4 Years and Counting

My dear Chase,

How it is even possible that you are 4 years old already? And in true Chase fashion, already asking when you are going to be 5! We celebrated with a Lightning McQueen party and you got more gifts than you needed but boy did you have fun! 

This year was Cars, Cars and more Cars for you!

You were "Bad to the Bone" as you waved to your friends at your party

 

The year has gone by with so many memorable moments and I keep saying that I have to write them down before I forget but then time gets away from me. Although I won’t be as well-documented in written form, I can make you this promise, you will always be well-documented in my heart and mind. You are a part of me and time will never change that fact.

What have you been doing over the last year? Growing, learning and loving are the best ways for me to simplify for you. You have not only grown up physically, but your mind has expanded in ways that leave your Dad and I speechless, literally. Whether it be when you recap your day at preschool with exact detail or remember something that happened 6 months ago, your vocabulary and language skills impress us beyond belief. The fact that you even use the words in their correct context is even more amazing to us. Take for example, the day you boys were playing with Daddy and you told Jack to run to the right and you ran to the left so Daddy wouldn’t catch you. You looked at me and said, “Mom, I used Jack as a distraction so Daddy couldn’t catch me.” Seriously, what 4 year old talks about using siblings as a distraction?! You learned to write your name in preschool this year but still aren’t sure if you prefer to write with your right or your left hand. More to come in the future on this one I guess! You are starting to sound out words by looking at the letters and practicing how they sound. You will “read” books to your brothers (if they slow down long enough to let you that is). You have learned to sing and dance and say the blessing before every meal for us. (AhMan is how you pronounce Amen, melts my heart every time!)

Daddy and his boys (G,J,A,C)

Before bed when Bise came to spend the night with us (G,A,J,B,C)

You have become an amazing boy and I am literally told by everyone you come in contact with how good you are. They all still comment on your manners and how well you listen and follow directions. That makes me almost as proud as anything else you could ever accomplish.

Love, my goodness how you love. You get your feelings hurt when other people are sad, you comfort your friends when they are upset and console your brothers when they cry. Just this morning, Graham was crying and you pulled him into your lap on the couch and rubbed his back while he sat with you. In a matter of seconds, he was calm and resting his head on your shoulder. Again, while it isn’t captured on film, I took my own mental photo and stored it away for the time when you have him in a headlock and are the reason why he is crying!

You are excited beyond words that you now have Grandma, Mom-mom, Pop-Pop, Uncle Matt, Aunt Jen, Bise and Meredith all living here in Raleigh (which you remind me of daily). And the fact that more family lives in NORTH Carolina (emphasis on the North when you say it) makes you giggle. You loved spending time with Aunt Lindsey, Olivia, Addison and Allye but were sad that Uncle Nate had to work. Yet, you understood what that meant and kept saying that we would see him soon.

On your new Lightning McQueen bike with Pop-Pop, Mom-mom and Grandma in the background

You are swimming with new confidence after finishing your swim lessons and getting your own puddle jumper and will now go under water and ‘dive’ for treasure on your own. You make friends wherever you go and are constantly on the go. Busy just doesn’t describe your movements on a regular basis.

Miss Katy and you kicking like crazy. She was AWESOME!

You still let me hold you everyone once and a while and while you may be getting bigger and heavier, you still let me carry you to bed at night (if I ask to). I can’t imagine life without you and am grateful for everything you have given me and taught me. You remind me daily of how special and precious life can be and I try not to take these moments for granted. I love you more than I can ever express and love being your mom. Please don’t grow up too soon, I still want my little boy around.

On the day you were born

On the day you turned 4