Happy 4th Birthday to Our Jacob Brian

 

My Dearest Jacob, 

How are you already four years old?  I know it’s cliché to discuss how quickly time has passed since you were born, but seriously, where have the last four years of our lives gone?  I know that we have all of the pictures to prove their existence, marking all of the small and large events and everything in between, but I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that four years have passed since I first held you in my arms, since I first kissed your sweet little button nose, since I first smelled your sweet newborn baby scent.   

Even though you are a big boy now, you are still and will always be my baby.  I hope that you will always remember this.  I can remember rolling my eyes when my parents used to say that to me, but once you have children of your own you will understand.  Yet another cliché, but one that is so very true. 

At four, you are one amazing little boy. 

You are hilarious.  Not a day goes by that you don’t make us laugh.

You are goofy, always making silly faces and doing silly dances for no reason. 

You are shy… you’re very quiet around people that you don’t know, but once you warm up to them, that goofy side comes back out. 

You are so very smart.  Your intelligence amazes Daddy and me every single day.   

You love to learn, and it seems to come naturally to you.  You’re always interested to know how things work, you ask a lot of questions, and you retain everything that you hear.  You already remember things like the nine planets in order by distance from the sun and how many stars and stripes are on the flag and what they stand for… things that I probably didn’t learn until at least first or second grade!  Your newest thing is addition.  You are constantly adding – 2+2 is 4!  3+1+1 is 5! 

You seriously remember everything.  We can mention something to you in passing, or say something when we think you’re not even listening and you will repeat it to us days later.  You’re like a little sponge, just soaking everything up. 

You are sensitive.  You get your feelings hurt very easily, and you are very emotional when something goes wrong. 

You know what you want.  You always have an idea in your head of how you want things to go, and if something goes slightly awry you get very upset.  I wonder where you get it from…  

You don’t like change when it comes to day-to-day activities.  You are already set in your ways like a little old man.  I wonder where you get that from as well…  

You are so incredibly stubborn.  If you are doing something wrong, Daddy and I always give you a chance to correct your behavior before you have to suffer the consequences, but you always stand your ground even knowing that you’re about to be punished.   

You still don't want to poop on the potty - stubborn, seriously - and at this point there’s not much that we can do about it.  You're killing us, Smalls.     

You already have a very good sense of self, and you don’t let anyone pressure you into doing anything that you don’t want to do, so your stubborn side can also be a good thing. 

When you start something, you want to finish it.  

You love to be rocked or patted before bed, and you ask us several times not to leave when you’re falling asleep.    

You are itty bitty… you still wear 2T shorts and 4T shirts, and even in those you still have a little bit of growing room. 

You love cars and trucks, superheroes, Bubble Guppies, and your “game computer” (Leap Pad). 

You love waffles, fruit snacks, and pretty much all fruit. 

Your favorite shirt is your Old Navy Superman t-shirt… you’ve worn it so many times that the logo is starting to crack, and the color is starting to fade.  

You are so affectionate.  You love to give hugs, snuggle, and give me kisses all the time, and you randomly tell us that you love us for no reason at all. 

You make us happy. 

You make us proud. 

You make every single day brighter. 

You make every single day worth living.   

Happy Birthday, my little munchkin.  You are my favorite little boy in the whole, wide world, and I love you all the time. 

Love, Mommy