I felt kinda badly about Dax not having a "My First Year" video so I went and pulled some old pictures and put one together for him. Now I'm having so much fun I might go back and do one for his 2nd and 3rd years, too.
Dax's First Year from Michelle Madayag on Vimeo.
I'm a few days late with this but I hope the little end of the year picture show makes up for it.
Dax continued his fascination with robots, geography, and astronomy. He still loves maps and he got a most excellent talking globe for Christmas from my parents (which we have all had fun playing with).
His favorite tv shows are WordWorld and The Mr. Men Show. His favorite movies of the year were Cars and Toy Story.
His favorite number seems to be "infinity" as that is the answer most commonly given but he continues to mix it up. His favorite color? "All of them!"
This year Dax was diagnosed with dermatographia which a bizarre condition in which even lightly scratching your skin causes raised, red lines. They really aren't sure what causes it. We changed EVERYTHING when he was diagnosed: his shampoo and soap, our laundry detergent, the lotion we used on his already dry, itchy, and sensitive skin. He's better, in general, but when he gets all worked up it really becomes an issue. And? Dax at four? Is all about getting all worked up.
He can be incredibly loving. He says to me, "Mommy, I like you. And I love you." This has extra special meaning to me so it nearly makes me melt. He tells me, "I want to be with you," as he reaches his little hand out to hold onto mine. He tells me he needs to be snug and that he wants to cuddle. He offers me random (and rare) kisses. He charms me with stories and makes me laugh with his antics. He amazes me every single day.
He can be an incredible pain in the butt. He searches vigilantly for our every button and pushes each and every one of them repeatedly. He is our First. He is our coach, our trainer, our sensei. Sometimes I find myself looking for television cameras, because, my God, we MUST be on one of those nanny shows in a segment where the parents clearly have their heads up their butts because The Trained Professional has not yet come to the rescue.
For every mistake I have made parenting him this year I deeply apologize (to both him and society) but I would imagine his baby brother is going to be really grateful to him for putting us through this boot camp and helping us to learn to be better, more patient parents (with far more creative means of torture discipline).
2008 was a huge year of firsts for Dax. First time to be a big brother. First tennis lessons. First karate classes. First time to be able to read (rather than only being read to). First trip to the dentist. And this year he'll be starting Kindergarten. We also figured out how to connect via web cam with his cousins and aunt and uncle in Virginia for the first time and we're really looking forward to more of that with them and with his grandparents in Colorado.
If there was a single resolution I wish he would set it would be to learn to tolerate disappointment better (for it is far from rare in this world). Otherwise, I hope he continues on the amazing path he is already on in 2009.
Dax 2008 from Michelle Madayag on Vimeo.