In the spirit of getting you acquainted with our family, here’s a bit by Matt about our boys and their personalities…
I was hoping to have a son but instead I had an astronaut. If ever there was a dashing, heroic leader embodied in a five year old, Cole is it. He’s brave, he’s strong-willed and determined. Cole will be the one to volunteer to be the first person to time travel. Cole will be the one to hop on the first warp-enabled spaceship. Cole would definitely be the first to hop in the deep sea submarine to explore the Challenger Deep.
Cole has a lion’s heart. He’s been the smallest in his class since he was two, but no one ever notices it because he never lets on. He holds himself like the biggest guy in any room. You may not have noticed but Cole tore open his lip this past August and now has a noticeable scar. I didn’t know this, but apparently people have tried to make fun of him for it. His description: “When people say, ‘You have a crack in your lip!’ I say, ‘I don’t care!”
(self portraits)
Not only am I proud of him, but I admire him for his confidence, bravery, and independence.
I was hoping to have a second son but instead I had a pirate. Finian is as unruly as they come, but he’s also an unapologetic dreamer. I’ve never met such imagination in anyone; he’s got a never-ending cast of characters that appear out of nowhere in elaborate scenarios involving animals, superheroes, monsters, anything. Sometimes Finn’s play spins out of control and that’s when the crazy comes out.
We sometimes joke that he’s my brother’s son since they are so much alike. Andrew is classic ADHD: unable to focus or keep track of his life, unable to keep still, full of energy. Seeing them play together is a joy; that kind of special crazy inspires you. Just like a pirate, they are so fearless of any physical danger (Finn climbed on the kitchen countertops at 13 months old and I’m always finding him in the most unsafe of activities), but completely unable to understand or feel comfortable around people. Finian goes to a part time preschool he loves and has done so for 6 months, yet everyday he pleads with me to stay with him only to have a great time and not want to leave in the afternoon.
Watching Fini play makes me want to bottle up his joy. He really inspires me with his lust for life.
I was hoping to have a third son but instead I had a ninja. As the third child Wesley learned early on to be sneaky. If you aren’t watching, he’ll snatch anything he can reach. Many a dinner plate has crashed to the floor by his hand. Don’t dare carry coffee while wearing him in a sling. If a purse, remote control, phone or laptop is left out, he will have it in his grasps and begin ripping it apart before you even realize it’s happening. The best is the shrieks of delight you may hear when he’s finally captured his prey, which is usually when you realize you’ve been “ninja’d.”
I have in the past called Wes a lazy baby, but I no longer think that’s the case. Wesley is simply resourceful like a ninja and never expends any energy he doesn’t have to. Wes is adept at getting brothers and parents to do exactly what he wants. Whereas crazy, physical Fini walked at 7 months, Wes is still working on it because when you have 4 servants doing your bidding, why bother.
Look at my boys, my wife, my beautiful family with their personalities on display.
