The 4 yr old!

Bentley went into the Dr. for his 4 year check up and some immunizations today.  I was hoping I could convince him to eat some stones yesterday before the weigh in, but when we proposed yesterday morning that he spend all day doing nothing but eating he cried.... I guess that's his idea of a nightmare?!

So he clocked in at 29.8 lbs.  *Sigh*... someday he'll be over 30, right?!  Bentley chose not to say a single word while at the Dr.'s office.  Not even a cry or whimper during the shots.  I asked the Dr. if lots of 4 year olds are that bashful... he said yes, there are a lot of shy 4 yr olds, but it's select few (special ones?!) that don't even slip up with a "lets get out of here" at the end.  So Bentley is special!  I mentioned this to my Mom, apparently I was so stubbornly quiet at my FIVE year visit that I had the words reticent (according to my Dad) and resistant (according to my Mom) put on my charts.  Years later my leg specialist noted in his files that I was his most recalcitrant patient.

So I wonder where Bentley gets the stubborn from?  Hmmm...

Back to Bentley though!  Although I think the word fearsome may go well with four, sometimes the word fun goes quite well too.

Bentley loves being outside.  He loves to run and jump like a crazy person.  He loves hide and seek and board games and puzzles.  He loves reading time and coloring time and trains.  Monster trucks and building toys.  Sticker books.  His favorite stuffed animals is a round cow that goes all over the house with him (along with the beloved blankie, of course)!  Sometimes he likes to work on his writing, but so far no interest in reading.  That's okay though - I'm not at all convinced that reading earlier provides any real benefit to small children!

He likes to get his own way (don't we all?).  He's very articulate.  He likes to police his younger siblings on occasion.  He likes to take pictures.  He loves Opa's iTouch (Opa is the one out of three of us kind enough to share with the small creatures...).

What does he eat?  Not much!  Bagels and cereal, sausage and hot dogs and pepperoni (yes, I know... nitrates).  Steak and chicken.  Pasta and rice.  Peppers and carrots.  Milk.  Crackers.  Peanut Butter.  Blueberries and grapes and strawberries (nice seasonal choices, right?!).  Sugar... cookie dough, jelly beans, and M&Ms!

Looking at this list his likes/dislikes haven't changed much in the food department in the past year.  ALTHOUGH - he has added several proteins to his "foods I like" list.  So that's good!

He's curious.  He asks good questions!  We had a long conversation about the temperature and snow and rain and spring yesterday.  He's a good helper.  He says I love you every night (and says it first!) - I love hearing those spontaneous declarations of love!

All in all?  As has been the case for the past four years, he's still 100% delightsome and precious and we're 100% lucky and thrilled to call him ours!