four

my firstborn is four.

how did this happen? each year seems to go by faster than the one before.

the events of his birthday captured every facet of his personality.

EXHIBIT A: birthday breakfast

miles is sensitive.  he's shy and easily embarrassed.  he doesn't have the confidence (yet) to go in front of a large group of people.  he doesn't like to be laughed at and will cover his ears when he feels uncomfortable. he cries easily and gets frustrated when things don't go as he had planned.  but, he can snap out of his "funk" pretty quickly.  he is quick to admit that he's changed his mind and has decided he does like whatever he just despised. (thank you Sam I Am for that little life lesson)

EXHIBIT B: baby brother

miles is gentle and sweet. he loves to hug his baby brother, not kiss him, just hug him. he ever-so-gently puts his head against reece's and closes his eyes. he likes to talk to him in a little tiny voice, "hi little reecey!" and explain to reece what he's holding/doing/etc, "I'm your biggest brother. this is my super why reecey!" it melts my heart.

EXHIBIT C: the cake

miles likes things to go a certain way. I'm not sure what exactly sparked this little meltdown, but I'm pretty positive it had something to do with the timing of the cake eating/candle blowing. he had probably planned on doing something else at that moment. this exhibit also mimics exhibit A quite closely.

EXHIBIT D: the hat

miles is funny. he loves to be silly. he makes up stories and words. he loves to tell jokes (the same three knock knock ones over and over and over and...). he has the most infectious giggle.

EXHIBIT E: the gift

a quick demo by daddy

miles is cautious. he is deliberate and likes to feel safe while trying something new. he works hard, but needs encouragement to continue trying something he isn't so good at. when he figures it out, he excels at it and is, in turn, encouraging to others.

EXHIBIT F: books [not pictured]
miles is a quick learner. he has always loved books and we knew at an early age that he was incredibly good with letters, phonics, and numbers. in the last few months his ability to read grew like wildfire.  he can sit down and read a mercer mayer book like he's in first grade. his daycare mom reported to us one day that he had read 72 sight words that day.  he would've done more, she said, but they needed to eat lunch. I'd love to pat my own back and say that my teacher skills are super human.  but I cannot. this kid was born to read. we truly believe it's a gift. as a teacher, I can say, it's a wonderful gift to have.  the downside?  no more skipping sentences in those crazy long bedtime stories.  shucks.

we feel incredibly blessed to call him ours.