance.  You are often frustrated at the fact we won't let you come down steps, brush your teeth, or drink an open container of liquid by yourself.  (so controlling I know)

Determination can be seen in the way you will walk, run, leap, stretch, or climb anywhere to get what your heart desires.  It is fascinating to see you try, fail, and try again with the same level of gumption every time.  There are many times when the determined portion of your self gets rather angered by obstacles, (mainly parents).  This can lead to screaming, tears, biting of anything you can sink your teeth into and hitting.  I know this part of you will serve you well in life, while causing a headache or two for your parents in the process.  A cute headache, but a headache none the less.

 Charming should have been your middle name.  Whether we are in the grocery, at the park, or taking a walk, you wave and shout a very southern "hi" or "bye" to everyone you see.  You are quick to give out hugs and kisses to others, especially Henry.  Anytime we hear him crying we know your right behind, running up to give him a hug.  You have your own special way of saying "I uvvvvvvv you" that melts our hearts every time.

Things we love to hear lately:
You are in the rapid fire stage of learning and expressing your new found language skills each day.  There are attempts and successes to use new words each day.

stretching arms out towards the person or animal you want and saying "hold jyou"
this almost always see this at dinner where you turn your head to the side, purse lips, and
sweetly saying "hold jyou" repeatedly until your wish is granted....which usually doesn't take too long.  "hold me"

holding arms up in the air and shrugging your shoulders while saying "Go?"  You really like to ask this question with "Heenny" in front of it when you go somewhere without him.  Sweetest thing.

"hold jyou puppy"
"sock"
"wapple" (waffle)
"toez"
"hep peas" (help please) when wanting assistance  eating or wanting up or down from something.
"buckle" (buckle), and you like to help out in your car seat
"puppy dog"
"papi" (paci)
"tuck" (truck)
"coos coos" (blues clues)
"hug you"
"cacker"
"gan" (Gran)
"khaki" (Cappy)
"seeng" (swing)
"nose"
"mouf" (mouth)
"see it"
"bubble pop"
pointing to a heart and saying "hauwt"
"ty it" (try it) *which can become a battle when it involves food you aren't able to eat.
"touch it"
"cocky" (coffee)
When asked any question you love to tell us "no"...I'm sure we will continue that from now until 35.

You are an absolute spit fire.  Born with a heart of gold and desire to rule the world.  We will continue to be wrapped up in you're loving, joyful ways for all time.  Love you bushels sweet girl!

17 months of knowing heaven on earth - MLEC

I feel like I'm watching  the making of a southern belle with this one.  Like a petite glass of the sweetest tea you've ever poured served with a splash of sour lemon.  She is a charmer, a lover, with a darling sweet soul who delights in the simple.  

She is quick to hug or hand out a kiss, and will wave and smile to anyone.  Yet at the same time, is quick to let ya know when she ain't to happy; and I'm pretty sure she is already practicing how to say bless your heart. 

One of her favorite little delights of late has been her love of animals.  "hoas" (horse), "ki cat"(kitty cat), "pup pup" (puppy) are just a few of her favorite friends.  The most adorable moments come when she reaches her arms out, palms facing the sky and says "hold it", "hold you".   Melt my heart!

This silly little dear devil has discovered how to climb onto our couches and chairs and can be found jumping and running from cushion to cushion until we burst her bubble and tell her no.....(enter screaming princess tantrum).   She is also a fan of twirling around in circles until she makes herself  dizzy enough to fall down, then she repeats.  She can also reach the basement door....gulp.

 Her love of books has grown and she simply can not get enough.  Our pre nap, pre bedtime rituals almost always involve her favorites Knuffle Bunny and Little Blue Truck.   We always smile when she walks over to us, book in hand, and slowly backs into our lap for a read. 

Favorite new words:

Whoah

Wow

“Shuuuuuuit” –shirt

Eat

Hop

Sit

 baby

tuck -truck

ahside -outside

suez - shoes

nose, hayah, "nannee", 

nnoooooo (snow)

yes, oh yes, noooooo

hol ju  (hold you)

hold it

happy

hop
hug
brutter (brother)
toas (toast)

nigh nigh

ah luvs ew
JeJu (Jesus)

Favorite new foods.....Can we say chocolate!? Enjoy life chocolate chips, and annies chocolate bunnies, and a daily serving of coconut or almond yogurt. "yogoout".

Sleep has been met with interruptions once more this month.  Sometimes an ear infection, sometimes and sometimes a mysterious need to wake up and party.  As tiring as these days and nights can be, we try to hold onto the cuddles and enjoy this moment in our lives.  Kick that foot out baby girl, make yourself comfortable.