4 years old

Jackson is now 4 years old! He’s at 37.5 lbs and 41.25” tall (both approximately 75th percentile). Here’s a look at how he’s grown (time for me to cry)!

Current Developmental Milestones:

• Concepts – Alphabet: recognizes all letters visually, can write some letters with guidance, and knows most phonetic sounds and what the beginning letter of many words. He can also spell his name, and recognize some words that he sees often (Mommy, Daddy, etc).  For math, he can do some basic addition.
• Drawing / fine motor – he can draw lines, circles, and some representations of people and objects.
• He is fairly adept with taking off and putting on his own clothes at this point.
• Pretend play – LOTS of pretend play in this age. so cute!  He loves to make ninja sounds when play wrestling or fighting.
• Favorite toy right now – monster trucks
• Favorite books – nothing really sticking out, since we are on a routine of reading different books nightly now, but the last one he seemed to ask for the most was Alberto the Dancing Alligator
• Favorite TV show – Max & Ruby currently
• Favorite movie – Cars or Shrek movies
• Cute behaviors – wanting to be a little “helper” so much more lately – he will drag the stepstool into the kitchen to help me cook or work on other tasks at the counter.  Also, he has developed a lot of interest recently in music, and loves rock music or “songs with lots of drums and guitars”
• Not-so-cute behaviors – Tantrums are much less frequent now; he still has behavioral issues at times, but it’s more with just general noncompliance or lack of cooperation, versus major meltdowns. Additionally, we have entered the stage of lying though, especially with regards to trying to stay out of trouble.

And here’s a little interview I did with Jackson – I hope to capture this each year to see how his answers change :)

1. Favorite color:  blue
2. Favorite toy:  monster jam trucks
3. Favorite fruit:  bananas
4. Favorite tv show:  Dora the Explorer [Mommy edit note.. I disagree… I think since we watch Max & Ruby nearly every evening, it should win the top honor :) ]
5. Favorite thing to eat for lunch: bananas
6. Favorite outfit:  fireman play set
7. Favorite game:  tag
8. Favorite snack:  peanut butter crackers
9. Favorite animal:  dinosaurs & giraffes
10. Favorite song:  Route 66 from Cars
11. Favorite book:  dinosaur books
12. Best friend:  Mommy
13. Favorite cereal:  chocolate & peanut butter
14. Favorite thing to do outside:  dig with digging machines
15. Favorite drink:  water
16. Favorite holiday:  Christmas
17. Favorite thing to take to bed at night:  one of my monster jam trucks
18. Favorite thing to eat for breakfast: cereal
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? cake!
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? police officer
21. What makes you happy? being with Mommy & Daddy
22. What makes you sad?  when I get hurt

My little guy sure is growing up!!