Matty is Four!

My Matty,

Happy Birthday, Sweet Boy! You are finally four! I say this because you have been anticipating this day for a long time. In your analytical head, you knew when you were just three, then three and one-quarter, then three and a half, and then three and three-quarters. We love Cinco de Matty and are so excited to celebrate with you today. Your bedroom door is decorated, the kitchen table is decorated, and your presents (which include board games, a baseball tee, bases, and soccer nets) are piled on the table. I am pretty sure you will feel special today.

You are starting out your birthday in the same manner you begin most days: in my bed. As usual, you ninja-ed your way into the middle of daddy and me sometime around 4:00 this morning. You have been a terrible sleeper since we took your pacifier away well over a year ago, and even the removal of your tonsils and adenoids has not helped your ability to sleep through the night. The nights that you stay in your bed the whole night are celebrated, usually with a checkmark on our "Sleep Scoreboard," but you have never made it past three consecutive nights. Your Daddy and I promise frozen yogurt after five consecutive nights and a sleepover with Grandma and Pop Pop after ten, but it looks like it will be a while before we are buddy-free in our bed. Daddy and I have talked about playing tough love to get you out of our bed, but we both have a soft spot for your chubby feet against us.

As one of your friend's moms told us, you have such a loving heart. You are sensitive and caring. You are a good snuggler and you seek affirmation in all that you do. You want so badly to be big but you are still such a little boy. You are most happy when you are with your daddy watching sports or playing with your cars at my feet while I work. You love your sister and brother yet you love to upset them too. You have been potty-trained since February 2014 but still wear a diaper to bed (and still call me to wipe your bottom!). You are pretty easy going in the mornings and let your sister dominate you when it comes to picking the morning TV show. You have many girlfriends because you are such a sweet, cute boy. We love you to pieces.

Here are some answers to my usual birthday questions:
What is your favorite color? Green (Your favorite color was Black when you were three. You have been telling me for months that it will change to Green when you are four)
What is your favorite food? Mac and Cheese
What do you want to be when you grow up? Doctor
Who is your best friend? Lucas Park and Mia Stoklas, but you also have lots of play dates with Blake Heeter and Anna Miekle
What is your favorite TV show? Peppa Pig
What is your favorite movie? Cars

In the past few weeks, you interest in sports has skyrocketed. You have absolutely no idea how happy this makes your daddy. What is amazing is that you are really understanding the rules of sports too. When I play softball with you, you will tell me when you've struck out or when you are about to steal second. That's pretty impressive if you ask me! You will play imaginary sports in our family room by yourself. All you need is your imagination and a ball of some sort. You have asked me many times who played the Seahawks in this year's Super Bowl, because they (the Patriots) ultimately become your rival in your pretend game. You are just starting to show an interest in super heros. You want a Spiderman cake for your birthday party on Saturday, but you really don't own a lot of super hero toys... yet. I am sure that day is coming, but for now I am glad you still love playing with your cars.

As Baba has said, you have remarkable diction for someone your age. You speak very clearly. You have had older friends over for play dates before, and that is when I realize how well you speak - because I have trouble understanding them. During a conference with your preschool teacher in February, she suggested that you could be tested to start kindergarten this coming fall. Now, there is no way that your daddy and I are ready to send you to kindergarten, but it certainly affirms to us that you will be ready in September 2016.

Matty, my Matty, you stole my heart four years ago today. I am so grateful that God chose me to be your  mommy. I keep asking you to stop growing up on me, but you and I both know that won't happen. I love you and pray that you grow up to be a man of faith, honor, strong character, self discipline, and compassion for others. Most importantly, I pray that you love for the Lord and yourself. Thank you for bringing so much joy in to my life. My your life be as happy as you've made mine!

I love you to the moon and back,
Mommy