It seems like just last week that we celebrated Charleston’s fourth birthday, but here we are, six months later, and as of yesterday my baby is closer to five than four. Our family has had quite a bit of excitement and change within those six months, so it shouldn’t surprise me that my boy has matured a great deal over this past half year.
I have to say that Four is infinitely better than Three (at least it has been for us), and it might be my favorite age yet. Charleston is much more independent, a great conversationalist, insightful, and curious, yet still young enough to get enthusiastic about small things and to want to spend time with Mom and Dad. We continue to have behavioral issues, of course (lately they take the form of sass and defiance), but because he’s older I’ve found them much easier to navigate and address.
Charleston at four-and-a-half loves playing on playgrounds, participating in any and every sport or physical activity, building Legos and blocks and train tracks, reading books, chasing Arlo around the house, playing board games, and doing crafts. He is opinionated, feisty, and stubborn, though also thoughtful and quite tender. While he’s social and makes friends easily, he is thankfully really good at entertaining himself when nobody else is available to play. I’ve been treasuring the one-on-one time I have with him before the twins are born, but am also incredibly excited to see him as a big brother; I know he’s going to be great!
As has become our tradition, we celebrated Charleston’s half-birthday with a fun little Q&A session. Some of his answers surprised me, and many were entirely too precious. Gotta love his commentary on the questions themselves!
What is your favorite color?
Orange and green.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A doctor. Because it’s a fun job.
What is your favorite thing to eat?
Watermelon and grapes. And cookies and ice cream.
Are there any foods you don’t like?
That would be a no, since I don’t remember those things. I forgot all the foods I don’t like. (Minutes later: I REALLY don’t like strawberries. Yuck! They’re disgusting!)
What is your favorite thing to do for fun?
Go to Urban Air. Play with you. Visit my friends and go to their houses for a play date. I think that’s everything.
What are some places that you like to go?
That one’s Urban Air too. And our donut place.
Who is your best friend?
Hmm….you!
Tell me what you know about God.
I know that he loves us. And he gave us [Jesus] for no sins to ever happen again.
How do you feel about getting a new brother and sister?
I am going to be so happy when the babies are born. I’ll be so excited to meet them! They are going to laugh. They might even poop! Which they are doing already, but. . . it’s just in your tummy right now.
What are you going to do with your brother and sister when they are born?
Teach them. That one’s gonna be the funnest one ever! And I don’t know what else. That’s a good one, Mom.
What do you think we should name your brother and sister?
Kensley and Johnson? I think I heard those names before. Or maybe. . . Leesha and Johnson? And his middle name can be John. Maybe we should make new names for all of our family.
What makes you happy?
I don’t know. But that’s a good one because I am sad right now. (He had just stubbed his toe and was a little teary.) I don’t know what makes me happy.
What makes you sad?
Dropping my toys and breaking them. That would be really sad.
What scares you?
Loud noises sometimes, but not usually. I mean, not always.
What is something I always say to you?
Don’t be afraid. (I have no recollection of every saying these words to him…)
What are you really good at?
Doing gymnastics. Whatever you think I’m good at.
What do you think I am really good at?
Teaching me.
What is something you would like to do together more often?
You mean without anybody else? Remember when Daddy went to camp like last time? And I figured out I didn’t miss him. That’s something I would like to happen again. But I forgot what we do when he’s gone.
What is something you really want to do one day?
I really want to go on a rocket ship to the planet with the rings around it. Me: Saturn? And what would you do there? You know, be an astronaut. And the best part of being an astronaut I just realized is just floating around up there. That’s pretty cool.
What do you wish?
I wish my powers were real. I wish I could be camouflage.
Do you have any questions you want to ask me?
I would love to miss that last question. That’s not a very good question . . . but we can go for it. What do you wish I could do with you but I’m not allowed? Like some restaurant or some place like that that we could go? And . . . I’ll ask another question later. Okay, bye! (Runs off to play.)
My goodness, do I love that kid and feel ridiculously blessed that I get to be his mom!
Do you like to document Q&A’s with your kids? What’s the best answer you’ve ever gotten?
