Our first baby is another year older! Where has the time gone!? Four feels like a big kid all of a sudden - and makes me a bit sad! Jack could not have been more excited for his birthday! We had a countdown going for many months! Four was "when I get my bunk beds!" He told everyone he could about this and It was so fun to set up the bunk beds this weekend to celebrate him!! Someone in the neighborhood was giving the beds away about a year ago and Jack has been anticipating his birthday gift ALL year - so cute!
Jack has grown up a lot this year. He is potty trained. He has become very adventurous. He plays well with friends. He's developing a great imagination and is always creating a new game. He stays up way later than we like reading books in his bed. He climbs trees and rides his bike. He looks after his sister. He identifies his emotions. He knows appropriate times to use deep breaths to calm himself (sometimes!). He has developed quite a temper. He's testing his words and gets the occasional lesson on what it means to respect others. He's continuing to develop his empathy. He's learning what scares him and what can be dangerous. He's asking for explanations of bigger words and more complex ideas. He can play by himself, read to himself or entertain himself for a long time. He's able to write all the letters of the alphabet and his artwork is becoming more detailed. He's so fun to watch!
He fell in love with the pool this year and he started playing on a soccer team a few weeks ago!
He got to go to birthday breakfast with Joe again this year which is quickly becoming a birthday favorite! And he closed his eyes so tightly when we told him we had a surprise for him for his birthday! He got a bike with training wheels!
He's so sweet to us! He loves to cuddle and would snuggle on my lap any chance he gets! He's a major thumb sucker. He is obsessed with his blankie and finds so much comfort in one certain corner of the blankie. He asks us great questions and I can always count on him checking in on me each day - "mama, how was your run today?" "Mama, did you sleep well last night?" "Mama, how's the baby today?" "Mama, where are we headed today?" "Mama, I just love you so so much!" "Mama, you look so pretty." "Mama, how was work today?" I hope he never stops being so sweet and loving to us - it just melts my heart!
For Jacks birthday dinner he chose blueberry pancakes followed by a walk to graeters for some sorbet with sprinkles with his cousins! Such a special day!
Jack, you are the perfect combination of sweet and challenging! You keep us on our toes and keep challenging us to practice new parenting techniques. Each day we watch you grow older we become more proud of the little man you are becoming! Thank you for being in our lives - you bring so much joy! Happy 4th Birthday Jack Clemens!
