For his birthday, Ted got a new bike courtesy of his Auntie Christine. The new bike sports red wheels, coaster brakes, and a 41 pound boy who’s suddenly figured out that going fast is awesome.
Staying hydrated is key.
The first day out we took it for quite a ride (while I walked/ran to keep up). He did great, lots of peddling (something he struggled with before) and figured out how to turn and use his brakes. He only went off the trail a few times, and got right back up.
Some pics from Ted’s wild 4th birthday at the local splash park. There was cake, 12 kids who we hopped up on the cake, and lots and lots of splashing.
Ted wanted a pool cake. He got it.
Even Sarah got into the water.
Pops and Gram stopped by last month! New grand kids were met! Existing grand kids were turned upside down! Good times.
Ted demands group hugs frequently:
The same day Ted turned four years, Sarah turned four months. Makes it easy for us to remember at a time where life is pretty busy and forgetting things is easy. I don’t think their months/years will line up again anytime soon.
Here’s Sarah showing off her toothless grin while on her belly.
And on her belly is where she want to be. Put her on her back and she immediately rolls onto her belly. Roll her back to her back, and she rolls right over again. Then she uses her big blue eyes to tell you that she does not want to be rolled again:
So she’s got some neck strength now, but not enough torso strength to sit up on her own just yet. She does have enough lip strength to make goofy faces though.
Most days when I come home from work, she’s got a big grin waiting for me as soon as I get in her field of view. Makes me a happy dad.
This is Ted, who just turned four. The differences between three and four are more subtle than those between one and two, but they’re there. He’s more open to challenges (peddling his bike), and better at reading. He can operate Legos with relative ease, most of the time.
Cupcakes were served on his actual birthday, and then we had a huge party for him and his friends (blog post forthcoming).
Kim, Anne, Jack and Ben helped us sing happy birthday over skype.
Four year old Ted is skilled at Easter egg collecting. Here he is at his preschool hunt, checking out the haul.
Ted’s most mature quality, I think, is empathy. He wants very much to feel what you feel, and to help cheer you up when you’re not feeling great. He’s driven to view the world as an optimist, and while I worry sometimes it might lead to naivety, I’m so glad he’s the way he his.
Kate, Sarah and I are truly fortunate to have him in our lives.
