A Salute to Infancy

I guess it all started when Eric was three months old, and he came with mom and dad on a trip to Texas. For ease of packing, I only brought along 2 small receiving blankets--you know, the waffle looking kind. Anyway, I started throwing one over the top of him in his infant seat everywhere we went, to keep the noise, cold, and germs out (or so I deluded myself to think that a thin receiving blanket could do all that!) Anyway, he apparently got really attached to those blankets, and ever since, we could never go anywhere without one. I think I must have had at least 10 of those blankets when Eric was born, probably all dating back to the birth of Justin 10 years earlier. By the time Eric was 2, I was down to 4 of them. In the last year, we could only find 2. He ALWAYS had to sleep with them, and often dragged them around with him. Finally, a couple of months ago, Paul told him this one final blanket needed to be thrown away since it had holes in it and multiple stains that wouldn't come out! It was a sad morning when Eric finally agreed to drop blankie in the garbage. He gave it a final salute before turning sadly away. So for a while there, we thought our little soon to be 4 year old had been broken of his "Linus" status. Miraculously, a few weeks ago when cleaning the basement, he unearthed the one remaining blanket that has been lost for some time. (See what cleaning brings? Pretty sure I'm done with that from now on!) He was overjoyed--running up the stairs shouting that he had found his white blankie!!! So, we are back to having a "Linus" in the house until this blanket either disintegrates, or is secretly taken by daddy. (Maybe that is what happened to the other 8 that were lost!)

While we are on the subject of my favorite 4 year old, I realized with all the craziness of the holidays, I kind of skipped over Eric's birthday last month! Poor kid--it's sure to happen more than once in his life with a Dec. 21st birthday! Unbelievably, he turned 4 on the 21st! It's hard to imagine he is growing up so fast! He is such a smart little cookie! He is also very black and white--you always know what he likes or dislikes. He's completely bossy and pretty much a control freak--apparently the less desirable genes got passed right along with the ones that made him so completely adorable! (Good thing the later genes came with the less desirable ones, or he might not have made it this far!)

Things Eric loves:

Preschool and play dates with his buddy Tysen

Playing the Wii

Current favorite movie--Walle

Candy and chocolate

Frozen waffles--thank you Tysen

Mickey Mouse

Thomas the Tank Engine

Reading with mom

Being with his brothers

Playing games with Grandma

Snuggling with daddy

Here he is after about 4 different attempts to blow out the candles. Notice only one is out, and no they are not trick candles! Maybe some of my "special needs" genes got passed along too! Bless his heart! Good thing he's cute!