Nolan is 4!

Nolan,
It has been an especially humongous year for you. We know God is the author of your story, and I think the past year will always be one of our favorite parts of yours. You've grown so much. You're literally, like, super tall, but you also grew in ways that make celebrating your birthday this year extra special. And for me, this past year holds a small season in which you were undeniably there for me more than I could physically be there for you. You probably won't remember that, but I always will. In many ways and at many times, you handled the change and wonkiness of our days better than my adult self did and you were a breath of fresh air for your dad and I on more days than we can count. You make us so freaking proud.
You went from being our only to our oldest. What a gift it has been to watch you navigate (read: majorly but steadily adjust to) and settle into your big brother role.
You started going to school for the first time ever and LOVE everything about being in pre-k.
You want to drive a cement mixer and a garbage truck when you grow up.
One of your favorite things to do is to work outside and around the house with your daddy.
You absolutely love spending quality time with the people you're closest to.
You are super social and come alive at the thought of having people (any people) over to our house.
I love how comfortable you feel to invite yourself and us to others' homes as well.
You are kind and tender-hearted, FULL of energy and impressive dance moves.
We. Love. You.

Green and white are your absolute favorite colors so we celebrated your day with close family and friends at home with an all things GREEN party on Saturday:

These cake pictures your Uncle Craig captures each year are some of my forever faves!

And the celebration continued for your actual birthday on Tuesday with cupcakes at school and dinner at Green Fire Pizza (because dun, green) as a family that evening.

You love Mrs. Reese and Ms. Fox!

Lion faces outside of Green Fire Pizza

This is Tevin. He heard it was your 4th birthday as were walking by and was so quick and kind to give you $4 of his valet tip money. SO SWEET.

And we can't forget to mention the newest additions to our fam! Meet Postle and Lay (and I know what you're thinking and I have NO CLUE where you got those names from). Uncle Allen and Aunt Jesse got you two hermit crabs for your birthday!

Nolan: Pre-kindergartener

I should have known I'd love being a school mom. That all of the seemingly silly and small things about it would bring me a joy I never knew I was missing out on. Packing lunches, signing forms, the carpool line, and turning right back around to do it all again the next day. I love it all. But that doesn't change the fact that sending your firstborn to a big ole school full time for the first time is a BIG OLE DEAL. I've asked God to help me to never become complacent about the fact that He is with Nolan when we aren't. That I would continually find a peace and a strength in knowing that while Kev and I love Nolan fiercely, we fall short of the perfect way God loves and leads our son. What a grace. And what a gift to know that Nolan is seen and known by God when he is physically away from us.

When we bought our house a little over 4 years ago, we knew the elementary school just a few blocks over could very possibly be a part of our story. I was VERY pregnant with Nolan when we moved into our home, and I remember reminiscing with Kev about what it would be like to walk our son to and from school and how living in a neighborhood with that capabilty felt so sweet.

This morning I dropped Nolan off to start week two of his first year at that very school, and I've spent much of the past week or so processing, embracing, and then processing the whole thing some more. I know this next season will be sweet. I just want to savor the transition.

Nolan,
I love your love for that green backpack.
Your favorite thing about school is the toy tractor that's in your classroom.
You look insanely handsome in your school uniform.
You still want us to walk you to your classroom in the morning, and I'm beyond fine with that.
One day you won't.
I can already tell your teachers are THE best.
You are in such good hands.
But even more importantly, God is with you always.
You've cried zero tears since the school year started.
Mommy did once. A lot.
You tell me that you won't cry because you know I'll always come back to get you.
You have no idea how much your confidence builds mine.
You reeeeally miss your best friends (especially your Ebae) but I promise to be intentional about regularly arranging time for you to play with them.
You are silly and tender-hearted.
You are a gift.
You are so brave.
Mommy and Daddy couldn't possibly be more proud of you.
May you show kindness and obey, bud, because you are SO loved.