Milestones

My baby is turning 4 this week.  This face: 

Not only is he turning 4, which I really can't wrap my mind around and really am not ready to accept, but he also started school this year.  This is strange since the other two didn't start until 7.  But our school needed some volunteer help that I am able to give and so we decided to enroll Jonah in their K4 class.  We love his teacher and I get to be at the school 3 days a week so I feel better knowing I'm literally around the corner from him.

He wore his Orioles hat to school.  Orioles, you ask? Why on earth? Well, a little friend at the ball field gave him an Orioles hat and now he has decided that they will be his team.  This further complicates our already divided household.  But, can you take that face right there?

He is one of 5 adorable little darlings. 

So, anyway, then there is mommy who is really TRYING to come to terms with the last of my babies not being a baby anymore.  I didn't really want there to be a last of my babies yet.  Yes, I'm kinda old now and Joe is, frankly, MORE old now and yes, my three keep me busy and yes, Joe still travels so I'm home with them alone a bit.  But, I'm still not able to take that crib down out of the guest room.  

This summer I managed to make some progress coming to terms with our end-of-babyhood with a big breakdown as I faced the reality (the same one thats been slapping my face for a year now) again that we are not adopting and we are not conceiving.  But, its a process and I'm not beating myself up over my occasional emotional backsliding. 

But, on the happy side of things, 4 is my favorite age.  Jonah is saying the most hilarious things every day.  These are the days, with my other two, where I was blogging daily with their sayings and questions and observations about life that are priceless.  Will I ever roll that well again, for poor Jonah's sake?  

The other day I told him I was sad that he is away from me while he is in school. His response was "well, get somewhere with people so you don't get alone."  Exceedingly sympathetic and practical, I thought.  Very proud. 

Joseph's obsession of the month is baseball and baseball cards.  He is utterly consumed by baseball statistics and I'd love for him to devour a good book (like he was doing last year at this time) like he does the box scores.  He has lost all interest in reading, something he couldn't get enough of last year.  Kind of a bummer but I hope its just a phase.  He adores his 3rd grade teacher (Mrs. Beatty rocks) and I think she'll spark his love of story again.   And, at least his obsession with Winter the Dolphin has passed. We were all weary of that one. 

Jacob was rather terrified of 5th grade and now that we are into the 3rd week of school, he has come to realize that his teacher was tricking them all. She isn't mean...like he thought. But she does require a lot of them...all reasonable...and he is getting his clock cleaned in his grades due to sloppiness.  We are about to embark on the bird and the bees talk.  He knows it and keeps running away when I tell him "its time to talk."  

So, I asked Jonah what he wanted to do with his friends on his birthday. "Swim. And eat meat." So we are having a carnivorous swimming party.  Should be fun! 

Another funny: During the Olympics opening ceremony, the video of John Lennon came on the screen and Jonah exclaimed: "Oh! Its Harry Potter growed up!"