Well, Caleb, you are officially 4 years old now! I can't even fathom that we have had you in our lives for so long, and yet I can't imagine a world that doesn't include your beautiful smile, your piercing eyes, and a laughter that is so infectious!
You have had such a busy year! You really started learning how to fish with Gramma and G-Pa at their pond, and with the practice fishing pole you have at home, you learned pretty fast how to cast. You have such a good arm! You started to swim more, as we were hoping to get you into the pool to start helping you learn basics. I hope this next year, we can actually get you some lessons. You still love to go on walks, and you truly do love the park. You tackled fears of going up the rock wall at the park and will now climb it. We have had so many fun dates, you and I, and you still love Hobby Lobby. But then, you love to wrestle with your Daddy, and make up silly stories about how there is a "sea monster" and you and Daddy have to escape. It's hilarious! Where did you learn sea monster? This past year, you had two trips (one to Frankenmuth, Michigan and one to Blacksburg, Virginia). Vacation to you is going to a hotel, watching Disney, playing with trains on the hotel floor (because Gramma brought things to do), eating a lot of food, and sleeping in big beds. You loved Frankenmuth (and I knew you would), especially the Christmas store (again - I knew you would)! You loved visiting your Aunt Jen and Uncle Wes in Virginia for Thanksgiving and gave them so much to laugh about. Apparently you even managed to lock one of their bedroom doors while you were there, and one day they actually closed it and they were locked out of it. Ha!
I know I say this every year, but you have grown up so much this past year! You seem to have this memory that boggles our minds. You memorize TV shows you only watched once, you know the books we read to you like you can actually read those books, and you remember words of songs very easily. Plus you just retain information like it's your job! You started a home school preschool with Mommy and Daddy this past year, and you trace letters and numbers very well. You even learned how to write your name. It doesn't matter where you see a sign or if you see numbers somewhere, you try to trace the numbers or letters with your fingers now. We have done our own little science experiments like making a volcano from an apple, making a tornado from a bottle, or growing grass from seeds and a sponge. You love "to do school" even if on your own. You soak up everything you learn! I love that. I hope this next year that you continue to be just as excited when you go to Pre-K. Your vocabulary has also just exploded. Words I didn't know you knew, all of sudden you are using them in a sentence. Correctly, I might add. Like "indeed." What 3 year old knows the word indeed? You, my boy! You heard your Daddy and G-Pa say it so often, you just knew it. Funny recent story, you were playing with Daddy in your room, and you were showing me your dinosaur toys. I pointed to the one and said "that's a T-Rex." And you matter-of-factly said "No Mommy! It's a Tyrannosaurus Rex." Well shut me up. Probably one of the funniest times where you corrected me and were absolutely right. Loved it!
And with all those smarts, you are so creative too. You don't care about coloring or really doing much with art projects (with the exception of cutting paper, making fuzzy caterpillars, or playing with stickers); however, your mind is incredibly creative. You have such an imagination. We could be driving somewhere, and you will all of sudden say "Mommy, we gotta be careful, there is a giant over there." Or a dinosaur, or a giant ant, or whatever it is that you think of. You love to pretend that you can get the bad guys and put them in time out! Ha! And with music, you will use songs that already exist and modify them. For instance, you have many versions for Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. When you sing "like a diamond in the sky..." you will replace diamond with a variety of things (such as different shapes, tornadoes, poop, excavators, etc).
And speaking of poop - Haha! You finally got potty trained (mostly). Nighttime is still an issue, but you are mostly good during the day with occasional accidents. And we will work on the nighttime stuff, so no worries. But since we started potty training with you, you are quite obsessed with the word poop. Must be a boy thing! LOL!
Your heart is so tender and sweet too. Since you learned that Mommy was pregnant with your little sister, you suddenly went from this little toddler to a big boy! Even while I was pregnant, you would talk about your baby sister, and how no one would mess with her! I am not sure where you learned that phrase, but you were ready to be a big brother. You would pat my belly, kiss my belly, and pray for her. And when Mommy wouldn't feel good or when I was sick in the bathroom, you took on this comforter role and would rub my head and kiss my cheek and tell me "it's okay, Mommy!" And then when Baby Alex finally came home, you were soo in love with her. I could see it in your eyes. You saw her and I knew you would do anything to protect her and love her. She was your sister and no one would mess with her! You truly do dote on her by the way you want to help with everything. You want to help get her pacifier for her, you tell her everything is okay, you kiss her head all the time, and you want to be around for diaper changes and baths. The first night, while she was sleeping and Mommy and Daddy were handling dinner, you got a book and started reading to her. It was the most adorable thing I ever saw.
But to say that having a new baby sister hasn't impacted your world would be a lie. You do love her, but you do have jealous moments. Especially when she first came home. You acted out a lot and would deliberately do things we told you not to do, etc. We knew it was because you were jealous. One night, when I was putting you to bed, I asked you if you were sad that Mommy had to spend so much time with the baby, and you said yes. I appreciated your honesty. I hope you always feel like you can tell me anything. I do love our night routine. After I feed Alexandria, I put her to bed and then I put you to bed. We go into your room and do our prayers and talk about the day. We even marvel at the cool glowing city on your wall. You love that thing! And you always tell me that you love me. And you ask me to "stay one minute" as you fall asleep before I leave. And so I do. That nighttime routine is valuable to me because we don't always get time just the two of us anymore. And I'm working on that. I hope to figure out ways that you and I can have some "just us" time too. But just know, time spent with you means the world to me.
And as if it weren't enough, you are showing us what an independent big boy you are. You don't seem to have much fear, which is incredible. You want to literally do everything you can for yourself. You want to get your own drinks, your own food, and really don't want us to have to get anything for you. I think it bugs you that you can't get our big front door open yourself because you would if you could. And a few weeks ago, you told me that you didn't need to hold my hand anymore except for crossing the street. I could get sad, but instead I was proud. You were essentially telling me that other than for safety, you can do this! And it's true! You can. You can truly do anything you set your mind to, and that is why I was proud of you in that moment. Sweetheart, I hope you know that your Daddy and I are your biggest fans, and you always have us to cheer you on, provide you unconditional love, and support you as you go for your dreams!
And even though you are my big boy, you are also my firstborn baby! Always will be. You are the rainbow after a storm. Mommy and Daddy always wanted kids and weren't sure if we would ever be parents. But God gave us a tremendous gift when He gave us you. I so look forward to seeing how much you grow and learn in this next year. There will be some challenges I expect. I know you are going to pre-K this fall, and so that will be a big change for you as well because you will be going to pre-K for three days a week, and Jane's only 2 days. And I'm sure this will impact you as I know you like your friends at Jane's. But I pray that you will make amazing friends at school too, and that you love your teachers as well. We tried to find a school that would give you the structure you need, the ability to make friends, and also learn important things before Kindergarten. You seem excited about going to school!
I love you, sweetheart! You make me such a proud mama! I hope this birthday is and has been one of the best, And I hope this next year is full of incredible memories for you! And my hand is still here always for you to hold, should you change your mind! 😉 Happy Birthday, my darling boy!
Love you always,
Mommy
