Happy 4th Birthday Jordan!

To my big boy ~

You are four years old today! As I read through the birthday letters I've written you for the past three years, it is an amazing way to see how you've grown.  It has not been an easy journey, but it has been a worthwhile one. We go head to head often, our tempers flaring and staring each other down. There have been tears and frustrations, apologies and hugs.  Sometimes when I feel like I just cannot do this anymore, you give me a silly look or a sweet smile. You can have me in stitches and you delight in making me laugh.  There are times I look over, wiping tears from my eyes, to see you sitting there, laughing hard alongside me, just because you made me laugh.

You are teaching me to be the kind of mommy you need.  You revel in affirmation and get grumpy after too many 'no's.  You love to help me with chores and I have been learning to let you help.  When you ask me to play with you, it means you simply want me near you, not actually play with you (because I do not make the right voices or I put the car in the wrong spot). You know the rules of our household and your eyes light up and your mouth drops open when I let you 'break' one of them.  I can hear you as you go running to your daddy yelling "Mommy said yes!!". 

You have your father's smarts and sense of humor. You have his looks and his stubbornness.  You have his knack for pushing buttons. You have your momma's temper and attitude (strong will, bossy, smart mouth).  You are sweet, kind and loving. You are always willing to drop what you are doing to give a hug and kiss. You love to curl up in my lap & be read to. You love to run fast and play hard. You love to laugh and be tickled.  You love cars, trucks, playing in the dirt and jumping in puddles. You love to go for walks and often ask to push the stroller.  You love being with your friends and your face lights up when you find out there's a play date. You are my tough yet cautious one. You fall, get back up and brush yourself off.  You take time to assess the situation.  You are factual as well as imaginative.  If I am asking you too many questions about your day, you simply tell me to be quiet and leave you alone.  You speak what's on your mind and I know where I stand with you. You ask 'why' often and challenge me to come up with answers.  Thankfully, sometimes an "I do not know" is sufficient.  You have begun to pray at bedtime. I love hearing what's on your heart, even when it's being thankful for airports and cars :) 

You are a wonderful big brother.  You give Lucas hugs (and squeeze him really hard).  No one can get him to laugh his deep belly laughs the way you can.  You love to tell other people you have a baby brother named "Wucas".  There are times you tell me to leave so you can be 'in charge' of watching Lucas.  It is amusing to hear you tell him what he can & cannot do ... rules that you do not always follow yourself :) At night when Lucas is being put to bed, you like to come in and sing him the goodnight song.  As the two of you get older, I see your friendship growing.  One of my favorite times is watching you two play together in the play area in the early morning.  It makes my heart so happy :)

I heard this song recently and loved it. Your daddy listened to it and agreed with me: this song, Jordan, is you and me kiddo.  I love you and I love seeing God's love grow, heart to heart.

Heart to Heart by Toby Keith

I watched him throw his oatmeal bowl
Halfway across the kitchen floor
His momma said don't let me see you do that anymore

And he let loose with a cup of orange juice
Right down the back of her dress
Without a doubt she lined him out
Then cleaned up the mess

Now he is just a chip off of the old block
Just like me we keep her on her toes a lot

But when he cries she'll match him tear for tear
When he laughs she'll grin from ear to ear
When he's wrong they'll stand there face to face
She can put him in his place
Side by side and hand in hand
She'll talk with daddy's little man
He knows that she's done her part
I'm watching God's love grow
Heart to heart

He'll grow to be six foot three
Yeah he's gonna be just like me
He'll be tall and play football
But he'll always be a momma's boy

And when he cries she'll match him tear for tear
When he laughs she'll grin from ear to ear
When he's wrong they'll stand there face to face
She can put him in his place
Side by side and hand in hand
She'll talk with daddy's little man
He knows that she's done her part
I'm watching God's love grow
Heart to heart