Dear August,
Today you are five—a whole hand! A big deal! But last week you were only 5 days old, 5 months by Sunday, and now 5 YEARS? At least that is what you keep telling me, but I am going to refuse to believe it just a little while longer…
Each of these five years (still waiting to hear back if that number is correct or not) you have grown and changed so much…
You had your first ever year of school! You surprised us all by happily going (most days) and have met some great friends and teachers and learned so much. Your teacher says you are above average in most pre-k skills, so you will no doubt rock kindergarten in 15 years when you are old enough to be a KINDERGARTNER.
You are a charmer—extremely well-spoken, charismatic, enchanting kind of guy. All your teachers tell me what a sweet, smart, helpful boy you are and the other kids cheer when you walk into the room.
You will tell any stranger who will listen (and even those who won’t) everything that is going on in your world currently—lately it has been how many days until your birthday, how many percent you love Oscar compared to the other people in your family, that you’re getting an ax for your birthday (🤦♀️this one could use a few more clarifying details but surprisingly no one has questioned it so far), and that Oscar ate an entire pack of gum and had to go to the vet to throw up for a lot of money.
You talk about God and Heaven often and how you can’t wait until we can all be together in Heaven with God and Jesus because it is way cooler than here. And according to you there is a “double heaven” for when you are extra good.
You are the strongest boy alive, according to you, but one must admit that you are actually pretty darn strong. You are fast, coordinated, and most physical feats come easily to you. You shine in your ninja class and were the first one to reach the top of the running wall. You held your own playing on the kindergarten soccer team last fall with some of the kids being two years older than you. You learn new skills quickly and when it doesn’t come as easily, you will focus on it until you get it.
The weekends are your jam when you get to have all the things you love: pizza, ice cream, and cartoons. You still love Wild Kratts and anything that teaches you about animals. Newer favorites include Paw Patrol & Spidey & Friends.
You love to play outside especially if it is in the dirt or “helping” with outdoor chores. In the fall you were excited to help me plant bulbs and would beg me to plant more—I think maybe you will have a green thumb like Daddy.
You love Oscar 99%—1% is knocked from his score because he doesn’t understand when you are done playing with him and also because he thinks your toys are his toys.
You are strong not only physically but mentally—it is hard to budge your body when you don’t want to do something and even more hard to budge your mind when you have it set on something.
You are hilarious and have us laughing all the day long, whether you are doing one of your silly voices or dances or just “doing your thang”. Unfortunately, sometimes you make us laugh when you are being stinky and it is hard to be a responsible parent when you are calling dad “Dumb Douglas” under your breath.
You still come in our bed in the middle of the night, and although we don’t sleep the best, I love waking up to your little button nose, long eyelashes resting on your chubby cheeks and that unbeatable sleeping little boy smell. I’m so thankful you still have your little chubby baby hands that will still wrap around my finger like a newborn when I reach for you when you are in that place between sleep and awake. You make mornings my favorite.
You know what you want in life and you won’t quit until you get it—right now that usually translates to a new toy or treat but when you are older it will bring you all the good things in life that you want.
You are irresistibly cuddly and I still give you approximately 500 kisses and hugs each day and you gladly welcome it. I hope that never changes. You still sit on my lap when we read stories—I pray your little body slows down a bit so that you will always fit there.
You are equal parts stinky and sweet but your sweetness wins every time, hands down. You have some stormy lows but the most sunshiny highs and I love you no matter the weather.
You are my very own baby boy and I am so blessed to have the very best one straight from double heaven.
I love you so,
Mama