Hardin is almost four and a half. He knows exactly what he likes and doesn't like, and is so honest with his feelings and preferences it takes us by surprise sometimes. Wouldn't it be great to look at a lunch crowd and tell them you are
just not warmed up yet, give me a few minutes? Or to find such pleasure in the correct pair of pajamas, and
two packs of oatmeal not just one mama, and still warm but not hot, with a blue spoon because I'm a boy, with cold milk without a lid. I love that at this age, no one has made him self conscious about his choices or given him reason to doubt his gut. He tells it like it is and how he wants it.
He's also a "proud rule follower"according to his teacher. He likes things in order, and he likes everybody in order too. He explains who got on yellow or red any given day, and why, and he's very concerned when they do the same thing again. God willing, he'll stay that way forever. We also know there is no chance that will happen.
With that, he also expects all of us to follow the rules. We do things in a certain order, brush teeth, pee, stories questions and songs, two hugs, a tightest-hug-in-the-world, good night I love you, hug me again mama, love you buddy, love you mama, goodnight. Try and skip a step. I dare you.
A few thing that have kept me laughing lately:
We were at a neighbor's birthday party (little Jason, who just turned 5 and is a good 6 inches taller than him, will always be little Jason to Hardin), and there was a great little magic show and each child got to pick a balloon animal to take home. Hardin was the LAST kid sitting kriss cross apple sauce waiting for his turn. The man told them to sit and hold up their hands. So Hardin sat and held up his little hand each time he finished one and handed it to a kid. Then another would jump up yelling what they wanted and he remained patient. He never doubted he would get a balloon, but if looks could kill there wouldn't have been a live child left. He was very
disappointed in their listening, mama. I SO wanted to tell him next time jump up with the rest of them and get ahead, but that's not his style, he'd be trying to please me and not his natural instincts. But he'd probably do it, because he's a people pleaser too.
After the balloons, we were lead to another room where the kids had pizza and snacks. When it was time to have birthday cake a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle showed up! All the kids went WILD. Hardin was seated across from the birthday boy and the little boy next to him jumped up, looked at his mom, and shouted THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE! Hardin didn't miss a beat, he side-eyed that kid and said
it's just the balloon guy in a costume, in the most unimpressed voice a four year old could muster. I gave him the best you-better-keep-your-mouth-shut-and-let-these-kids-enjoy-this look, he looked back and kept eating pizza while the rest of the kids, including Hadley, pawned after the fake TMNT. Hours later, I enjoyed quite a few laughs with Jason over it. We're going to be hard pressed to wow this kid.
Then came St. Patrick's Day. Also known as
the most awful day ever, mama. I guess the little leprechauns wreaked havoc on his school. Once again, he was NOT impressed. A full week later and he was still talking about on the way to school today.
It's Tuesday mama, we have movement today and it rained last night so we may have to stay there during play time too. What if they haven't cleaned up all that mess? What if the balls aren't back where they belong? Why did they do that mama? Why are those leprechauns so messy? He honestly couldn't understand why those little guys were honored with a holiday and celebrated for their mischievous ways.
Don't be fooled though. He can make a mess like no body's business. In a split second he and Hadley can pull out every toy in every bin in the playroom. And don't even get me started on when his cousins are here. I've yet to figure out what messes are okay and what are unacceptable. Well, except for food, food messes are always unacceptable. Hadley gets the side-eye daily for that common offence.
Here is a little excerpt from me trying to remember what Hardin said for a full ten minutes the other night. One of his little babysitters is always telling me "you've got to right this stuff down, he's too much." The problem is he
sucked out all of my re-mem-bor-y while I was cooking him
. He reminds me of that every time I forget anything. Here's what I could remember, most of which was said while jumping back and forth between the ottoman and sofa at full ninja speed:
Mom, what do worms DO underground all day? Do you know Pac Man eats ghost but in real life ghost are bigger than him? But not bigger than robots. What's Jason Beck going to be on his birthday? Mom, I think you were wrong and I really was MAD I didn't get to use my sled today, I was not just disappointed. Did you know that mommy pigs have lots of boobies on their belly, not just two like you? Mom, why do I like water so much? Uncle Scott is taller than you but not taller than my dad. Mom, Gigi cleans a lot because Hadley is a walking disaster. I want to go to that Ninja school. And gymnastics. And down a giant slide I've never seen before. Mom, why are baby birds and chicks not the same color as their moms? Pac Man eats the ghost because their brains have lots of vitamins...
Jason and I have a long standing back porch date Friday nights. We decompress, unwind, and talk. It started in our first apartment in Athens, moved to the front porch while we lived in Winder, and has moved to the back porch here in Buford. During that time we spend WAY too much time talking about how awesome Hardin is. Really. We are both just infatuated with him and so lucky he loves us back.
