4 year old boy

So if I would ever get around to editing these photos much less posting them then I could proclaim that I now have a four year old. A big ole boy, who no longer wears any clothing with a 'T' in it. Who wears a size 12 shoe, who weighs the same as his height, a grand 43. Who likes to pretend his name is Nick (from the new Cat in the Hat PBS show) or Jonathan (still not sure of where he got that one). Who told me after playing on the playground today with lots of friends at school that it was like one mommy and daddy and all those kids were theirs. Everyone was brothers and sisters together. To which I replied, "Our house will look like that someday too."

On August 31st, we woke up on time at the glorious time of 6 and 3. We put on the annual hat and road on over to the kolache factory. Puppy and camel (we are a pretty creative name-giving bunch around here) joined us on the drive.


I never knew Justin was so into birthday cards until this year. He received one dollar from "Silly Steve" and Aunt Kerry and two dollars from my parents in their cards. My parents told him to spend it in the arcade. So we went to Memorial City Mall's arcade where he was instructed to NOT look around but only at the car games. (We've since discovered that Chuck E Cheese has 25 cent games and they are age appropriate). We spent $3 pretty fast, but had fun coming in 8th place on these games.


We ended on a horse jockey race, and mommy had to get on the game to help Justin "ride that horse".


We came in last, and I was completely worn out.


Then Daddy joined us at Berryhill. Justin got Chick-fil-a brought into the restaurant while mommy and daddy selfishly ate yummy fish tacos instead.


Recently I brought home my first bag of Halloween candy to the house. I try to pace myself or else I will have gained 7 pounds by the end of the month from grazing. Justin tried a Twix and said he didn't like it. My sweet boy and his aversion to many desserts. He doesn't even like donuts (I see a pattern here). He then bites into a 3 Musketeers, which happens to be my favorite chocolate candy bar. He puts his hand on his heart and says, "Oh, I love this Mommy!"


But he also likes a good Chickie shake.


JT has been desiring to read, so thanks to Ashley Brown for hooking me onto BOB books and Teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons.

Every morning Justin comes to where I do my quiet time and wants to listen to the Prince Warrior CD song #9. It's about the Word of God being the weapon of choice, and then there's a rap song for all the books of the Bible. So we pull out the table of contents on my Bible and rap out the books of the Bible. Then we pull out the 100 lessons book and start with our letters.

I have been dragging my feet on this, and he even wants me to put my finger on every word when I read him books before nap. I take a deep breath, and that not-going-to-homeschool-my-kids mom in me does just that. It's great now that mommy has a happy heart about it.


Tomorrow Justin is getting tubes put in his ears, adenoids removed, and his sinuses flushed. After failing 3 hearing tests in 7 months, and his words starting to slur, as well as the constant, "What mommy? I can't hear you", I pushed a second opinion for this surgery. Apparently we won't have to worry about water on the ears in the bathtub or swimming pool, which has always been my set back to it.


So he should be the same ole kid, with his fresh boost of testosterone that I had heard rumors of at age 4. The first week of school the teacher told me we were having a hard time with our emotions and being a little rough with some friends on the playground. Yes, ma'am, I realize there's a new surge of aggression. On the drive home, we talked about if he told his buddy Luke that he was sorry. He said he did, and then I asked if he asked him to forgive him. He slapped the palm of his hand on his forehead saying, "Doh! I forgot that part". Guess we need to help remember the "rules" of asking for forgiveness. Though he explained that the reason he pushed his friend was because there was a snake in his heart. So let's just blame it on the snake. Smart cookie. Now let's just pray that snake out of our heart.


Did I mention that I bought this swimsuit for him to wear to his 2nd birthday party? And he is still sporting it from time to time. I basically keep it around in case we have a buddy over that needs a smaller size. One size fits all with this article of clothing.


My boy has been writing his letters all summer but gets VERY frustrated with them not being perfect. Trying to explain to him that being 4 means we don't write it perfect.


Nothing like a good ole bath with our monster truck family. One of the 3 gifts we gave him (all totaling a whopping $25) was Monster Truck Mater form Mater's Tall Tales. We stumbled on these 5 minute shows this summer, and we love ole Mater.


Why have another when you have it so good with this one? :-)

This past weekend Justin was on a walk with my parents who were in town for the BU/Rice game. He noticed how lots of houses had pumpkins in their yard and we didn't have any. Mommy had not even thought about it, if you can believe it. So we bust out the fall decor and Mr. Decorator comes out of the closet and tells mommy exactly where to put each pumpkin. And don't think of moving it - he will fix it the minute he sees it. He even told me what to do with the front yard. If I get around to it then I will show photos of the pumpkins (and 3o of them are real) around the house. Halloween/Thanksgiving here we come!


4 is fun, especially when you only have to chase one!

And for those that keep asking, I go to the doc next Wednesday to see how this first round of shots went. I feel very different but keep telling myself I am heavily medicated with hormones. Praying for peace...and a baby...