Although it feels as tthought it couldn’t be Thomas is already 4.5 and he is quickly turning into a “real boy.” What I mean by a “real boy” is Mike and I are constantly saying things to one another about what Thomas did or said and then we follow it up with “he’s getting so big, just like a real big boy!”
Physically he is getting taller and heavier by what feels like the minute. Things he couldn’t do before-like reach the bathroom sink-he can now do without stools or help. He is also getting harder to lift and carry around and I am dreading the day when he is officially “too big” to be swooped up in Mike or I’s arms when he is upset, hurt, or just needing a little more TLC. His facial features are also changing and he’s starting to look older to us. He is getting a few more freckles across the bridge of his nose.
Thomas is now in his own room sleeping from the beginning to the end of the night. When he needs Mike or I he comes into our bedroom or calls for us. He isn’t looking back thought and if you ask him if he wants to sleep in our room he will tell you nope. He’s dressing himself and picking out all his clothes. Sometimes he still needs our help with a pesky button or a zipper here and there, but for the most part he is totally independent which helps out a ton in the morning or for bedtime. Sometimes his selection of matching outfits is a bit wonky to us, but it works for him and that is all that matters. Along with other self help skills he is really mostly independent with all of them, we often do a check cleaning or brushing but more and more he is doing it all on his own and very well. He is really taking pride in how he is dressing, brushing his hair, and maintaining his body to keep it healthy. Next step learning how to tie his shoes!
He still loves all things boy! He is a strong worker and likes to help with all jobs, well most, around the house. Although playing alone isn’t his strongest skill he is working on it and we can see this skill improving by the week. For the most part if he is directing play it is with his fire/rescue toys or dress up clothes, in his sandbox with his trucks/toys or lately with his rescue bots rescue heroes. Helping and rescuing is a big theme with him at the moment. When he is with his friends they also mostly play games like that, but they are also starting to play sports games together of baseball, catch and chase. When he and Elin are playing together she mostly plays what Thomas wants to direct….they play a lot of chase and or watch me do this and then you do it on the trampoline, outside, ect. They are quickly becoming better friends and learning from one another. Like any siblings they will often get on one another's nerves so we have been working a lot on kind play and not hurting one another. They have their moments where they are great and moments where I feel like I have been a referee ALL DAY LONG! He continues to be very active and needs a good deal of daily exercise. Biking is one of his absolute favorites at the moment and he continues to challenge himself to be and get better. 
We have started to add a few more responsibilities and chores to his world. He’s learning how to keep his room clean and being more responsible for helping around the house. He never complains about helping with yard work or big jobs, but he sometimes gets bored with cleaning his room alone. Since we have started the chores he is getting much better about cleaning up one thing before moving to another. He is also very proud of his room and when he has it looking all nice all on his own. In my dream world he would also be independent with putting away his washed clothes…we are working on it…but it still takes some direction and maintaining focus!
Thomas is a really genuine little boy with a huge heart. He is a great big brother to both his little sister and brother. He loves to sit and hang out with William and if he is near him you will see him holding his hand and kissing him all over. He is also very protective of Elin and as long as the two of them are together I know he is looking out for her. Sometimes he needs to be reminded to not use his hands to express his frustration, more so with his sister than other friends. He is the first one to help or entertain the little kiddos that are around in different play situations. Along with this comes Thomas’ sensitive side. He can have his feelings hurt by things and he feels them pretty intensely. There are a lot of conversations at our house about big feelings and how we can work through them. He has a love of animals and seems to posses a special touch with them. Mike and I continue to be impressed by his genuine sincerity and kind heart. We hope that these are two characteristics that he continues to possess as he matures.
He had days where he is a huge eater and then days where he doesn’t eat so much. He is still a pretty great eater with a wide variety of favorite foods. He loves seafood (crab/shrimp/scallops), salmon, steak. Carrots and Apples have been a big hit at our house too. He really loves his salad, salad of all kinds actually. It seems like he is just all of a sudden growing and changing quickly. He has dropped his naps for the most part, unless it is a crazy busy day or we will have a late night then we can usually get him to take a quick hour power nap. 
Along with the dropping of the nap has come the more consistent really tired nighttime Thomas. He will now ask to go to bed if we haven’t already suggested it and he is tired. Otherwise he is going to bed about 7/7:30 with Daddy still reading him books and laying with him until he falls asleep.
He is also learning a lot and we have been starting to get him ready for school in the spring or next fall. We thought that if we could build him up it would help him with his school confidence. So I started doing more preschool themed activities where he is learning to write his name, number sense with counting to 10, learning about his letters and the sounds they make and practicing writing and cutting. It has been fun to see what he is learning and picking up and to see him get excited about school again.
Well that is Thomas in a really quick nutshell! Can’t wait to see what the next 6 months bring in his growth and development!
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