K turns 4

Celebrating him as he turns 4 today.

This little boy, the middle-little, the 2nd born (just like his mama), he will always have a special place in my heart.  

 Us 2nd borns, we just get each other.

My Kiplin Miles and his Kip-isms at 4 years old...

He is independent.  Almost too much so.  And amazingly handsome.

While he is smothered in hugs and kisses just like his siblings, he is more reserved in his affection.  So when he shows it, with that unsolicited hug, oh goodness it is something to cherish.

He prefers to go somewhere everyday.  I love to make this happen.  We both get a little stir crazy and love a good outing.

He loves being wild - jumping, running, wrestling.

 The couch pillows entertain him for hours.  Seriously.  He loves to use them to build forts with.  He also loves to stack them in tall towers and jump from the couch into them.

He looks forward to a piggy back ride up the stairs before bedtime, and when we tuck him in at night, he always ends with "I go night-night, I go to the swings at the park."  My little adventure seeker, always hopeful that tomorrow will bring a park-filled day adventure.

He insists on wearing socks to bed, always.  Even in summer.  Silly boy.

And sleeps with his door open, purposly placing a gazillion little toys in front of his door frame so that we can't close it when he falls asleep.

He loves his big brother, they are trusty side kicks

A favorite is hide-n'-seek, though he hasn't mastered the understanding of the game just yet.  "you hide here mom, I go count and come here, and you go RAWR at me, OKAY?" 

He still adores his brown blankies I picked out special for him when he was growing in my belly.

 And in his 4 years of life, a few favorites remain - the trusty brown blanket.
He insists on sleeping with both of them - one on each side of his pillow each night.  

He still loves "Georgie"

 

and has a heart melting smile

Some new things he is learning -

He has taken a strong liking to swimming lessons, and looks forward to Wednesday night lessons "Mom is it a swimming night yet?"

Perhaps because of his love for swimming, he now prefers baths, and wants to stay in "forever and ever." 

He has also mastered the art of pedal pushing, which was tough at first because he wanted to push both feet at the same time.  

He like legos, star wars ones, and tells me about all these $100 sets he imagines getting each day.  Such a dreamer, that kiddo.

My sweet, boy.  Happy, happy birthday.  I am excited to see what we learn together in your 4th year!