Landen is "growing up big"...

Another week has passed, another memory made...
Landen tells me this week that he's "growing up big". I asked how he knew this. His reply (of course, quite seriously): "because my legs are getting longer, Mom." Quickly, I assured him that I agreed ... He was definitely getting taller, thus "growing up bigger". Apparentely, this is on his mind because he's repeated himself about three times this week... letting me know each time, that he's growing up into a "big kid". Little does he know that I've got conflicting feelings about this as his Mommy. Pretty soon, I'll leave "Mommy" and I'll become "Mom"... Ah, I still remember when I was "Momma". I noticed the transition into "Mommy", but not as much as I'm noticing that he's entering the "Mom" phase. Sure, I'm proud of him! I know he WANTS to grow up, but I most certainly do LOVE this age...

As if that wasn't cute enough, Landen's teacher told me this morning that he LOVES his family! First of all, they compliment me all the time at how good of a helper he is... not just that he enjoys it or asks to help, but that he really is GOOD at it. (Cleaning, especially.) After telling me this, she asked me who "Pawpaw's Boy" was... For those of you who haven't heard this term, it's what Landen calls his Grandpa Basham (my dad). My dad fell in love with Landen the second he laid eyes on him and instantly started saying things like, "Oh, there's Pawpaw's Boy"... The name stuck and before we knew it, Landen was calling himself "Pawpaw's Boy". Now, he also calls my dad that in return. :) So, according to the teacher, yesterday they told him that he was just so good at being a helper and then asked him how he learned to be that way. Landen's (again serious) response was, "Well, I guess I'm just a hard-worker like my Pawpaw's Boy." Seriously? Who says that? :)

That was yesterday... This morning (like I said above) they commented on how much he loves his family. They knew his Aunt Kris (Kristal) was picking him up today... I told his teacher and supposedly, Landen informed the ENTIRE rest of the staff. He was concerned that they wouldn't know where he was though when she got there. When they asked why and assured him they knew who he was, he told his teacher his name was also "Squid" (Aunt Kris's nickname for Landen since he first swam with her in Florida as a 6 month old!)... :) So funny! I can't believe that he thought Kris would walk in asking for Squid Hirsch. :)

Finally, (as if the above isn't enough to make your cheeks hurt from smiling so big) they made "granola" for a snack this week. After the teacher told me about dad yesterday and decided this morning that this kid, Landen, clearly adores his family; she felt the need to tell me what Landen said about granola. When the teacher asked (before they even started making the snack) if anyone knew what granola was, Landen raised his hand and said, "Oh, yes, I do!! My Aunt Kelly LOVES granola! She eats them all the time!" :) True. Aunt Kelly loves granola bars.

The reason why I'm sharing these stories (besides that I love talking about my boys) is because I'm honestly amazed at what my four year old remembers and associates. It's so neat, fun, and exciting to watch his "wheels turn" and to hear what he tells other people. (Good thing he's only telling the good stories for now...) It's funny that he associates my dad to a hard-worker, Aunt Kris to her fun names, and Aunt Kelly to granola! All in all, he OBVIOUSLY associates them all with LOVE! :) He's so proud of each of us... He's constantly telling people that his Daddy "plays" football and teaches kids (and that he's going to play golf with him and Tiger someday), that his Uncle B teaches numbers and "plays" baseball, that his Pawpaw (Kevin) works at the mail store, or that Grandma Pam is his best friend. :) He always asks when he gets to go to "Pawpaw's Boy's house to see that silly Gramaw Weesa" and let's me know when he hasn't seen his Aunt Rachael in awhile! Everyday he comes home and asks "his Grado" how his day was and reminds him that "soon you'll be able to come to school with me, bud"... I just love those two!