Four!

Four years ago this evening, we were awaiting our baby boy's arrival.  I remember it like yesterday, and am so thankful for our little guy.  He's grown SO much this past year as he's assumed the role of big brother.

I've again "updated" the list of all things Braden (check the archives to see the 2 and 3 year versions).   It's always fun to see what things are very much the same, and what has changed!


At age FOUR, Braden . . .
• STILL loves tractors, trains, trucks, and any other vehicle
• is a chatterbox - at home. We're still working on conversational/social skills, but B's language has really exploded this year
• still loves apple sauce ("sauce") and probably still loves apple juice, but we've stopped buying juice regularly in an effort to get him to drink more milk (it's working)
• enjoys reading books, especially at bedtime . . . almost every night he requests that we leave his lamp on so that he can "read"
• full version of bedtime routine includes bath, brushing teeth, books, singing, and prayers (it is often abbreviated though)
• plays well independently, especially with cars/vehicles, but doesn't like to be alone for too long
• loves to ride his trike, and asks to do so all of the time . . . loves to ride down hills, and can ride all the way to great grandma's house and back!
• has mostly got the potty thing down!  still prefers to poop in a pull up, and is wearing pull ups at night time.  but we've made major progress!
• wears size 3T - 4T clothes  and size 9-10 shoes. (Though he still has a great wardrobe, I think his sister now holds the title for the best/cutest/trendiest wardrobe in our family)
• asks, "What's it doing?" about various things/people  about 400 times a day
•  still loves the water - and still has no fear; loves to go off the diving board and still continues to ask to go to the pool weeks after it has been closed
• asks to snuggle in "the big bed"
• is a great big brother (but better watch out, because little sis is going to get him someday for all the pokes he gives her)

Favorites . . .
Dessert:  fruit smoothies, cake, peanut butter cookies, ice cream

Stuffed animal: blue bear - still sleeps with most nights, Tanner (Hawkeye teddy bear)

Toys: tractors, hotwheels cars (which are in every room of the house/bag/car), tricycle, ipad (not really a toy!), pizza game, markers/paper

Books: No, David!, Five Little Monkeys, Freight Train, A Crack in the Track, Curious Geroge books,  Children's Bible, 

Team: Hawkeyes, Cubbies

Foods: jello with fruit, applesauce, chicken nuggets, french fries dipped in ranch (mostly the ranch), pizza (mostly the crust and pepperoni), mac and cheese, rice, peanut butter cookies

Thing to wear:  Hawkeye apparel, monkey jammies

Place to go: the pool, playground, Carleen's house, Iowa City

Guilty pleasure:  sleeping in, peanut butter cookies for breakfast, sneaking pop from mom/dad

Drink: apple juice, Sprite