My baby boy turned 5 years old this week!. As I stare down at that blond haired boy whose head is just grazing my elbow, I am reminded how not so long ago, your entire body fit in my forearm. As much as I long to steal those days back, I wouldn't trade the 5 years of time I've been blessed to be your mother , nor the experiences of watching your grow. You changed my life from the first moment I saw you and you have made me grow in ways I could never imagine. I thought it was supposed to be the other way around. You are such an exceptionally bright little man, but carry a heart even bigger than that brain of yours. Because of that, you are also an exceptional challenge every day to us! Keeping me on my toes is an under statement, but I wouldn't give it up for anything.
Over the past year, you have developed so quickly. I am amazed that the little boy who used to despise coloring has now become an incredibly creative artist. You wow me everyday with your imaginative creations on paper, with so much detail that it becomes a story. You started the year with writing your name, and are now having me spell words I'm not even sure I can spell. Watching you start to read and write out math problems just makes me so proud of your determination to learn.
You are a natural born leader. As daycare has told me, when you are out sick, the other kids decide who is going to "play Caleb". Being the ringleader, you also tend to challenge your teachers with keeping your classmates attention! Perhaps a future politician or CEO in the making. I find myself either laughing or rolling my eyes at your endless wit and humor. You love to make faces, do impressions, and you are quite the movie quoter. I catch you singing sometimes when you aren't looking, and I see a rock star just waiting to happen. You are such a boy in every way! I enjoy seeing you spend hours flipping through your train magazines and building amazing tracks an engineer couldn't even construct. I am exhausted by your ability to ride your bike, shoot rockets, save Lego town with your super heroes, build Play-Doh houses, excavate my dirt pile, and smack a baseball without ever skipping a beat. We just won't tell anyone that some days, your sister convinces you to wear a pink dress!
As tough as you play some days, you hold a secret pot of love, and when someone opens that up in you, you will love for life. You tell me everyday that you will never break my heart, and I hope that I am here everyday to protect yours. You always sneak up to me for Eskimo kisses and tell me.. "Mommy, this will always be our own special thing...forever and ever". We have smiled while you packed up lunches for your daycare teachers for lunch dates. You are a flirt and the girls melt over it all the time.
People always say that you are so me. You are particular and such a planner. I find it extremely adorable when you plan your birthday party four months in advance, or when I find your Matchbox cars lined up by size, type, and color. Last night, you asked me if I wanted you to be a chef when you grew up. I told you that I wanted you to be anything you wanted to be. I meant it, because in my mind, you are already everything I wanted you to be. People are drawn to your energy and your enthusiasm and I know you will do big things no matter where life takes you! You are the biggest and best part of me. Mommy and Daddy love you more than you will ever know.
Love,
Mommy
