carson

he's growing up sooo much. of course, carson is still just 4 years old and acts it, but he is my big helper. often, i'll find him quietly cleaning up not only his toys but layla's as well. he loves to "babysit" addelyn (who loves her big brother right back), and will stop his own playing to try to make her happy or give her a toy or make a silly face to bring out a giggle. yesterday, he headed to his sunday school class by himself; when i tried to catch up with and walk with him, he looked at me and said, "dat's okay, mom, i can take myself." for those of you who know carson, this is unprecedented. "alone" and "by myself" are definitely not part of his everyday plans...

this afternoon, layla woke up from her nap on the wrong side of the bed and was throwing an irrational fit about something. the conversation i overheard from the kitchen (occasionally, i like to let them "duke it out," just to see what will happen) made me swell with pride for the big-brotherness of carson. he calmly, rationally, and sympathetically talked layla through a myriad of alternatives, solutions, and ideas. she continued to scream, but he didn't lose his cool -- this lasted several minutes. i was beyond impressed.

carson told me today, "with legos, it's like you get a new toy every time you build something!" he's waaaaaaaay into legos and star wars, and i'm pretty sure the earth stops spinning and the stars align for the boy when the two are combined. we've spent i don't know how many hours building i don't know how many lego things, but it never seems to get old. he gets frustrated when things break or don't go the way he wants, but he's learning to laugh and i've heard him say, "it's okay, dat's part of the fun of legos!" even when his masterpiece goes to crumble. carson is a joy. i'm proud of him and the way he's beginning to handle some of life's hard lessons and curveballs.