Four years old!

I'm late in doing so, but it's time for an official post now that Thomas is four years old!


Four years since we first brought our little boy home.

3 days old



And then he was ONE...


And then one ever-so-quickly became TWO...


Then after a doozy of a year with a newborn and a 2 year old, two became THREE...


And now he is four.  Our baby boy is FOUR!


The time does pass so quickly.  I'm not quite sure where to start with our four year old.  I guess I'll go with what people notice about him first...he smiles a lot and he talks a lot.  :)  He is very friendly.  My dad says Thomas has inherited his "never met a stranger" attitude from his other grandfather, his Umpa (my father-in-law).  He says it's the "Hambone" in him.  I'd say that he probably gets this trait from both his friendly grandfathers.  :)

Thomas does not let anyone pass him by without saying hello.  His teachers tell me that he tells the funniest stories at school and he always makes them laugh.  I wish I had a better memory and I could share some of these stories here.  All I remember is that he makes me laugh too.  THe other day he had some story and it was one his that started, "A long, long time ago...that's what they did.  That was when Jesus was walking around."  I think it was something about dump trucks and houses.  He cracks me up sometimes.

Oh, and I don't think I ever shared in here this story.  At school the class has pictures the students drew in the hallway.  At the top the teachers had the children each finish this sentence: "A farmer is_______."  Thomas said, "A farmer is a wife who drives a tractor."  Not sure what that is about, but it did make me giggle--especially considering that I drove a truck in high school, and a friend told me once that "a woman with power is one who drives a truck"...or in this case, a tractor.  :)

Verbally, he seems to be right where he should be, if not beyond.  We're still trying to get him to write his letters (and hold a pencil correctly), but he just isn't all that interested.  He can write some of the letters in his name, like "T."  This summer we are going to have some extensive tutoring sessions to work on this skill. 

From talking to his teachers, I think the hardest thing for him next year will be realizing that it's time for school to be more about learning and less about playing.  He loves to play.  I think the reason he's not better about writing his letters is because he doesn't want to stop playing long enough to learn.  His art projects have improved throughout the year, but it used to be that I could easily pick his out of the bunch because it was the one with the least amount of actual drawing.  But he is slowly enjoying these projects more, even if it means he has to stop playing for a short while. 

He's still not a great eater, though he could be if I'd let him live off fruit snacks, pizza and oatmeal raisin cookies all day.  :)  He also enjoys a Chick-Fil-A sandwich and a little burrito at Moe's.  He still doesn't like milk, even though most mornings I force him to have a little on his cereal.  Though no matter what the cereal, he generally won't eat anymore of it once he gets to the bottom and he can see all the milk.  I'm realizing that he's just not much of a breakfast eater, like his Daddy. Dinners can take forever as well, but he usually will eat what is asked of him...though sometimes with great protest and a lot of time! 

Thomas loves to be outside.  He loves to ride his bike and has nearly worn the back tire of his bike bald from his love of riding fast ("Rocket power!" he exclaims!) and then slamming on the brakes so he skids and leaves a long black mark on the sidewalk.  He also still enjoys driving his Power Wheels jeep.  He really likes it now that I've let him drive it around the block (with me following, of course).  He drives his brother around, then we stop at his buddy Jack's house.  Then the two of them ride their power wheels all around the yard chasing each other and playing bumper cars. 

We don't let him watch a signficant amount of television, but he does enjoy the hour or so he is allowed every day.  He usually chooses to watch Dora the Explorer while he is waiting for Parker to wake up from his nap and I am preparing for dinner.  He's actually learned some Spanish words from watching the show so I guess it's not so bad.  He still loves watching the movie Cars whenever he has the chance. 

Speaking of cars, he still loves any and all things with wheels.  Lately he's been getting into Thomas & Friends trains and we've been slowly building onto his set.  He likes to make really long trains and gets very upset if Parker so much as considers taking one of them away. 

Discipline has been a bit of a challenge lately.  He talks back far more often than we would like and chooses not to listen whenever he is not in the mood.  He hates time outs and gets very upset when we take his favorite toys away from him.  You'd think that would be enough incentive not to misbehave, but apparently it is not. 



We also did just take away his paci and that has introduced a new level of behavioral problems, but I hope it is temporary.  He is coming into our bed every single night after we have all gone to sleep, and sometimes I go and get in his bed so I can stretch out more, but we're just letting him for now while he deals with life without paci.  :)  Without pacis, it's a little harder to reinforce his afternoon rest time, but I'm still trying to get a least one hour every afternoon that he spends alone in his room.  To that end, we are trying to improve his bedroom and make it a great place for him to play. 

He loves his brother (most of the time) and loves to play with him. Lately they really have been playing together so well and I look at them and think, "This is why we have two children two years apart!" It's good for them and it's good for us because they can entertain themselves! Sometimes they do fight, as all siblings do, but they also adore each other and when one is sad about something, the other one is too. And when Thomas gets put in time out, Parker promptly goes and sits right next to him, and usually gives him a hug too.

It is so hard to believe it has already been four years. It makes me sad to think that the next four will go by just as quick, if not even moreso. And then the next four and the next four...I can't even think of it! Despite the times that he really ruffles our feathers, he brings so much joy to our lives. He is such a tremendous blessing, as all children are, but I can't help but think of that awful night, November 15, 2005. On that night I was 16 weeks, 3 days into my pregnancy with him and I found myself in the ER. Soon after I was checked in to the hospital and admitted to the Labor & Delivery ward and told by my dear doctor that in all likelihood (over 95% chance), he would not survive. And yet, here I am, four and a half years later with a healthy, thriving child. It's a good thing God knows things that doctors and modern medicine do and can not. We are so blessed.

I look forward to all the joy the next four years, and beyond, will bring.

Picked a fine time...

Yesterday was the big day. After nearly four years with a paci (considering he didn't start using it at birth), yesterday was the day we established as "Say Goodbye to Pacis Forever Day."

It's funny. I remember seeing a friend's child with a paci a few years ago. The child was about 2 1/2 and I thought, "Wow. That child is a bit old for a paci. I can't believe they (the parents) haven't taken that away from him." Well, now they can laugh at me. For years Thomas has only used his pacis when in bed (or at least in his room, that has been the rule). And I know we should have taken them away, but to be honest, pacis made MY life easier.

If Thomas was misbehaving, a simple threat of taking his pacis away at night usually straightened him right up. At night, I was pretty sure he would not come out of his room after I put him to bed because he knew that if he did, I would take away his pacis. Since Trey used to (until this week! Hooray for a new job!) travel so much for his job, it made it easier on me as a single parent during the week. Survival mode knows no boundaries. :)

One paci was not enough for him. He would put one in his mouth and hold another to the side of his face. The boy was addicted. Seriously.

When he saw the dentist about six months ago, the dentist encouraged us to take it away (though he acknowledged that Thomas' teeth had not been very affected by his paci use...and certainly not to the extent that he would have expected with such long-term use). But still, I let him continue. But then we finally decided that four-year olds don't have pacis and we set the big day.

Thomas decided, "I want to be three forever!" and that's what he would tell us when we mentioned that his birthday was near. So then I decided we wouldn't take it away on the actual day of his birthday so he wouldn't be so sad about what should be a happy day. So this weekend was it.

Taking an idea from a friend, we decided to take Thomas to Toys R'Us and let him pick out whatever he wanted (within reason, of course) and he would "pay" for this toy with his pacis. We told him that the store takes them and gives them to little babies who need them. So he went along, begrudgingly, with our plan. The picture above was just before we got out of the car in the parking lot at TRU. And I should note that at that time he didn't want anyone to see him with the pacis (he was embarrassed that he had them as he did know that he is too old!).

He went in, picked out two new components for his Thomas the train set (a railroad crossing and signal station) and gave the cashier his pacis for payment. All seemed to be fine.

Then we got in the car and I realized he just wasn't himself. I accidentally brushed my hand across his leg and realized it was burning hot. When we got home I confirmed what I suspected, he had a fever. Now I was believing what he told me earlier in the day, that his throat hurt when he swallowed.

He went up to his room to rest after refusing lunch (he had essentially refused breakfast as well), but just kept crying because, as he said, "I need something to suck on." I felt terrible. I took his pacis away (and they were gone!!!) on the day he was running a temperature of 102.

Not the best timing; and I ended up sleeping with him for most of the night last night, but whatever...they are gone, finally. We took him in this morning for a strep test (rapid test was negative) as he is still running a fever. Surely it's not possible that he is suffering from the great loss of his pacis. :-)

Since he is still running a fever, school is out for tomorrow. Not exactly a great start to the week...and life without pacis is certainly not making things any easier!

The status quo around here

I thought I'd share a few pics that make me smile. The boys regularly ride around the block in their Jeep and people always comment about their hair: one is straight and the other is curly. :)


My mom came on Tuesday and planted these flowers. It's driving Parker crazy that I won't let him pick them all. We'll see how long they last.


Speaking of things that don't last, I got those red crocs for Parker a few weeks ago. Seriously, not more than two weeks. I love them and he loves them (though his Daddy says they are pink). But I realized they were getting snug. You see, when his foot was last measured (not more than two months ago) he measured about a 6 1/2. So I ordered him size 6/7 crocs and then the other day I ordered him some leather sandals in size 7.5. When they came, I realized they were really snug. So I pulled out an old pair of T's size 8s. Still snug. So I took him in to get him measured today... HE IS NOW AN 8 1/2!!! And I have to buy him size 9 (wides, of course). Seriously people, the boy is growing faster than the weeds in my yard and that is saying something. His foot has grown two sizes (from a 6.5 to 8.5) in less than two months. That's craziness, people. Then again, no wonder he's been yelling out randomly all night for a couple of months. It must be serious growing pains.

So now he's wearing Thomas's old 8/9 navy blue crocs (which match T's current crocs...and that's annoying). But I love those red ones.

The boys' latest obsession is going over to our neighbor's house and playing in her yard. Parker acts like it is his mission in life to go check on the rocks on her pathway every single day.


I cannot get Parker to smile for the camera, but Thomas is a different story. All I do is tell him, "Do not smile for the camera!" and I get this:


He's a mess.


I'm trying to work up the energy to do Thomas's 4-year update and post about their birthday party and Thomas's birthday. Will do it soon.

Happy 4th birthday, Thomas!

I will have to find more time for a proper birthday post later, but didn't want the day to pass without saying on here, "Happy birthday Thomas!"


I feel like we've been celebrating Thomas' birthday for days, but today we made sure we continued to do all the things that he likes best. Since we had dinner at his favorite pizza joint after his birthday party the other day (from which the picture above comes), today he decided he wanted to go to Chuck E. Cheese for a playdate with his best girl friend, Lily (and her sister). And then tonight his neighborhood buddy, Jack, and his family joined us for Kid's Night at Moe's. What little boy wouldn't be happy with a day like that? :) And he had time for much bike riding in between. It was a good day.

These past four years have been such a blessing. I don't think often of my pregnancy with him, in fact, it is all such a blur. But today my mom came by to do some flower planting in our yard and to give Thomas a birthday hug. When she did, she said, "I'm so glad you are here." And I almost got teary-eyed. Even though I don't always remember, it was such a journey to get him here. Recently I came across a book someone gave him at his birth and the person had written inside the cover, "...We are some of the many who prayed you into this world." It is so true. When I tell people that my water broke at 16 weeks with him, they look at me like I have four heads. He is such a miraculous blessing. I am so thankful that God gave him to us, to keep and raise in this world.

Those twenty weeks of bedrest seem like nothing now. Those nights of fear and anxious anticipation, praying (and begging and pleading) that God would just give him a chance, are all a distant memory. And we have this amazing child named Thomas who brings us so much joy. Happy birthday, Thomas. We love you dearly.

Spray play

I have so much blogging to do (as usual) and a big birthday coming up tomorrow, but there just never seems to be enough time. AND we sent my ailing computer off for repairs last week and that has hampered my blogging efforts even further (if that was possible). Hopefully it will be back by the end of this week. The computer I am currently using is our 7 1/2 year old desktop, which I aptly refer to as "the mainframe," because it is so big and slow!

We had a party for the boys on Saturday (more to come soon), so on Friday evening I was cleaning out the coolers in preparation. The boys found me and decided it was a great time to play in the water. Parker was outfitted in one of his Daddy's favorite shirts, so it made the time even more worth documenting.


It's all fun and games... until someone turns the water back on you...


But, what goes around, comes around...


And boy, does it ever!


And eventually, Parker was okay with being wet...


I think he was having fun...


I see many higher-than-usual water bills in our future...

Happy birthday boys!

This year we decided to combine the boys' birthday parties.  Fortunately they are at an age where I really don't think they care, but they also like many of the same things.  They both love fire trucks!  So we decided to have the party at the local Fire Museum.  I think the boys had a good time. 

The party was held before both boys' birthdays...but on April 20, Thomas turns 4 and shortly thereafter, on May 2, Parker turns 2!  My how they have grown from the time when they were six months!


The museum provides a lovely little room for the party.




First the boys and their friends explored the museum.  Mostly they spent time on the slide (this is one of Thomas' good buddies)...


And in the fire truck simulator...


But the part I was most anticipating was when the real fire trucks arrived!  We had coordinated with the local fire department to come bring a truck for the children to see, but I was most pleased when they brought not one, but two trucks!  


Thomas was most excited to check them out...


Parker hopped right up too...




What really cracked me up though was that while the boys in the group were eagerly checking out the trucks, the girls were perfectly content to watch from afar...


Good thing the firemen brought coloring books.  The girls found those far more interesting!


The firemen took time to let the chilren try their hands with the fire hose:

 

It didn't take Thomas long to figure out how to make that work the way he wanted:




Parker wasn't quite sure what to make of it at first:




A few of the girls were willing to give it a try (here's a school friend of Thomas')!


Parker eventually gave it a try:


Though he was a little suspicious of the firefighter:


Then Thomas took a turn with the hose at full throttle.  Notice how the one man has to hold down the other man!




Then the firefighters talked to the kids about fire safety and about the firefighter's uniform/protective gear.





They encouraged the children to not be afraid of the man in the mask; that he only wants to help people.  He gave them all a high five.


I tried to take a picture of all the children by one truck and that went really, really well.  :)


Then it was time for cake and ice cream!  Thomas blew out his candle...


And then Parker attempted to blow out his...


The cake wasn't exactly wat I had in mind, but it turned out cute enough...


Parker loves cake!  What a difference a year makes.  On his first birthday we couldn't make him eat it!


After cake and ice cream, the firefighters offered to take the birthday boys for a quick ride in the fire truck.  Parker declined, but Thomas was very much up for the challenge!


A little self-portrait from the front seat shows that Thomas was plenty happy with his ride!


It was a wonderful day and a good party shared with great family and friends.  We were very thankful for those who came to celebrate it with us! I can't believe yet another year has passed and I hope maybe this next year will slow down just a little bit!