4 years already??!?!

It is hard to believe that this was us just 4 short years ago. We had no idea how much our lives were about to change. We knew that everything would be different, but until you hold that baby in your arms, you hear the little cries and noises that they make, you kiss that soft, sweet skin, you just have no clue how much your life will change. Everyday is something new. Everyday creates a new challenge. Everyday has ups and downs, but everyday has your sweet baby in it. 


Thomas- here is a little bit about what has been going on with you in the past year...

Shortly after your third birthday, we started potty training. This has been a long process, but we are well on our way to being fully potty trained. As with all things with you, when you decide you are ready to do something, you just do it. We have seen this with lots of areas in the past year and potty training was no different. We had a busy Summer last Summer. We went to Pennsylvania for the Church Retreat at Camp Manatawny in June, spent a week at the beach over the 4th of July with all of the Shy family to celebrate Ghee Ghee and Grandpa's 40th wedding anniversary, and went back to Pennsylvania for Camp in July. Aunt Leah and Uncle Frazer were in town over the Summer for a visit as well. You went back to Music Class in September and we enjoyed going together every Monday. 

The biggest change this year also came in September when you started in Preschool at Walnut Hills Learning Center. The coolest thing about your preschool has to do with who your teacher is. Ghee Ghee and I took you to Kidsburg to play one day and ran into my kindergarten teacher. I was her very first class out of college. It just so happened that she was teaching preschool and had openings in your class. We went and signed you up immediately. You love your teachers- Miss Trish and Miss Jeannie. If you could, you would go to preschool every day. 

This Winter, you also took your second train ride with Grandpa to Richmond. You are always excited to see the trains and getting to ride on one was a very special treat. This Spring, we took a quick trip to New York City for my cousin Eileen's wedding. We did some touring in New York and you were an exceptional little boy for the wedding. We also went to Charleston for my college roommate's wedding. We again did a little bit of touring. We got to take a boat ride out to Fort Sumter, which you really enjoyed.


Over the last year, there have been times where we wondered if you knew your colors or letters or things like that. Then, out of the blue, you give the right answer as if you have known it forever. With your progress report at school in January, we weren't sure you knew all your colors. The day I had a meeting with Miss Trish, we went to Ghee Ghee and Grandpa's for lunch. Ghee Ghee put M&M's out and made you tell her the right color and then you could eat that M&M. You got them all right. You knew your colors, but needed the motivation to show us what you know. This is the pattern that we see with your learning progress. Daddy says that he was the same way growing up. You are a very smart little boy, but save your knowledge for when you are ready to show it. 


You still love playing with your trains, and have quite a collection of Thomas Trains. You enjoy any kind of truck or construction equipment. One of your favorite things is for me to drive down Ironbound Road, where they are expanding the lanes. You love to see all the excavators, steam rollers, dump trucks and bulldozers. Of course, you still love your music. You don't spend as much time singing from your songbook, but you do still love it. At church, you like for Daddy to give you the mouse so you can click through the slideshow on Sunday nights after church. You frequently blow your train whistle as your pitch pipe before you start singing. You love to play with all of the Little People that we have. You spend lots of time playing in your playroom and most of that time is playing with the Little People. You also love to sing with your karaoke machine and mostly sing with your Veggie Tales CD. Ghee Ghee gave you a little computer that you spend a lot of time playing with. Watching you play with that was also how I realized that you know most of your letters. 

You love your little sister. You are always concerned with where she is, what she is doing and giving her hugs. You get a little too affectionate with her sometimes. You like to give her hugs, but are still learning that hugs around the neck aren't so comfortable for the other person. When she was a baby, we taught you to kiss the top of her head so that you weren't kissing her face. You still like to kiss her on the top of her head. Daddy and I think that on her wedding day, you will still give her kisses on the top of her head.  


If you had your way, you wouldn't spend much, if any time coloring/painting/cutting/glueing. You would much rather be playing with trucks or trains. You are starting to learn to write your name and can make a T. You recognize your name quickly and without problem, but, again, you aren't super interested in sitting still to work on writing it by yourself. You love the water and would stay in the pool or tub or your water table all day if I let you. I believe that by the end of this Summer, you will be a complete fish and swim without any problem. You get good practice blowing bubbles in the bath tub.


Your Daddy and I are very proud of how much you have grown up in the last year. You are starting to do lots of things independently. We are very proud of how much you are accomplishing. Just when we think that you aren't understanding something, you show us that you have mastered that topic and just don't care to show us anymore about it. This is just like your Daddy was growing up! You are a sweet and loving little boy and we love you very much! HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY THOMAS!