And just like that, Five.

Happy Birthday Sweet Boy!

Oh my C, I can hardly believe that you are five. I was reading back through your birthday letter from last year and oh gosh, everything still rings true. You have an outstanding memory, you are still just as sensitive and intuitive as always and you still love all things walrus. (And penguins and polar bears.) You are such a special guy.

Today is your very last day of preschool and it simultaneously breaks my heart and makes me beam with pride. You've grown so much in so many ways. The absolute best thing about this year is that you now love to write. Believe me when I say that I truly never though this day would come. Never. It wasn't instantaneous either but man, now you want to write and color all the things and I love it. You write the sweetest love notes to everyone as "special deliveries" and you absolutely know that my favorite thing is in fact mail. I am so proud of you and your progress and if I could sing it from the mountains I would, but we don't live by the mountains.

You still love reading and I pray that never changes because I love books right along with you. Every day I am surprised by your reading. You'll just read a sign. Or shirt. And I love it. You can now pick up the level 1 BOB books and just go for the most part. If I could zero in on the thing that surprises me the most however it would be that you love math so much. But numbers and patterns are your jam. And seriously, I will never correct you saying "patter-ens" ever.

You have such a wonderful tender heart. A while back, we were listening to Miss Sutton sing "Sunshine on My Shoulders" which is our special bedtime song, and you got tears in your eyes and said "Miss Sutton singing is just so beautiful." I mean, seriously, hand to heart ala George Banks in "Father of the Bride." I don't think many kids are sentimental at your age but that is just the kind of kid you are. You just feel every emotion deeper than everyone else around you. This is not without it's challenges and I have read a lot of articles and books this year to help me parent you better. You make me a better mom and knowing that you love me makes my heart so full.

I love how your mind works. You zero in on the funniest things and think so deeply. Your teacher Mrs. Owens said to Dad last week "He's not a leader. He's not a follower. He's just C doing his own thing." And I am pretty proud of that buddy. I love that already you're secure enough to just do your own thing and not worry about it. I pray that you never lose this quality and know that you are exactly who you are meant to be.

C, I am so thankful for you and the little boy you have become in these five years. I cannot imagine what our lives would be like without you and I am so so grateful that I get to be your mom. I am so looking forward to what this year brings and I love you so very much. Happiest of 5th birthdays to you.

Love,
Mom