...Gets dressed all by himself, picking out his own clothes.
... Is learning to write and has mastered A, B, C, D, 1, 2, 3, 4 and "Holden."
... Can count to 150.
... Clears his own dishes from the table.
... Is still hesitant to get out of bed without assistance in the morning, even though he's proven he can do it (including getting a cup of milk out of the refrigerator, turning on the TV and pointing the TiVo to The Backyardigans).
...Still wakes up every morning at 6:01 a.m. and says, "Daddy, I see number siiiixxxx."
...Says it's ok to "imagination" that he sees things, like ducks in the fountain or Oregon from our street.
... Still pronounces "puter" for computer and "me-mix" for music.
... Will say something is "getting on my nervous" when something is getting on his nerves.
... Is really starting to enjoy coloring and art, and likes to use lots of different colors within one object. He's also free-handing people, buildings, the sun, trees and the street.
... Is taking a soccer class, and is really good, but is eager to try other sports, too, like baseball. He still shows his true Holden form if he falls, and gets pretty worked-up about it, though.
... Is fast, at everything from moving about the house to his school work.
... Likes to help his teachers at school.
... Will try new foods more willingly and eats more vegetables, especially seedless cucumbers.
... Has had introductions to video games, but would still rather play outside.
... Says, "Whoops-a-daisy."
... Has a very sing-songy voice and a hearty laugh.
... Loves to sing, especially "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" and "The Star Spangled Banner."
... Will usually ask me to sing "Circle Game" at night still, but also likes to hear shabbat songs, including "Lo Yisa Goy" (with the hand movements), "Oseh Shalom" and "Hinematov."
... Goes to bed real easy most nights, but will still sometimes get a little clingy and say he doesn't like to sleep alone or sleep in the dark.
... Knows that babies grow in mommy's bellies and get pushed or taken out, but that's all he knows.
... Is super gentle with Riley, even when Riley isn't gentle with him.
... Is also patient with his little brother, and likes to play with him and make him laugh.
... Has his own city.
... Will have a phone conversation that now involves only a little nodding of his responses.
... Loves to share what he can remember about his school day with us. When we ask him to remember something good that happened that day, he usually tells us about what he ate for lunch, that he took a good nap or that he got all happy faces on his daily report card.
... Gets a sweaty head when he's running around.
... Shares his bed every night with his long-time friends Hippo, Doggie and Dino.
... Eats a lot. When he's done with whatever was prepared, he'll start eating his way around the kitchen by asking for rice cakes with peanut butter, cereal bars, Cheerios and such.
... Is a constant source of noise, whether it's talking and singing or howling and nonsensical yelling.
... Is very dramatic and sensitive, and despite loving to jump and run, is still scared of falling down.
... Loves to give and get butterfly and Eskimo kisses at bedtime.
... Thinks he knows a lot.
... Is sweet, kind, caring, empathetic and sympathetic.
... Works hard at remembering all his new friends' names at school.
... Is very, very loved.
