Roman 3.5

Roman is right around 3 1/2 years old. WOW! Time sure does fly by and sometimes I look at him and just can't believe what a big boy he is. I am loving this age. Life seems pretty easy (for the most part), other than his occasional temper tantrums that are screaming fits at the top of his lungs. But for 95% of the time, he is so sweet, chatty, funny, silly, imaginative and loving.

Roman started the 3's program at Walnut Avenue Preschool. He lucked out and got 2 amazing teachers. Miss Paulina and Miss Helen (his teacher from last year). Both these women are so loving, sweet and perfect for his gentle personality. He actually looks forward to school now and is so comfortable there. I love the nurturing feeling of the school and how it just feels like home. Miss Helen told me that he is a totally different child from last year and is really talking a lot at school. I always wish I could be a little fly on the wall to see what he does at school. He enjoys artwork, playing outside, singing and most importantly...SNACK TIME. I have started to notice some things he is picking up from other kids at school like saying, "Shut Up" and "I'm going to shoot you." I know this is just the beginning. YIKES! They are so impressionable.

Roman is really getting into imaginative play. It really is his favorite thing to do. He loves his new doctor kit and Paisley is the perfect patient. He is very nurturing and always concerned with how everyone is doing. He definitely inherited my empathic soul.

I just love this picture since it captures his true spirit. He takes EVERYTHING in around him. He notices it all and remembers everything. He is the type of child that tells me things that I hardly remember from weeks before. Sometimes I think his mind goes a mile a minute and I wish it would slow down just a little. He is always wondering WHY and HOW. It can be very hard for him to relax and even take an hour to unwind. It looks like he is going to be a lefty, which we have been thinking for a long time. Just like his Pop.

Our little engineer. Roman has loved building things since he was 6 months old. These toys "Magna Tiles" are AWESOME! He could play with them for hours and I'm so impressed with what he builds.

These 2 love each other so much. He is such a good big brother and loves her like no other. (YES...they also have their moments, but for the most part there is so much love between the 2 of them). He likes to give her squeezes, chase her around the house and I know it will just keep getting better. Roman can be pretty shy and apprehensive to new situations and Paisley is always there as his comfort. I like that she gives him that. What an awesome gift.

Other new things include starting Promiseland Preschool at St. Matthews. Now that he is 3, he was able to start going to Sunday School at church. I was worried about the transition since he was leaving Paisley in nursery (and all the cool toys) and moving on to more of a classroom setting, but he walked right in and sat down with a smile. I was so proud! For him this was so HUGE. This is a boy where transition has always been tough and to see him so comfortable and confident made me so happy. Happy that he was happy. The best part is when I picked him up and asked him what did you learn, he then said, "Nothing can separate us from God's Love," by Roman Walter Maddox. (The verse was from Romans, how appropriate). I couldn't believe he memorized the verse in just an hour, but he has a photographic memory. Definitely not inherited from me.

He loves spending his special time with both sets of grandparents. Mondays are with Betty and Bob and Thursdays are with my parents. I love seeing their special relationships. What a blessing to have both sets of grandparents so close by.

Roman,
Thank you for bringing us so much joy! We love you so much and are so proud of you. You are such a good big brother and always looking out for Paisley (or Paze Paze as you like to call her). You are always full of so many questions and I wish I had the answer to them all, but sometimes you even stump me. We are so proud of you and we know that it takes a lot of courage for you to try new things. We hope you always know just how special you are. I love that you have good manners and are can be so nurturing and affectionate. I always hope you ask me and Paisley for one extra kiss and hug when I leave you at school, like you currently do now. We love to see you smile and can't wait for many more fun adventures ahead.