4.5-year update: All boy

It was FIVE years ago July 5 that we found out our firstborn was a boy. We immediately headed to the mall to pick out his first outfit and came home with a tiny white and blue baseball-themed sleeper with pinstripes. With Andrew's athletic background, and both of our dads being natural athletes as well, we obviously had idealistic hopes that this boy of ours would follow in their footsteps. Of course, there would always be the chance he'd get MY athletic ability, which is next to nil. :-)

So you can imagine how excited we all were when Tyler hit 4 and was finally able to play in recreational sports! Tyler's been playing ball in the backyard since he was 2 as well as hitting golf balls into neighbors' yards, so we knew he was ready but had no idea how he'd do with other kids and if he'd like it.

We went a bit overboard and signed him up for both soccer and T-ball in the spring. For one month, both sports overlapped, and we were toting his little booty all over town four times a week. But it was so worth it! He LOVED every second of his sports teams. In soccer, he took off and scored a goal the first instant he could, and always kept on top of the ball. Despite his age, he never was one of those kids who played in the grass. He is a serious player.

Soccer ended in mid-May, and we turned all focus to T-ball. He had a great coach, and Andrew helped out with the kids as much as he could, too. The ability level of the kids was all over the place, partly because their ages ran from young 4-year-olds to 6-year-olds. It was very funny to watch. :-)

Tyler made us so proud! He listened well, and learned so much. He's been a pretty good hitter when we play at home, and that translated well to team play. He even won a first-place medal in a hitting contest his league had in June, and also took home a second-place medal for the competition overall (hitting/throwing/running)!

Hitting contest.

He ended up liking first base best and really began to "get" how to get the other players out and cover the base in general. He looked so grown up. By the end of the season, which was yesterday, he had the routine nailed down and got 5 outs in one inning including 4 in a row (all kids get to bat each inning, regardless of outs).

Playing first base.

It's so hard to NOT come off as overly proud of your child when you see him doing well at something he loves so much. Tyler will play a baseball game and then come home and want to play more in the yard. If 4-year-olds can have a passion, that's his!

Running home.

So that's his 4.5-year update. Other than sports, he's enjoying doing fun things at daycare 3 days a week. He has nine more weeks left before he starts 5-day morning preschool at a church near our house. We'll all really miss his teachers and friends.

Current stats:

Weight: 41 lbs. Height: 41.5 inches

He's still the greatest big brother - very nurturing and attentive.

He's taken on the responsibility of feeding the dog and cat. And he loves sleepovers at his grandparents' houses. We are thoroughly enjoying him - and now we will enjoy our BREAK from sports! Fall soccer doesn't start until late August. :-)

Another current favorite: Aunt Kay and Uncle Larry's pool.