Four and a half

Today Matthew is four and a half! So crazy; where does the time fly??? I'm at my cousin's place in Victoria so I will have to add a photo to this post in a couple of days when I'm back at my own house.
Matthew Vose is four and a half years' worth of perpetual motion. He's our funny guy, our climber, our gross motor skills MASTER, class clown, and most willing helper.
Weight 29 lbs.
Height 3 feet.

I am surprised by this child's tenacity in the face of obstacles. He has experienced more loss in his life than most of us can imagine, and yet he loves with his arms wide open and has an intensely open and curious attitude towards life. He pesters us with questions all day, every day. He works very hard to overcome his speech problems. He sings. He knows all of his letters up to the letter 'T,' can count to 20, knows all the superhero characters in existence and constantly pretends to be a superhero, dresses up like a superhero, builds superhero habitats and vehicles out of legos, paper, tape, or string, and describes elaborate dreams about superheroes. He has a looooooong memory. He remembers spatial things in particular, such as where people live, the streets leading to their houses, neighborhoods we frequently pass through, landmarks, buildings, and visually interesting or different items along the way. He also has a particular memory for social networks, keeping meticulous track of who is friends with whom, how they interact and share (or don't), and how he feels about them.
He is incredibly linear and focused. However, in order to focus him on a task or teach him something, first one must capture his interest or pique his curiosity. No easy feat, when there are so many interesting things competing for his attention. He has an incredible ability to focus, once his interest is captured.

He is a joy to be with.
He teaches me more than I can express.

Characteristics:
speedy
active
funny
helpful
LOUD
enthusiastic
passionate
adventurous
morning person
lefty


Loves:
lego
imaginative play
dress up
magnetix
swimming
climbing
jumping
wrestling
soccer
his big brother
his cousins
his grandparents (I suspect he really responds to the requisite spoiling that goes on in grandparent land, as well as the extra attention he garners with his persistence and charming personality)
his baby Riwey
Wall-E
knock knock jokes



Hates:
injustice
being tired
being left out
the long walk to school
most food
boredom
being woken up from a nap in the car (it disorients him...I harbour a suspicion it hearkens back to his adoption and subsequent big move from Thailand to home, but I could be projecting...who knows...but he has ALWAYS acted angry, disoriented, and sad upon being woken up in the car)


He swims like a fish. He likes to make massive unrecognizable lumps with different colours of playdoh with elaborate hair and mustaches and stuff, but not doggies or cookies or replicas of real life.
He's gorgeous. Everywhere I go people comment on how cute he is. He LOVES to be the centre of attention and eats this up.

Perpetual motion.
That is Matthew.

Happy four and a half, sunshine. I'm so glad you're mine.
xo