How Do I Have A Four-Year-Old?
Tuesday, March 12th, 2019, at 9:17am, my life changed forever. My sweet, sweet baby, Baer Robert Russell, was born, weighing at eight pounds and 12 ounces, measuring 21” long. He was a big newborn who gave me surprisingly few days of baby rolls and chunky thighs—that boy leaned out almost immediately and remains a tall drink of water to this day.
But man! Inside that tall frame is the biggest heart. He loves his friends, his classmates, his teachers, and his family. He actively tells his loved ones how he feels about them—the good and the bad (not sure how I feel about that!). This year, he has really matured: he’s able to label his feelings, tell us why he’s feeling the way he does, and what he needs from himself and from us to appropriately handle his emotions. Mimi is his favorite member of our family, and he spoils her rotten with treats and snuggles (though she’s still learning to trust that his tiny hands won’t pull her tail!). He goes out of his way to include other children in playtime. He always wants to do things independently and will actively find ways he can assist in tasks or do them by himself. Watering the plants, sorting the laundry, prepping meals—there is no task he’s unwilling to assist with.
He loves books, especially ones about medicine and animals. He loves PBS Kids. His favorite games include making shadow puppets, playing school, playing pretend with his animal toys, puzzles, and anything that involves running around and being active. He loves to spell and is still working on that handwriting! He gets himself dressed in the morning (like, 90% of the time. We’re still working on getting his head through the collar of his shirt). He can thread and zip his zippers and button his buttons (when he has the patience). He’s crushing his oral hygiene and his showers. And he still needs someone next to him to fall asleep. He’s working on riding a two-wheel bike and handling his four-wheeler. He thinks he’s ready for a real car.
His favorite foods are pizza (“with cheese and sauce”) and macaroni and cheese. He eats all the fruits—we’re still working on vegetables. He likes crackers but not cheese—unless it’s cream cheese or string cheese. Chocolate and vanilla are his preferred ice cream flavors. Sprinkles, please! Some days he likes cake and some days he prefers cupcakes. His favorite song is “Danger Zone” from Top Gun. You can also catch him singing “Anti Hero” or “You’re On Your Own, Kid” by Taylor Swift. He makes me laugh daily when he asks Alexa to play him songs that he doesn’t know the names for.
So, happy fourth birthday, my sweet Baer Baer. While each day brings more and more amazing memories, time is still a thief, and I wish that I could slow down the minutes so I could remember each and every detail about each and every day. I know you’re excited to get bigger and bigger, but please, don’t rush it. Mommy-o isn’t ready for you to grow up—especially since you’ve already told me that you’re getting your driver’s license when you turn five!