Happy FIVE Mason!

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Dear Mason,

Today is your fifth birthday. Five. I seriously can't believe I just wrote that. FIVE. That's one whole hand’s worth of fingers! I'm pretty sure I said that at four last year, but five just seems so much older. Like you are a legit big boy now. I mean, you are going to REAL SCHOOL -- elementary school! kindergarten! -- in just a few shorts weeks. Sometimes I feel like you were just born yesterday and other times I can’t even remember what life was like without you.

This past year especially, you have grown leaps and bounds. I feel like the days all blur together. I can't really tell you when you did this or that in the past year, but I guess a lot has happened! When we went for your developmental pediatrician check-up the other day and we talked about you using the potty like it was a normal, regular, every day occurrence (because it is now), the doctor stopped us and said “wait. what? last time you were here he was still in diapers!” Holy moly. The days are long but the years are short.

Where to start....

First and foremost, I absolutely adore you. I would go to the edge of the world and back for you. You drive me to the brink of craziness sometimes and then do the sweetest thing the next minute and I think my heart might explode. It’s a crazy ride, this parenthood gig, feeling like you are going to go insane one minute from asking your child to put on his shoes 3,000 times in 5 minutes to feeling like you can’t express your love enough. You have taught me so much in your five years of life, more than I've learned in the twenty-seven and a half years of life before you. You've taught me patience (that I'm still working on), you've taught me love, you've taught me to celebrate even the littlest accomplishments, and you've taught me how to be a mom.

You are so inquisitive. You ask “what’s that?” ALL. THE. TIME. Most often I answer with “what’s what?” because I have no clue what you’re talking about or if you’re even pointing to something and you just say “what’s that?” again. Most of the time you answer your own question and tell me “that’s a bus, mom!” You're also really interested to know what our schedule is going to be. You don't necessarily need it to be laid out so you know what's coming (like some kids with autism), but you're just more curious. I'll tell you "first we're going to school" "and then?" "then you'll play with your friends and have lunch and play some more and then Daddy will come pick you up." "and then?" "then you'll come home and we'll have dinner" "and then?" "then you'll take a bath and we'll watch some TV." "and then?" "then you'll go to bed" "and then?" Then I just say we'll start all over because I could narrate the whole week, month, and year for you if I kept going! 
(You haven’t so much gotten in to the “why” questions, but I’m sure those are coming too.)

In the past year, your language has EXPLODED. It makes my mama heart BEAM with pride everytime I hear you talk. I try my absolute hardest never to tell you to be quiet (unless we’re at the movies, then I “shush” you and tell you to use whisper voices or at a wedding or something), otherwise I just tell you to "hold on a second" so I can finish talking on the phone or talking to your Dad or whatever I was doing in that minute. But other than that? TALK AWAY.
Nothing makes me happier than to hear you bust out singing along to a song in the car on the way to school. You are SO off tune and don't know half the words, but I don't even care. I get an immediate GIANT smile on my face hearing you singing along.

You used to freak out when I would cut your finger nails or toe nails, then you got a little better about your finger nails, but would still pull away with the toe nails. Now? You are finally good about both. I usually have to give you the iPad or turn on the TV to distract you, but you no longer pull away for either and we get it done quickly, efficiently, and painlessly (for both of us! before I used to have to beg you to sit still.)

You've also come SO far in terms of things on your head. Let me explain. You used to HATE hats on your head. I would put it on, you would take it off. You used to hate sunglasses on your face. I would put them on, you would take them off. But now, you not only wear (regular) glasses with no problem and minimal playing with them, but you voluntarily wear hats too! In fact just the other day, I asked you which sunglasses you wanted to wear to the pool and you chose "America!" (the patriotic ones I bought for the 4th of July) over Paw Patrol and then when we went to run errands in the afternoon, you ASKED to wear your Angels hat!

I actually bought an Elf on the Shelf a year or so ago after Christmas on sale (the minor sale they had on it - those things never go on sale sale!) and I think we might use it this year. I feel like you've really started to "get things" more now than you have before and would actually remember that there is an elf and somewhat understand what the purpose is and actually look for it. I've wanted to do it in the past, but just thought it would be a fun thing for your dad and I, but now I feel like you would actually get something out of it.

You don't understand the concept of time yet, but you remember that when I say something is going to happen in a few days to keep asking about it. You have a strong love for your friends and tell me about them all the time. You especially LOVED your speech class and I WISH so hard that those boys were going to be in your kindergarten class. You haven't seen them in over a month but you talk about them by name daily as well as your speech teacher. In those six short months, they sure made an impression on you.

I could go on and on and I'm sure I'm forgetting TONS, but Mason, all I really need to say is that I love you with all my heart. You are teaching me to be a better person, a more patient person, a more understanding person. As NOT ready as I am for you to start kindergarten in a month, I am SO excited to see where school takes you and how you grow.

Somebody grab the box of tissues... here's a look back on some of my favorite pictures from the past year.

July 2016





August 2016


September 2016




October 2016





November 2016



December 2016




January 2017





February 2017


March 2017



April 2017





May 2017



June 2017




July 2017



Happy, HAPPY fifth birthday my sweet boy! I can't wait to celebrate YOU today!

All my love,
Mommy

11 comments:

  1. Happy 5th Mason! 🎈🎉🎈

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  2. Mason has thee best smile!! I just adore Septembers picture where he's holding up the Small World wall!!
    I completely understand all the feels of motherhood and love how well you expressed this journey!
    Happiest of Birthday's, Mason 🎉

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  3. Gosh, it's crazy the difference a year makes. He has sure grown up, handsome boy. I've absolutely loved hearing his vocab explode this past year, for sure. Can't wait to see what this next year has in store for him. Happy happy birthday, Mason!!

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  4. Happy happy 5th birthday Mason! I still love that you and Cam are almost birthday buddies. Pretty cool if you ask me. What a difference a year makes. He is such an amazing blessing. What a fun loving and happy guy. I wanna be his friend! :)

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  5. One whole hand!!!! Wowweee!!! SO exciting. I hope you had an amazing day celebrating your sweet boy!

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  6. I can't believe how much he's grown from last year!! Hope he had the best birthday yet! :)

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  7. Love this little glimpse into Mason! He just seems to be thriving!!! Liam has so many questions right now too, so so curious! And I try to answer all. the. questions! Happiest of Birthdays Mason!

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  8. Awww happy birthday sweet mason!!!

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  9. I hope he had the most awesome birthday! I love all of these pictures of him. He radiates joy and makes my heart smile.

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  10. I'm doing so much catch up with blogs, and I had to start here.
    Mason is such an amazing kid! This past year has been such a big one for him! So many milestones hit, and many more to come.
    We hope Mason had the absolute best Birthday ever!

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