Bryce at Four

In honor of Bryce's recent birthday, I thought it would be good to take the time to write a little about him:  

If I had to choose just one word to describe Bryce, it would be deliberate.  For good or naught, everything he does, he does with intentionality.  Even as a babe in utero, he rarely kicked or moved randomly or spasmodically; when he moved it was big, rolling, whole-body movements.  This pattern has continued as he's gotten older.  In novel or unknown situations, he spends time watching and learning and deciding how he'll participate.  

In general, I consider this a good quality trait.  A little boy who's not impulsive just might grow up to be a teenage boy who's not impulsive.  Sounds good to me!

However, his deliberateness sometimes creeps over into the realm of being "calculating."  He's especially skilled at making Aubree scream and squeal, and seems to delight in that power.  He's also can be quite mean to Thane on occasion.  In fact, one day recently he sidled up to me and confidentially whispered, "Mom, every time Thane cries, it's because I hurt him."  Not much later, he confidently announced, "Mom, you love me even when I'm mean."  

Despite only being four, he seems to have mastered the skill of selective hearing.  This deliberate disobedience I find extra frustrating.  His latest excuse is, "but my ears just don't work very well!"  Uh huh.  They sure seem to work fine every time I whisper, "cookie," (and he passed the hearing test at his well-child check with flying colors).

The vast majority of the time, Bryce is wonderful.  His primary and preschool co-op teachers frequently remark about how well-behaved he is and how they enjoy having him in class.  He's just about the sweetest kid you could find.  He loves to cuddle and give hugs and kisses.  If you're extra lucky, you just might get a special "piggy kiss."  Piggy kisses appear to be regular kisses on the cheek, but at the last possible moment, Bryce gently presses his nose, instead of his lips, against your cheek and snorts!  Regardless of how many times he does it, or how much I'm anticipating, it always makes me laugh.  Occasionally he'll even give a "piglet kiss," which consists of a much softer snort.

Bryce is also the first to remember to pray when someone he cares about is sick or struggling.  One day not long ago, Mark came home from work with a headache and immediately retreated to a dark bedroom.  Bryce pulled me aside. "Can I say a quiet little prayer for Daddy?" he asked sincerely.  Of course!

Another day, Bryce had been sent to his room for some misbehavior.  Soon I heard him calling, "Mom! I said a prayer!"  I called him out, curious about what he'd been praying about.  Smirking, he informed me, "I prayed you would let me out!"

He always remembers to pray that, "Uncle Ian will have a good day on his mission in Africa." (And as a quick side-note, Bryce says that someday he wants to go on a mission to California). 

There is a little girl in Bryce's class at church who he likes a whole lot.  Her name is Autumn and Bryce is adamant that someday he will marry her (wouldn't that be great? Autumn Winters!).  Autumn is very shy in public settings and sometimes I wonder why he likes her so much when I don't think she even talks to him.  One day we were talking about this, and Bryce informed me, "I know she gets shy sometimes, so I take care of her in class."

"You do?" I replied, my curiosity piqued, "how do you take care of her?"

"I put my arm around her and rub her back."

Bryce has always loved trucks and trains and fire-trucks and pretty much anything that moves and makes noise.  Not much has changed!  When we drive past the neighborhood fire-station he never fails to report how many fire-trucks are there, and where they are parked.  He also never fails to report on how many ambulances are parked at the emergency room when we drive by the hospital.

He has a phenomenal sense of direction and awareness of his surroundings (Mark and I are still puzzled over where that came from... he didn't get it from either of us!).  When we're out driving, he's quick to notice familiar and less-familiar landmarks or comment, "oh, this is where we went to music time" (even if it's a place we've only visited once or twice previously).  He notices the cars and trucks that drive past and draws parallels wherever possible, "that car is the same as Daddy's!" "That car looks like the Millers van!"

Bryce also has tremendous ability to maintain focus and attention.  He loves "doing school" (more on that in a future post) and can play Legos or cars or do puzzles or color, etc. for extended amounts of time.  He loves going to primary and looks forward to attending the "big" class with the other Sunbeams and all the older primary kids.  

Here's a random funny story... One day I send Aubree and Bryce down to the landing to get their shoes on.  A few minutes later they came running back shouting that Bryce had killed a "big, red spider" on the stairs.  Aubree was proud to inform me that Bryce had taken his shoe and bravely squished the nasty spider.  When I went to investigate, instead of a dead spider, I found a dead... red string.  From then on, Bryce has been known as our resident "string killer."  Whenever a stray string or thread is found, it's Bryce to the rescue!

In a nutshell, we ADORE Bryce and are so thankful to have him in our family.  This morning he had his four-year old well-child doctor's visit and got four shots, two in each leg.  He was such a trooper! He didn't cry or fight at all!!  The nurse was amazed and insisted he choose two toys from the treasure box.  By this afternoon, Bryce was hobbling around and wanting to be held and cuddle.  Over and over he told me, "I love you, Mom.  I'm so glad you're my mom.  When you hold me, my legs feel so much better."  Love my Honey Boy!