Forever Four

It's been said that the days are long, but the years are short. Yesterday Anlon turned five years old, and I am still processing this fact. It truly could have been yesterday that I first held our tiny Buggy in my arms. Some moments are so etched in our memories, that time does not make them the least bit fuzzy.

I decided to go through our pictures over the past year and choose some of my favorites to share. I have no doubt I missed some because there are just so many. I take a lot of pictures of our children. A lot. One day when we're old and gray, Vipul and I will have quite a collection to look through. I just know that these are the sweetest days of my life. The most exhausting yet beautiful, soul-changing days. And they began with this little man.

This picture was taken at his 4th birthday party, one week after he turned four. In some ways I think he looks the same now as he did then. But then in other ways, he looks so much older. He has matured a lot over this year, especially in the last few months. I am so thankful though that he still asks for me to hold him, to rock him at night and often in the morning, to give him hugs and kisses. Although we're pretty sure his love language is quality time, he loves physical touch and is very affectionate. I try to soak this up, as I know there will come a day when he won't ask to snuggle.

This has been the year of the train. He has enjoyed trains since we bought him his first train set when he was two years old. But something really changed right around the time he turned four. He has been completely fascinated by them. Our visits to Tweetsie Railroad in Blowing Rock have definitely facilitated this. This picture was taken right after we returned from a fun day there, and he had chosen this little train to bring home. Reading Thomas the Train books and watching "Hero of the Rails" opened up a whole new world as well. He began to create detailed stories about his trains. And each train would speak quite politely while they worked hard, as really useful engines do. He also became creative with their "heavy loads" and many odds and ends have ended up in their wagons. And when a train needs to pull cargo that doesn't easily attach, string comes in handy. He connects lights to them using rubber bands, adds stickers to them...trains have provided endless imaginative play time.

I love the picture below because it was taken when he was still really into Winnie the Pooh. He still enjoys it, and was very excited to see the characters at the breakfast in Disney earlier this year. But Veggie Tales, Thomas the Train and Curious George are the favorites now.

These are just a couple of pictures that I love because his eyelashes are more clearly shown. I know I'm partial, but his lashes are absolutely amazing.

 He was so excited about his Christmas present - his first bicycle!

Anlon truly marches to the beat of his own drum. One day he decided he wanted to connect this wagon to his tricycle (he does ride his bicycle but still loves his tricycle so much), and he decorated the front with Christmas ornaments (mama approved ones) and filled a bucket with more treasures to carry.

On this day he decided it would be fun to wrap a pool noodle around himself and then add some Christmas lights for some additional decoration. I really try to foster his creativity and assist him in these endeavors. As long as they're reasonably safe. :)

He is a collector of things. All sorts of random items are little treasures to him. He loves to fill up containers, bags, trains, this school bus... He decided to tape buttons on the front of this bus for fun. (there are few days that go by without the need for masking tape).

Our sensory beans have continued to be a source of entertainment. Most days I am very thankful that messes like this honestly don't bother me. I know that one day our home will be tidy and free of toys in every room. This season is fleeting and I want to embrace it as much as I can.

In this picture, he's holding Nofy (a snake made of string that was a special friend for awhile). I don't know how he chose the name Nofy. I verified the spelling.

In this picture, he made a train by taping markers together. And then made a road for his trucks with packages of diapers we had just brought home. He's extremely focused when he's playing. It's always very important and he must give his full attention to whatever task is at hand.

There was a season when he was falling asleep in the car after we had been out, but would wake up when I would transfer him upstairs to his room. (He had previously transferred well). So I started making a little bed for him on the sofa, and successful naptime resumed. He is beginning to nap less, despite showing every sign of exhaustion. It has made for some fussy afternoons when he really still needs this rest. Quiet time has helped, although this is a work in progress.

He enjoys helping me cook and there was a period of several months when I couldn't prepare dinner without both of them asking to help. I'm so thankful that he now enjoys a variety of foods and generally eats very well. The other morning, he requested raw kale, onions and tomatoes for breakfast. And he ate them! He regularly eats kale as a salad with an Italian-like Caesar dressing.

He's taken weekly swim lessons for most of the past year (a few months at Little Otter Swim school and then at the YMCA). But it's only been in the past few weeks that he's really made enormous progress. He also just completed a week of back to back lessons at Charlotte Swim Academy and this increased his ability and confidence as well.

The love that he shares with Vipul is like nothing I've seen. He adores his daddy and loves spending time with him. And Vipul is so incredible with him. I could write a post just on this.

This is one of my favorite pictures ever. Just an impromptu shot of us being silly before bedtime.

From the day we brought Anya home from the hospital, we've told Anlon that she is his very best friend. We've told him that he will have many friends in his life, but Anya will be his best. We've prayed that they would have an unbreakable bond - something so special. There is nothing that makes me happier in the world than watching them together. They have moments just like all siblings have when they argue over who has a particular toy, etc. But they honestly do adore each other. He still calls her Baby Anya, and she calls him Emmy (we often call him Emmy too now). If you ask either of them who their best friend is, they each say the other. It's just a beautiful thing and I thank God for His provision. And I pray that as they grow older, their bond will remain strong and true.

He enjoys doing crafts and we do a lot of painting at home. He continues to love books and we read a lot. It will be so wonderful when he's able to read as I know this will open up a whole new world to him.

 

There aren't enough wonderful words to describe Anlon's preschool teachers this past year. Ms. Sandy and Ms. Janay poured their hearts into our little boy and taught him so much. He attended our church's "WEE school" Mon/Wed/Fri mornings and absolutely loved his time there. We know that God provided the perfect teachers for Anlon.

He played soccer for the first time last summer. But he didn't really enjoy it until this summer season. He's become a lot stronger and more coordinated over this past year and I think this has increased his confidence too.

This was actually taken today. He had just put together a few of the Legos from a new set and was very happy. He transitioned to "little" Legos this year and that has been so fun!

I'll share a series of questions that I asked him in another post.

My dearest Anlon,

I've told you this many times, but I'm so thankful that you're my little boy. Of all the little boys God could have entrusted us with, He chose you. You are kind, loving, creative, silly and serious rolled into one. You have the most adorable little voice and the best laugh. You are articulate and inquisitive. Your imagination is inspiring. You work very well with your hands. You have the sweetest innocence that I long to protect. You enjoy other children very much, but love interacting with adults. You always have. You are the best big brother ever. After you cry, you ask me to wipe your tears. You love animals, and whales are your favorite. You enjoy running, jumping, climbing, searching for bugs, watching for planes, finding sticks...but you are also sensitive and gentle. To know you is to love you. And your daddy and I love you so very much.

Your name means "Great Champion". And my prayer above every other prayer is that you would become a great champion of Jesus. He loves you more than you could ever imagine. I can't wait to see the plans He has for you. But I also wish you could stay four forever.

Love,
Mama

"And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him." Luke 2:40