Amazing Four

Happy 4th Birthday McGee!

Amazing...that is the one word I can think of right now to describe you my son.  You are funny, tender-hearted, loving, curious, smart, energetic, adorable, helpful, fun-loving, playful, nurturing, clever and many other terrific qualities, but amazing is the word that covers them all.  Often we are left shaking our heads in wonder and amazement at the latest thing you've said or done.

Laughing as you look at a silly picture of Mommy & Daddy

Hamming it up for the camera - your typical goofy behavior

I asked Daddy to describe you in a nutshell and this is what he said, "A nut!"  Your sense of humor and entertaining spirit make this, in fact, quite true.  You are our special little nut who brings such an AMAZING amount of joy into our lives.  Daddy further went on to describe you as,

articulate

loving

creative

sensitive

kind

considerate

musical

lover of trains

lover of music

fun

Favorite foods:  chicken nuggets, multi-grain crackers, pineapple, strawberries, grapes, broccoli (last night you said, "I LOVE broccoli - it's my FAVORITE!"), yogurt, cereal, cauliflower, "walkie-talkies" (aka breakfast burritos, not sure how they got this name from you), peanut butter and honey sandwiches, ICE CREAM (strawberry is most often requested), blueberries, "safami" (aka salami)

Favorite songs:  Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (requested nightly the last month or two), Away in a Manger, The Myles Song (actually there are a couple different ones I've made up), Blessed Be the Name of the Lord, Awesome God, My God is So Big

Favorite cartoon (although you don't watch many):  Chuggington (about trains), also you used to love Mickey Mouse and Tigger & Pooh, but now you only want Chuggington

Possible future vocations:

Engineer or Mechanic - you have always been fascinated with how everything works and get very detailed in trying to figure mechanical things out

Train Conductor - this is what you have been saying lately that you'd like to be, but not a "light rail train conductor", apparently to you there is a difference

Doctor/Medical personnel - you have always been extremely nurturing and attentive to those who are down or not feeling well, one night at dinner you said something sweet and Daddy said, "You're very nurturing" and you immediately said, "I'm going to be a doctor!".  How you knew doctors needed to be nurturing I do not know, but Daddy answered you and said, "You're going to be a really great doctor," and then you said, "YES, I AM!"

Veterinarian - same reasons as above, but you have really been showing a lot of interest in Ben and Callie lately and especially Ben after he cut his foot a couple of months ago.  You're very gentle and respectful (most of the time) and seem to have a great love of dogs (wonder where that comes from). :)

Comedian or Entertainer - you've shown that you can handle a crowd (you recently entertained the women at Auntie LeeAnne's bridal shower with your drum pounding skills) and you are just plain HILARIOUS sometimes!

Favorite color:  Red
Favorite shoes to wear:  Your bright red rain boots or Crocs
Favorite books: The Little Red Caboose, Thomas the Train (a collection of stories), The Pokey Little Puppy, Rookie Racer, Bambi
Favorite things to do:  play with trains or cars, ride your bike or scooter, be with people (especially your grandparents and cousins), wrestle with Daddy, watch Daddy play guitar or play the guitar with him, help people (You say, "I can do it, I'm a really good helper." - and you are!) and play with the hose (or any water).

The last few weeks I have really been enjoying this age, this stage where you are becoming more of an independent little person, rather than a baby or toddler, and you're becoming more responsible and better at listening and learning as well.  You sit and hold whole conversations with people and long phone conversations as well.  You come up to someone asking, "How are you doing today?" and intently listen with genuine interest and concern.

Today you had us laughing when your new Geotrax train was assembled and you kept saying, "Wow, that is just wonderful." and"Wow - I CANNOT believe it!  I love it, I really, really do love it!"

You are enjoying church and learning all you can about God.  On a rare day that we may have to miss church due to illness in the family you have told me, "But we HAVE to go to church Mommy, I need to go learn about Jesus."  When I worked in the nursery yesterday and picked you up after your class you asked me, "What did you learn about in your class today Mommy?"  When I told you I didn't get to go, you stopped, turned and looked at me quite concerned and said, "But Mommy, you NEED to go to your class so you can learn all about Jesus.  Really Mommy, it's important."  Your earnestness touched my heart and I pray you will always have a heart after God.  My verses for you this year come from Proverbs:

"My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,

turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding,

and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding,

and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,

then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.  For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding."

 - Proverbs 2:1-6

You have such an inquisitive spirit, constantly desiring to understand what things are and why they work the way they do, I pray you will continue this quest for knowledge and ask the Lord's direction as you gain more and more wisdom in your lifetime.

Wishing you an incredible 4th year full of many AMAZING blessings!  Daddy, Em and I love you SO very much!