Happy 4th Birthday, Jake!!

If kisses were colors, you'd see every one of the bands of a rainbow that shines in the sun.

 
If kisses were pebbles, your beach would be lined with stones by the millions, of all shapes and kinds.

 
If kisses were comets, the sky would be bright with flashes of fire that streak through the night.

 
If kisses were flowers, you'd have huge bouquets of roses and daisies picked fresh every day.

 
If kisses were raindrops, a sea would appear, created by showers that fall far and near.

 
If kisses were acorns, a forest would grow of beautiful oak trees, in row after row.

 
If kisses were snowflakes, your world would be light, sparkling with crystals of silver and white.

 
If kisses were blankets, you'd always be warm, wrapped up from the cold during winter's worst storm.

 
My kisses are colors, and raindrops that flow, and pebbles, and acorns, and comets that glow,and flowers, and snowflakes that fall from above; they're my way, sweet baby, to give you my love.

~If Kisses Were Colors, by Janet Lawler

Jake, 

I know you're not at all a baby anymore (and in fact, if I were reading this to you now, you'd probably tell me that yourself), but we used to read that book to you at bedtime nearly every night for a long time, and thinking of it still makes me smile.  And reading the words right now, while writing a happy birthday post to you brings tears to my eyes as I sit here and wonder how four years have already passed.

You never stop amazing us, and your daddy and I are so very proud of you every day.  Whether it's coming home from school with projects that show off your creativity, your new reading and writing skills, or just stories of how you played with your friends...it's one of my favorite parts of the day.  Catching up with you on YOUR day and getting to see the world through your perspective.  Last week, you made a snowman out of marshmallows at school...something so simple as putting a few marshmallows together with a toothpick and giving him M&M's for buttons brought you so much joy...it's times like those that really make me stop and catch my breath, and force myself to slow down and take in those moments.  

There isn't adequate space on this blog to be able to describe you...in summary, you are smart, funny, kind, sensitive, the best big brother in the world, headstrong, stubborn, you have the memory of an elephant, you have endless amounts of energy and enthusiasm, and you're so sweet that it's  all I can do to not squeeze you to pieces at times.  

We've really been seeing you come into your own lately...I've heard stories of you sticking up for your friends at school, volunteering to be first for things in front of a group, and showing a huge interest in your brother recently.  I can't wait until he's a bit older, and the two of you really can play together and have that bond.

You're into Toy Story, superheroes, blocks and Cars right (Cars the movie, and Hot Wheels tracks).  You're becoming a pro at puzzles, and you find one or two books that you like and we read them constantly for weeks at a time, then switch.  (Right now, those books are 101 Dalmatians and The Cat in the Hat)  Lately, you've been great about entertaining yourself...I'll be cooking dinner and hear you setting up an elaborate "city" of blocks, filled with superhero meetings, bad guys and race tracks.  Your go-to TV shows are "Jake and the Neverland Pirates" and "Scooby Doo".

You don't like to sit very still, you're constantly on the go...but at night, you always ask me to lay with you for a few minutes before you go to sleep.  You put your hands in my hair and sometimes pat the side of my face, while you chat about your plans for the next day (including what's for breakfast--you still have an amazingly large appetite!)   

Thank you for being you, Jake...we love you!  Happy birthday!!