Four Years Old!

Ezekiel Dekker, you are 4 years old today! How much you have changed our life in these past 4 years! We'll start with a birthday interview before we talk about what you're like at this age :)

Birthday Interview: 1/25/16
What is your favorite food? Pancakes! 
What is your favorite movie? Octonauts and Kate and Mim-Mim and George and Kyle and Oh (those are both from the movie 'Home')
Favorite Drink: juice and milk
Favorite Color: I like all of them! 
Favorite Song: "Feel the Light" and "Drop That" (also from 'Home'), Jesus Loves Me
Things to do: play with toys, jump on the couch (frowned upon!), I like "Rio" too, hang up streamers
Favorite Outfit: Camo sweatpants with orange sweatshirt 
Favorite Outing: to Pop-Pop's house!
What do you like about Levi? When he goes with us. 
Zoë? When she goes with us.  
Mommy? When you turn on our movie.
Daddy? When Da-Da turns on the movie too.
Summer or Winter? Water table... and the snow too.
Anything else? I like one more thing. Waterfall. That's everything I want. How about one more thing? Flying. Swimming. That's everything! One more thing please. Riding our bicycles outside. Going to the zoo.  

- You are a very kind and thoughtful boy. You care greatly about Levi, Zoë, Mommy and Daddy. Sometimes I tease you about taking Levi away and you get very upset because you "love him".

We have gotten so much snow this winter! You are enjoying playing out in it!

- You are a good eater, not too picky. You eat lots of fruits and veggies. You are a slow eater, breakfast often takes 45 minutes. Some of your favorite foods are peas, potatoes, turkey (you enjoyed Christmas dinner a lot!), hot dogs, pears, and pineapple.

- We have started doing some preschool time with you. You seem to enjoy learning your letters and numbers, about the calendar, art, music, science, and hand-on activities. You like to paint and do your Magic School Bus chemistry lab.

We took pictures of different amounts of things from around the house to work on our numbers. (7)

(1)

- You enjoy jumping on the trampoline especially to all the songs from "Home".

- I'm excited to put you in an activity this spring, probably soccer or t-ball. Whichever you decide to try. I might start doing some piano lessons with you as well now that you're getting to know and recognize your letters.

You are excited to play outside with your balance bike this spring! 

- You talk. A lot. And loud. We're working on volume control with you, but so far it has proved ineffective. You also like to provide a narrative of just about everything you're doing throughout the day.

- You do rest time every afternoon and probably take 3-4 naps a week, depending on how well you slept the night before. You typically sleep from 9 pm - 7 am, sometimes until 8 am, if only Levi would let you.

You fell asleep after lunch... in your chair. It looks uncomfortable to me! 

On the way to Aunt Teresa's house in November 

- You have begun to help with a few things around the house. You usually clear your plate, fork, spoon and cup after meals. Sometimes you help load the dishwasher, mostly utensils. You wash off the table after breakfast. You reach things for me when I'm changing diapers (like wipes, tender tush, etc.) You put your clothes in the hamper at night, you get dressed (mostly on your own). Sometimes I have you go down to comfort Zoë if she wakes up and I can't get to her immediately. You do pretty good at keeping her calm and entertaining her for me.

I love your little smile.

We made snow cream for the first time this winter. We all liked it! And you like to just eat snow for fun. 

Christmas morning with all your new stuff -- hat, pjs, and bike! 

-You don't like to be alone, you much prefer being around all the people in your life. And often talk about how you wish we could all live together -- our family, Pop-Pop, Grandma, Mimi, Aunt Teresa, Uncle Paul, Miriam, Aubry, Allison, Sam, and Maggie. 

**Added 2/1/16 -- At your check-up today you weighed 41.8 lbs. and are 3' 5"! You are about the 80% for both height and weight for kids your age! 

Waiting for your new train to pass through the tunnel. 

Gearing up for the outdoors! 

Playing at Miriam's table

Mimi's sandbox was nice, even in November!

Ezekiel, you are so loved. You like to think about things before you do them. You are a bit shy and don't like to be put on the spot. You are obsessed with lights and strings and anything that makes a line (yarn, scarves tied together, thread, cords) I'm quite interested to see how this will play out as you get older! You are still talking about our Christmas tree and how much you enjoyed it! You talk pretty clearly and surprise us with some of the things you say and put together. I can't wait to see what this next year with you will bring and how you will grow and change and develop in the coming months. Happy Birthday, Zeke! Love, Mommy