Now that he's FOUR!

Ben celebrated his FOURTH! birthday early in the month. 

I do not even know where to begin when talking about much he has grown and changed this year.  It was a gradual change that was not near as startling as his first few years but I still get choked up when watching his slide show.  (I posted it on the side bar before his birthday...)

He started preschool last January and he still loves it.  His favorite part of the day is getting to play with outside with his friends.  Jeremy, Owen and I were able to attend his celebration of life a few weeks ago.  It was a very special thing to be a part of.  The months of the year are placed around a candle.  Ben was holding a ball to signify the earth.  Each time he walked around the circle it signified the time it takes the earth to travel around the sun, one year. 

His speech has significantly improved over the year since we started therapy through the school district.  He now has the end sounds and most medial sounds. His speech therapist is great and does a wonderful job at keeping the sessions fun. 

I am sure that I have mentioned it a time or two, but Ben is not a fan of deviating  from the norm.  His routine has not changed much this year.  We start getting ready for bed around 7:30pm and he is usually tucked in thirty minutes later.  He knows almost all of the stories by heart so I started to change the words when I read to him so that he can correct me.  This tickles him to no end every single night.  If Jeremy and I are both tucking him in, he will play his version of eeny meeny miny moe to see who gets to give him a hug, kiss, high five, knuckles, then park the knuckles (in that exact order).

He wakes up around 6:30 or 7:00 every morning in such a wonderful mood.  He is so sweet when he comes into our room to let us know that it is morning and we should not just be lying around.  It is a new day and we need to get started!  Oh and could he have a waffle and some chocolate milk since we are now awake?

I am looking forward to all the fun that being FOUR! is certain to bring.