Our 4 year old Zane!

4 years ago, Zane made his entrance in to the world and changed our lives forever! He has stretched out and looks like a kid now, not a toddler. He measured in at 42 inches on our growth chart this morning, meaning he has grown right at 3 inches in a year. Here are some things I want to remember about Zane at exactly 4 years old:

He is still the Zane he has grown to be over the last couple of years. He is independent, opinionated, a little wild, and headstrong. He is a ball of energy from morning to night. He still loves superheroes of all kinds. Now he also loves Jake & the Neverland Pirates, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Larryboy, and Daniel Tiger.

He is so creative in his play and his conversation. You never know what he is going to come up with.

He talks a little like a little grown up. Today, he said something that happened was "interesting" and he told us "it was so nice of you to get me a new bike!"
We have noticed for a couple of years now that he seems to have natural leadership qualities. Even at 2, his cousins would all follow Zane and do what he did, even his older cousin! I am continuing to see this in his developing friendships. The other boys in his class at church love to be around him. I have had several people comment to me that he is the ringleader or that the other boys all want to do what he is doing. Kids just seem to be drawn to him. He is pretty fun! I am praying for him that God will help him use his gifts for God as he grows, and not in ways that will lead people astray or manipulate them. Hopefully, by the grace of God, our little ringleader will stay in the right ring!

Zane still does everything all the way. It's pretty easy to please him most of the time, especially if you know what he likes. He is probably the best present-receiver ever! He gets super excited about every single present he opens, no matter what it is: "I never thought I would have one of these!" Or "Pants!" Or "What's UP!" And it is all totally genuine. He really is excited about that new book or new clothes.

I love this guy so much and can't believe he is already 4 years old! I think I already posted pictures of the first half of 3, so these will be mostly 3 1/2 to now:








Easter 2013



Learning archery with his "bowen"



Bucketheads- Cousins Noah, Isabella, Lydia, Hannah, & Zane



"Mom, call me Tony." I'm sure people at stop lights sometimes have a double take moment when they see Iron Man or Spider-Man in the backseat.

















He had to push his knight in the swing too!



Sweet pic of Zane with cousin Lylah




Cousin vacation! Foster, Lylah, Zane, & Emma


Foster with Zane



Tie day with Daddy at church






With his new big kid bike this morning



Learning to bowl for some birthday family fun today




Zane with Pops on their shared birthday

We love our little man so much!

Crystal

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Taryn is ONE!

I can't believe how much our world has changed in a year or how fast it has gone! Sweet Taryn, your first birthday was May 19! What a blessed year we have had with you in our family!
You are now 18 lbs, 9 oz (29%ile) and 29 inches tall. You're still a little thing but you are definitely becoming such a big girl.
You know about 5-6 words, although lately, you are repeating more things and seem to be learning something new everyday!
You have a very unique little scoot-crawl that you use to get around, earning you a nickname from mommy of "Scooter." It gets you where you want to go and you have a hand free to carry things so I think it's just efficiency!
You are usually pretty content to scoot-crawl around the house and play with toys independently or with your big brother. Your favorite toys right now are Zane's cars and duplo blocks. You also love to look at books, but you get frustrated if I actually try to read one to you. It interrupts your page turning! Your big brother is still your favorite entertainment and he is usually happy to oblige. You guys already seem to have a very deep bond. I hope that will just get deeper as you get older.
You just recently got the confidence to pull up to your feet and not just your knees. You are very proud of yourself when you do! You've decided that standing with support is not so bad after all and maybe learning to walk is a good idea. You will take a couple of steps while holding on, if we prompt you. I know you will walk when you are ready but I am in no more hurry than you are. Your new pulling up skills have opened up your world to some climbing. You love getting on top of a pack of diapers or Bubba's little chair and sitting like you own the whole place.
You are eating really well these days. We only give you baby food occasionally, and mostly just because we need to use it up! You at least try almost anything we put in front of you. You love shredded cheese, black beand, and, of course, any kind of sweets.

We are really enjoying watching your personality grow and make itself known. I can't even fathom all that you are going to learn this next year!
Here's a few pictures from the last several months:




Ear Tubes surgery in March


Taryn playing with friend Nathan







First night in "big girl" jammies











Easter egg hunt






Easter morning













Bucket heads! Zane with cousins Noah, Lydia, Isabella, & Hannah



She loves to rock!


She likes to sleep with her feet sticking out of the crib, just like her mama & pops sleep with one leg out of the covers!


"Tony Stark" on our trip to Lubbock in April



Taryn with cousin Emma


Sweet Taryn at 11 months



When I put this hat on her, she sulked until she fell asleep in her stroller






Enjoying black beans



Taryn & Zane with Mimi & cousin Isabella


Veggie Tales birthday party!


She threw most of her cake on the floor!


Birthday girl!






Finally Pulling up!



Zane's last day of preschool for the school year.



She got in there herself.



Fun family time at the park on Memorial Day

The Scoot-Crawl!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone