I asked Ralph on Tuesday, “Do you know what today is?” He says Tuesday, followed
by garbage day, followed by basketball night, followed by a school day. I said
that is all correct but do you know WHAT today is? Today is your last day of
being 4! Crazy to think back, 5 years ago we were childless, had a lot more
room in our townhome, and could walk around without running into Legos and
other toys that hardly ever get put back to where they need to be.
What
is Ralph like these days?
He likes anything and everything to do with angry birds and superheros. He likes someone to play with him. He likes to watch youtube during Henry’s breathing treatments – his most requested videos are Wild Kratts, Teen Titans, and Batman Brave and the Bold. He likes shutting his bedroom door while playing with his brother and they both barricade themselves in by putting blankets against the door. He likes being cozy while he sleeps and has many blankets in his bed, mostly piled up at the end only utilizing two or so at a time. He likes hoarding items. He has a “secret” stash of candy and treats in a cubby he has deemed his, as well as in a drawer next to his bed. I have also discovered some items from daycare in his coat pocket I do not think are supposed to be in his pockets. He likes being read to. He likes the colors green, orange, red, and blue. He likes sitting on my lap as I try to work on the computer. He likes checking himself in on the computer at daycare. He likes testing my patience though he does not always know he is testing it.
He does not like it when he is hurried along. He does not like to be bothered while watching youtube.
He is more than ready for Kindergarten. He loves to learn. We’ve been working on simple addition and subtraction. He has been able to write his name for awhile. He asks how to write words letter by letter. He knows he needs to raise his hand when he wants to get our attention and has something to say. He had been experimenting with a few spanish words for awhile but that interest has waned some.
Amazingly,
he is still 5-point harnessed in the car seat. He may meet the minimum requirements
for using the regular seatbelt in the booster but his 5-yr checkup/kindergarten physical isn’t for
another couple of weeks so we’ll wait to make any decisions.
Lights
out at night are around 8:10, I’m guessing he falls asleep around 8:30 and gets
up anywhere from 6:15 – 7 am, usually closer to 6:15-6:30 am. He prefers French toast sticks or
mini pancakes in the morning. He is really good about eating fruits, vegetables are still hit and miss but he does like broccoli and carrots more than the standard green beans and corn. His favorite choices for lunch or supper are currently peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, hotdogs, grilled cheese sandwiches, and mac and cheese.
He is wearing size 9.5 toddler shoes; XS, 4, and some S sized shirts depending on the style, and 5T and 5 sized pants; adjustable waists are a must and the 5's are folded up at the hem. He can zip his coat. He'd rather not mess with buttoning/snapping his pants/jeans. He is not picky on what I pick out for him to wear each day. He can tie his shoes when he wants to.
Ralph has been taking a basketball clinic since mid-January. He has dribbling skills has grown exponentially. He learned basic basketball fundamentals that will only grow as he develops better eye-hand coordination and learns to be a bit more aggressive. It has been fun watching him grow in this area.
Ralph has been taking a basketball clinic since mid-January. He has dribbling skills has grown exponentially. He learned basic basketball fundamentals that will only grow as he develops better eye-hand coordination and learns to be a bit more aggressive. It has been fun watching him grow in this area.
We finished eating on Wednesday at 5:57, just in time to wish Ralph an official Happy Birthday at 5:58 pm. What a ride the past five years has been!
