He's 5!!!

I remember the day he was born, the first thing the nurse said was, "He's got the cutest dimple on his right cheek". That memory is etched into my mind and it doesn't seem possible that the moment is already a five year old memory. You hear people ask the question day after day...Where has the time gone? Really?

You look into your child's eyes and you think you can figure them out, predict their personality, their likes and dislikes, their interests and their habits but each day is a new surprise, another opportunity to explore who they really are.

Over the last five years, we watched in amazement as our little buddy morphed into a look-a-like for his daddy. We watched him learn how to communicate through some simple signs and then slowly add words to the mix. His personality truly began to emerge; not a fan of sarcasm, loves to giggle and smile, and of course, most are familiar with his love for a "Shake the Booty" dance. But as the years have zoomed by, we have watched those first traits give way into the little person he is today.

Today, our little guy is still "little" (finally hitting 30lbs but still in the 10-15% for height) but his personality is bigger than life. He's very intelligent (lots of people reminded me of this fact during our trip to California in March; apparently his non-stop chattering about plane facts, directional position and any other general interest he could he lend is voice to was noticed and thankfully positively received by those around). He loves...ok, LOVES anything Fire/Rescue oriented. His trademark shy and reserved self has given way to a still somewhat shy guy but I don't think the kid stops talking until his little head hits the pillow and his eyes give way to sleep. The giggles keep on coming (I hope they never stop, even in the hardest times he will face, I hope he can still laugh). He's compassionate. He's the caretaker (when Mommy had to say goodbye to her grandma, he was there to tell me "it's okay and so is Grandma"). And, he's an amazing big brother.

I thought I would be soooo ready for his 5th birthday. Ready to celebrate his milestone. Ready to say "so along babyhood". Ready to see him off to Kindergarten. Ready for him to be a big kid. Nope, I'm a mess of sadness and anxiety. He's going to be in Kindergarten, KINDERGARTEN! How did this happen to me? Five years were supposed to be a long time, forever when you first hold your newborn baby but that's not the reality. It took only a nano second for him to reach this milestone and I for one am not ready for it. I may need to start therapy now so that on August 20th, I will be able to peel myself off the floor as I let go of my little man's hand and he walks into that school on his own, beginning a new chapter in all of our lives.

In the meantime, he is ready to kick off his summer. He is busy discovering his new surroundings and all the new bugs, birds and firestations that come with it. He's looking forward to running through the spinklers, eating popcicles on the deck, and catching those little lightning bugs. And, so am I. There is that one great thing parents realize as they play and interact with their children...if he's 5, I get to be 5 this year too.