four (and a half).

My little boy is four and a half! I really shouldn't call him a baby anymore, but he will always be my baby! Four and a half means endless energy, rare naps, a budding vocabulary, and a problem solver attitude that is scary sometimes!

At four and a half...

• N's life is consumed by all things ninja turtles!  Toys, shows, movies, creative play, it all comes down to TMNT. He watches the show that is on Nickelodeon, but has also gotten into the cartoon that aired in the 90's (circa my childhood!) which he refers to as the "little" turtles. 
• When it comes to food, Nate is still so picky! He's still drinking his strawberry Pediasure and trying to subsist on a diet that is more representative of a toddler transitioning to "real" food, but we continue to provide options at every meal (which go uneaten). 
• Even though N's room is fun and has every single toy under the sun, he still likes to relocate to play. The bathroom floor, the hallway, anywhere is fair game. You learn to shuffle to avoid the excruciatingly painful experience of accidentally stepping on a figuring or, heaven forbid, a Lego. 

• And speaking of Lego's, if anyone else buys him more I will SCREAM! I love the creative aspect of Lego's and that they promote critical thinking and fine motor skills. However, he's not really there yet. His interest is in having one of us assemble (and endlessly reassemble) while he demolishes whatever set he's playing with. Maybe next year? 
• Nate is a regular when it comes to field trips! His class has taken a few this year (pumpkin patch, grocery store, my old high school to see the band and orchestra, and the Children's Museum). He is most excited about sitting in the bus and tells me that he likes to sit in the back of the bus (naturally). At least he's so cute rocking his preschool t-shirt! 

• When it comes to school work, I can't say that Nate is totally enthralled, but he's trying. That's all I can ask. We're still slowly working on letters, but I was SO proud when he wrote a recognizable "N" amongst his scribbles on my dad's birthday card this year. 
• A new milestone for Nate is that he's mastered the mouse and has gotten really into playing kids games on my laptop! There is a computer for the kiddos to use at preschool and he's gotten into playing strategy and math games, complete with his own special blend of sound effects.

• Nate's most frequent request for bedtime stories are currently either the Five Little Monkeys or Little Critter series, with some Scooby Doo peppered in for a little variety. 
• Dressing up like a "bad guy" is a favorite, in which he wears his winter coat (by the hood, like a cape) and his snow boots. His snow boots were purposefully purchased to be too big (so he can wear them next year), so there's lots of clomping around the house! 
• It's a lifelong lesson, but he's learning the power of patience! Maybe he can teach me next :) 

And to continue on my little tradition of asking questions over time and seeing how the answers change, here's a quick review of N's answers at three and a half and his answers at age four. His most current answers: 

1. What is your favorite color? Blue
2. What is your favorite food? French fries
3. What is your favorite t.v. show? Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
4. Who is your best friend? Theo and Morgan and Oliver
5. What is your favorite animal? Turtles
6. What is your favorite song? Taylor Swift's "Shake it Off" or, what he refers to as "The Booty Butt" song -- watch the music video
7. What is your favorite toy? Shredder
8. What is your favorite movie? "You are mistaken - I just like Ninja Turtles right now, not movies"
9. What is your favorite stuffed animal to sleep with at night? My big bear
10. What do you want to be when you grow up? Astronaut

We'll rinse and repeat in six months!