Four and a Half!

Dawson boy, I've been squeezing you extra tight this week because you officially turned four and a half.  

This is you right now: a mischievous grin, wearing a John Deere or camo and digging and constructing in the dirt.  I love how passionate and involved you become in your interests.  You love to learn about construction equipment, fire trucks and tractors of course.  If we are outside you are riding your bike, playing trucks in the garden or chalking up the sidewalk.  Inside the house you are playing with legos and you love to play board games with me.  When your brother and sister are at school we have played a lot of memory, the ladybug game and perfection.

Let's put our heads together

OH!  I can't believe that I have never put this on the blog before but you have this funny little quirk that you do while you are sleeping:  you smack your lips together.  Daddy says you are eating cheeseburgers in your sleep.  You have done this since you were an infant, one day I'll have to try to get it on video.

Your favorite television show is Paw Patrol.  Dad and I have used this to help entice you to stay in your bed at night.  After staying in your bed for five nights, you got a paw patrol toy.  Then you stayed in your bed for six nights, seven nights, and now we are working on eight nights.  Wow!  That means you have slept in your own bed for twenty nights!  There were a couple of nights with thunderstorms where all the kids slept in our room, but overall you are doing really well.  I have to say, it really didn't bother me to wake up to your sweet little sleeping body on the floor next to me but you have been wandering.  One night you got the dog out of the crate and Mike woke up to doggie kisses and on another night I caught you walking down the stairs.  But thankfully you are highly motivated by Paw Patrol and you are sleeping in your bed at night.  I almost forgot, we also "glue" or "tape" you into bed at night with tickles and hugs.  It's become a silly little nightly routine and I don't know if it helps at all but you ask for it.

crazy eyes, dirty face

Recently we were having a play date at our house.  The kids were in the basement and I heard a loud boom boom boom.  I went down to investigate and there was Dawson taking a plastic golf club and hitting the wooden stairs as hard as he could.  I asked him "What are you doing?"  He told me "sorry Mom I thought it was under demolition."  That is just so you!  So mischievous, but how could I do anything but laugh?

My sweet little baby boy, thank you for making me laugh a thousand times a day.  Thank you for challenging me and loving me.  Thank you for just being you!

Happy four and a half years little guy!!