Dearest Troy boy...

Dearest Troy boy,

You are 4 years old!! I can hardly believe that. Time sure has flew with you my sweet boy. I think you could hardly stand being apart from all of us and wanted to enter the world 2 weeks early when you were born. :) We were surprised but completely grateful when you came early. You were such a perfect little baby!

I love you so much! Every single thing about you. I love when you're cute, funny, creative, silly, sweet and even when you are being a tad naughty. You turned into an amazing middle child. And I absolutely adore the way you have been so sweet on your littlest sibling. Never ever have you been jealous when she came into our family. You welcomed her with wide open arms. Completely and utterly in love! And that big brother of yours you look up to so much! When he comes home from school you usually greet him at the door eager to see him. Or when you wake up from your nap you ask where he is right away. He is very fond of you as well.

I love your sweet breath and your sweet scent. I secretly love it when you come into me and Daddy's bed every single night. I know that there will be a time when you are sleeping the entire night in your own bed. You give some of the best cuddles! :) I love your soft and tan skin. Your beautiful fine and golden hair is so perfect. I love the 2 scars around your left eye and the 1 by your right eye.  And how they show off your resilient little self: 1 time jumping on the bed and falling on the edge of the bed frame getting stitches in 2012, another time running and colliding with another boy last November and the last one from July of last year when you fell on a clothing rack at Target and a metal rod pierced your skin. Which caused you to get adhesive at the Doctor's office. Oh, Troy boy, you give me a run for my money. I get so worried about you but boy are you strong!

I love that you call your big brother "Aya or Auttin." We call you "Troy boy" or "Bubba." I love that you have stars in your eyes for your wonderful Daddy and want to be like him. The other night you brought all your tools out to where Daddy was working on our doors. Very seriously you started pounding your toy hammer at a door and looked on to what Daddy was doing next.  I love that you love me so very much! You give me lots of kisses and cuddles. And you say "You my wonderful Mama!" I am so smitten by you!

You are strong-willed and I think that will continue to be a fabulous strength for you. Getting you dressed in the morning use to be difficult. But we are working together. You can be picky with which shirt you wear. I try giving you options "Troy, do you want to wear your firetruck shirt or your striped shirt or your big mountain shirt with the patch or your alligator shirt?" No, No, No and No you say. But now I just let you pick out your shirt and things go much smoother. One day last month you stayed in your underwear the entire day. I wanted to get you dressed but Daddy was on your side and said "Why does it matter?" True dat Daddy! So you did and you were happy as a little koala bear. You'd much rather wear jeans every day just like Austin and Daddy. Socks is another story some days.

You enjoy making forts or any sort of invention you are able to. You can take a hair clip, hair binder, a stick, clothes hanger and a marker and make an extraordinary invention that you will hold all day. And your most favorite thing you do is making forts throughout the house. You bring all your blankets and pillows and combine them with ours downstairs and make a huge fort. That makes you really happy! You are creative that way. What a strength that will be when you're an adult. Just the other day you drew all over the bathroom door with pencil and used up an entire roll of blue painter tape on the floor and around your belly. Mischievous and amazing you are. I see such a bright future ahead of you, my sweet son.

You adore pets. Cats, dogs, fish, frogs, turtles and the list goes on and on. And you are very gentle with them as well. Last summer you collected many frogs and salamanders. I was an animal lover as well. So we have fun together catching those frogs! You got 3 fish for your Birthday. When you saw them for the first time you were so very happy!

At Preschool most days you are so happy to go and learn. The teachers do such an excellent job working with you. I know it is so good for you because the teachers are sweet and they help you with your speech. Which I am so proud of your improvement over the past year. Troy, I know that you have to work 10 times harder and that makes me all the more proud. Your voice is so soft and tender. At supper time, you always volunteer to pray and even if someone else is praying you also want to pray.  I absolutely adore listening to you pray. Your voice gets real loud and proud "Dear God, Thank you for this Food, ("Mom, what should I say next?) Dear God. I love you. You are good. Bless Daddy. Amen, Dear God." One of these days I just need to video it. And I know that God is smiling down on you saying "Well done, my child." :)

When we were driving to Costco last month you asked so many deep questions. I absolutely loved each and every one of them. "Where are we going, Mama?" "What's at Costco?" "Why we go there?" "When are we going home?" "How did Daddy make this car?" "How do you make a car?" "How did Daddy make our house?" Such great and inquisitive questions you have!

The growth you have made this past year is amazing! God has really been doing some huge and wonderful things in your life. And I am so very grateful!!

Bubba, I love you so much!!

Love Forever & ever,
Mommy