Changes! Four Year Old Check-Up and First Day of Pre-Kindergarten!

My big 4 year 1 month old is 41 inches and 36.4 pounds!!  He's at the 50th percentile for weight and 62nd percentile for height!  He gained 5 pounds and grew 2 3/4 inches.  He increased his weight percentile, up from the 42nd percentile, though he decreased in the height percentile, down from 61st percentile.  People do always remark that he seems so very tall, but I think that's because he's tall and lean with long legs giving the impression of length!  We'll go with it :)

All was well.  He had a hearing test.  It was so cute to watch.  The nurse put headphones on him and told him to raise his hand on the side he heard the noise.  At first he put his hand up when he heard the first sound, then he started raising both hands or no hands.  Then he started telling us what the sounds sounded like...trains and doorbells.  It took a bit, but he finally 'got it.'

They also did an eye exam which he whizzed through!  He didn't fuss about anything, not the blood pressure or examination until it was time for the immunizations!  I mistakenly told him he was getting a couple of shots (I only did DtAP and IPV).  He started whining and crying immediately.  At that point I don't think he even knew what a shot was.  We've never talked about them, not ever.  Sigh.  Well he was a mess crying "No Mommy, please Mommy!"  Now I've never felt the least bit bad about him getting a shot, not even when he was 2 months old.  I've never wanted to cry because it hurt like many other moms do.  Though I insisted upon splitting the injections up over the course of the years, I didn't get upset.  Until this time.  There was a brief moment when he was begging me not to let the nurse do it that I felt myself ready to tear up.  He just broke my heart.  He was begging the one person who has promised to protect him always and forever to not let this 'bad' thing happen to him.  I took a big breath and held him down though and we made it through with no tears on my part and a howl and kicking on his part.  Everyone survived.  He got a couple of Thomas stickers and we made our way down the street to get him a new Thomas train.  He chose Connor! 

Tuesday morning rolled around and it was time for me to go back to work and Tate to go back to daycare/school.  

More importantly, it was Tate's first day of PRE-KINDERGARTEN!!!

I cannot believe my little boy is in Pre-K.  I am shaken to my core with awe, pride and disbelief.  My son will be going to elementary school in one year.  One year.  Big boy school.

Not thinking about that.  Not thinking about that.  Not thinking about that.  Not thinking about that.

School actually started on Monday, but we had our other plans, so rebels that we are, Tate and I started on Tuesday (wonder if that will work next year!!??)

So excited about his new lunchbox!
His pre-school teacher who absolutely
adores has a sister who is the one
who gave Tate the lunchbox!
Isn't that just the sweetest?

There's that smirk I love!!!

In front of his favorite center - The Train Center!
Thanks Ms. D!!!! 

At his new desk!!!

He's been on green all week!! 

Hanging with his new teacher, Ms. D!

Early morning they combine classes as teachers arrive!
Mrs. L was Tate's teacher the year 2011-2012!
He loves her!

It's been a great week!  Tate's doing really well, and has transitioned amazingly well.  No tears or complaints.  He's been extremely happy in the evenings the past three nights, happily playing with his trains as soon as we walk in the door.  He's been loving, buggy and just the sweetest little boy.  He's a fantastic listener most of the time and really tries hard to please.  We certainly have our moments, but they are quite few.  He's smart as a whip too!  (doesn't every parent think so?)  He can count to 100, he can to 90 by tens, he can tell you what letter any word starts with, seems like he has a few sight words and he loves books!  

I have been utterly blessed.  Truly blessed.  I read all these posts about kids with sensory issues, developmental delays, kids who hit and spit and have mean-spirited dispositions or are just plain difficult.  And I see kids like that every single day at my office.  The sheer number of children that we see on a daily basis with some sort of diagnosis of mental difficulty or sensory issues or acting out (I'm shocked by how many kids hit and kick their parents in anger.  Absolutely shocked).  

And I know I'm blessed.  God is amazing.  I'm so very grateful that He has given me this soul to love and nurture.  I know I fail miserably in my nurturing sometimes, and I throw myself on His mercy and beg forgiveness for He has trusted me with one of His children.  I'm lucky.  So lucky.

I get to be Tate's mom.