Comparing 3 four-year-olds

1. Ian was the least outgoing of the three kids, although he was a lot more social at the age of four than he was the first three years of his life. Nadia was the friendliest of the three. Ian still cried at times when I dropped him off at his class at church. This never happened with Nadia or Oliver.

2. Nadia definitely had a favorite color (pink at that point) whereas neither of her brothers did at this age.

3. Ian and Nadia were far more into into wearing costumes than Oliver ever has been.

4. All three of them typically slept 11 hours at night (8 pm to 7 am) at this age. Nadia had given up her nap. Ian was still taking a 45-60 minute nap. Oliver had given up his nap, but last month he got back into the habit of taking a nap (although he rarely took it in his bed). Ian was the only one who slept with his sheet and comforter completely pulled over his head (and therefore sweated the most in bed of the three).

5. Nadia and Oliver were both playing board games. Ian hadn't started yet. Ian spent more time running than his siblings did at this age.

6. Nadia and Ian could identify all the letters of the alphabet (upper and lower case) and identify at least one sound each letter makes. Ian was also reading short vowel words (plus a few sight words like "the"). I worked with Nadia to help her learn her letters. I didn't work with Ian on them. I have started working with Oliver to learn his letters. He knows 18 of the uppercase letters.

7. They all loved to be read to, tickled, and hugged!  Ian was the most prone to giving me compliments.

8. Nadia was far more schedule oriented than Ian or Oliver.

9. They all drank skim milk most of the time. Oliver is much more willing to drink water than his siblings were.

10.  Ian and Nadia could both do a 100 piece jigsaw puzzle independently before they turned four. Thus far Oliver hasn't done more than 60 pieces on his own.

11. Nadia often spoke of herself in the third person. The boys have never done that.

12. Nadia wasn't crazy about vegetables (needed raisins with them), but she would feed herself just about everything else and finish in a very reasonable time frame. Ian was a much pickier and much slower eater. Oliver loves vegetables. Aside from a few fruits, he will happily eat just about everything. He prefers to be fed although he certainly is capable of feeding himself.

13. Nadia was very attached to her Poland pillow. Ian and Oliver didn't really have "loveys," but they do each have a small blanket they usually sleep with.

14.  Ian and Oliver both weighed 35 pounds, which put them at the 42nd percentile for weight. Ian was 39 inches tall, which put him at the 22nd percentile for height. Nadia's 4 year appointment was delayed 4 months because of my bed rest and Oliver's NICU stay. At that appointment she weighed 40 pounds and was 40 inches tall. Oliver hasn't had his four year check-up yet so I am not exactly sure of his height, but I am guessing he is about 41 inches.

15. All three children were pretty close to 100% independent with getting dressed, undressed, and going to the bathroom when they turned four. I still sometimes helped a little with wiping after they went #2. Oliver is VERY proud of the fact that he now pees standing up. Ian hadn't attempted that at this age. Ian had to be encouraged to be independent with dressing and undressing whereas Nadia and Oliver expressed their desire to "do it myself."

16. All three had been in Cubbies. Nadia and Oliver finished the first year of Cubbies before they turned four. Since Ian has a December birthday he was closer to 4 1/2 when he finished. Ian and Nadia had a MUCH easier time with memorizing than Oliver. Ian had even started memorizing the books of the Bible from listening to Nadia work on them.

17. All three had taken some gymnastics. Nadia had taken the most and therefore had progressed farther with her skills. Oliver did a better job of following instructions in that group setting than Ian did. All three had also taken preschool swimming lessons. Oliver also took one week of Level 1 lessons, but he will need to take that level again next year. Nadia had also taken ballet lessons.

18. Ian could write the letter "I." Oliver hasn't learned to write any letters yet.

19. Nadia was sucking her thumb, and Ian played with his belly button. Oliver didn't have a soothing habit.

20. All three kids always included Mommy, Daddy, and Uncle Maurice in every prayer.

21. Nadia was by far the most compliant. Ian was pretty compliant but often didn't seem to hear instructions that were given. Once you had his attention though he would usually obey. Oliver is definitely the most strong willed which has translated to the most defiant and also the one who fusses and whines the most. Ian was a follower. Nadia and Oliver are leaders.