You are now four years old! I can't believe how fast the time has flown by...it seems like you were JUST turning three and now you are FOUR. Four seems so old to me...I remember when I was four! This has been a very busy year for us so far and will continue to get busier I'm sure.
You began preschool in the fall! This was such an easy transition for you, I was amazed by how well you adjusted. You love going every Tuesday and Thursday and you really seem to love your teachers and kids in your class. I got to go with you on a field trip to Whistling Wells Farm and it was very fun to ride with you on your first school-bus ride! You are writing your name very well now and even writing "Mom" and "Dad" and "Calvin" and some other words too with help. You are much more interested in coloring and doing art type things now than you were when you were 2 and 3. You will sit and color or paint for a long time by yourself. You even stay in the lines very well now. Next year you will go to preschool 3 days a week and when I tell you about this you say, "Good!"
You are very thoughtful when you speak...before you tell us something you think about what you know about it and then you share the information. : ) This morning you and I were comparing something to a Cheetah and you looked very thoughtful for a moment and then told me quietly and very seriously, "Did you know that Cheetahs are one of the fastest animals in the world?" You continue to stun us with your little facts about dinosaurs and animals. You soak things up from books, school, your Grandmas, your brother, and cousin Max. Then you report back to Dad and me with your new knowledge. You also have a very good memory and will talk about something that happened over a year ago...remembering all the details! You recently brought up something that happened on our San Diego trip last March and remembered everything about it.
Over the past year or two you have become a picky "kid food" eater. You love noodles and would eat them everyday if we let you. You do eat a lot of raw fruit and veggies but sometimes complain about them. Your favorite fruit right now is strawberries! You also love blackberries, pears and apples. Your favorite veggie has been carrots for awhile now. You will eat different colored bell peppers and occasionally broccoli. You do not like potatoes, peas or green beans! We usually make you at least TRY something before you declare you do not like it and won't eat it. You like the typical kid food....pizza, hot dogs, mac n cheese, etc.... but do not like when we make tacos. You are definitely a carb boy...you and your brother both love pasta and rice. Lately when I've tried a couple new things for dinner you have said "this dinner looks awesome mom!"
We just moved into a new house and you love it...we all do. There is so much more space...you and Calvin each have your own rooms now and a huge play area in the basement. We have a huge fenced in yard and cannot wait for spring so we can all be out enjoying it. You learned to really ride your trike and bike this past summer/fall ....with training wheels. You can go pretty fast and seem fearless.
You are still napping at four years old. As of right now today you've been sleeping for almost 3 hours and I need to wake you up soon. You stay up until after 9 on nights that you've napped that day. A lot of days you get mad when I say it is nap time but some days (like today) you ask if it is nap-time yet and then run to your room. You probably nap 5 days a week right now and I won't mind if you want to keep this up because I have been needing naps more now too.
You are going to become a big brother this summer! Our baby's due date is July 24th and we are all very excited, especially you. Right now you say "I THINK the baby is a boy but I WANT a sister." It is very cute and sweet when you talk about the baby and ask questions. We have wanted to give you a little sister or brother for a long time now! I am trying to really soak up these last months with just you because I know there are big changes ahead! Please keep napping until you are five like your brother did. : ) I can't wait to see how you react to meeting your new sibling for the first time.
You are growing up to be a tall little boy! We had your 4 year check-up today and you got to play lots of fun games with the doctor. You trotted off with the nurse all by yourself to get your hearing and vision checked and you passed all the tests with flying colors. You are quite talkative all of a sudden with people you don't know...you will approach almost anyone now and tell them you are four. Your height is in the 86th percentile (3 feet, 5 inches) and your weight is 88th percentile (40.4 lbs).
We love you so much Oliver! You are still our little Gooch Bear even though you are growing up so fast!
Love, Mommy
