You are Finally Four!

James Tracy

I am actually writing this letter to you on the day of your four year old check up which is just about a month after your fourth birthday; a birthday you anticipated so very much! This year with you was just so special. You were so excited to be getting bigger and anxious to show me all the big boy things you can do. We joke that I need to squish you down to keep you little but you always remind me you will hug me and love me forever and with your tender heart I am sure that is true!

This year you started preschool and you love it so much. You love going to school and adore your teacher, Mrs. Jaschek. You have learned so much and can spell the names of many of your classmates as well as write your own name! You are anxious to learn and are so proud to share everything you learn. Everyone who gets to work with you in your classroom has said to me what a sweet kid you are. You are polite, a good friend, eager to help, a rule follower and excited to participate in all aspects of school. It has truly been a gift to watch you in preschool this year and see you come into yourself and excel as a person and student.

I have also loved to watch you as a big brother to Henry. You are so good to him and help him when he needs help. You are his best audience for all his jokes and laugh at him all the time. You share well with him and want him to be a part of everything you are doing. He is so lucky to have you as a big brother and you are so lucky to have him. I hope you always know what a gift it is to have a built in best friend. You two have become even better friends than I expected and it just makes me so very happy.

You became more confident this year and it was so fun to watch. You overcame fears and began to assert yourself more in situations. When you first turned three you had a hard time standing up to other kids who weren't playing nicely but you grew in your confidence and do an awesome job standing up for yourself. You were very timid about swimming when we first started lessons but after summer swim lessons you were able to swim mostly independently and were excited to show us what you could do. Now you walk confidently into swim lessons each week. I have loved to watch you grow in confidence and began to assert yourself and also try new things.

You continue to love sports and all things active but also have started to love games and movies. You and Henry have so much fun playing soccer, baseball and running obstacle courses. You two could play sports with each other all day. You have also loved going to open play at gymnastics. A new love of yours is games. We are constantly playing Guess Who, Memory, Candyland, Trouble and the wii video game system. You have a blast trying to win but you are always a good sport and say, "Good game".

Trace, I truly couldn't cherish you more. I am lucky to be your mom. I am constantly told what a sweet kid you are and how smart you are. Everyone sees your great personality and your love for others. I hope your kind heart never ever changes because I know it will take you far in this world. You are a special kid, Trace, and I hope there's not a day of your life that you don't know that.

I love you more than you will ever know!

Mom