FOUR.

Dear Ryker,

Today you are FOUR!  I simply cannot believe it.  It feels like just yesterday daddy and I were preparing to go to the hospital to meet you, our first baby, our first boy!

You have grown so much in this past year!  You finished your first year of preschool at the BIG school, and you played on your first baseball team (go Cardinals!).  You proved to us all that there is no challenge too big for you to overcome.

You are STRONG, SMART, and HAPPY, and those are traits you have carried since day one!

At four, these are some of your favorite things:

1. Lightning McQueen.  I'm pretty sure Lightning McQueen has been your favorite since you first watched Cars.  You have more Lighting McQueens then I knew existed -- Blue Lightning, Jump Lightning, Lightning McQueen Mud, Dinoco Lightning -- the list goes on, and you love each of them SO much!
2. Baseball.  A favorite of yours since you were born (no surprise there!).  You are particularly fond of the movie The Natural and always try to hit the ball "high in the sky" so you can break the lights, just like Robert Redford!
3. Cowboys.  This is a new favorite, thanks to Woody and Jessie from Toy Story, but it suits you since you started Horseback Riding this year and have come to LOVE riding your horse Star!  You like to tell Star "Yee-Haw!" to get her riding, and you're very proud of your cowboy status!
4. Maverick.  Last but not least, your brother Maverick remains your most favorite of all.  You take very good care of him, help to protect him, help to comfort him when he is sad, and are patient with him as he learns what NOT to do (like hit...).  The bond between you two brothers is STRONG, and I love seeing your friendship grow.

Ryker, you are surrounded by people who love you, care for you, and pray for you every single day.  You are an incredible miracle and you have proved to us all that God STILL works wonders!

May God bless you and keep you...happy birthday to YOU!

Love,

​Mom

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