5 years old. We always ask ourselves where the time goes. Sometimes I feel like I don’t know how to answer that question because it really does seem to fly by. Other times, I think to myself “I know exactly where the time goes.” It is spent through hours and hours of nursing your sweet baby, through a million diaper changes, through many middle-of-the-night snuggle sessions. It is spent through watching your son try new foods, take his first steps (while squealing!), listening to his first words, listening to his sister call him “Mimi” over and over. It is spent through endless nights of reading stories, giving “tickle-kind,” getting “comfy-cozy” in bed. It is spent helping him get through cutting his teeth and recovering from colds. It is spent by watching your child transition into preschool and become everyone’s best friend. It is spent through daily trips to the playground, trying out new parks, and going on new adventures. By watching him become a big brother all while he is still a little brother taking notes from his big sister. It is spent during trips to Target and Trader Joes (his favorite!), the farmer’s market, Old Town, or down to Grammy/Granddad’s house or Nanny/Papi’s house. It is spent by going tubing for the first time at the lake, or going crab hunting on the beach at night. By watching him become addicted to exploring nature of any kind at any point in time. By watching him start a rock collection (or even a random collection of dead spiders, bird feathers, sticks, fish bones, and shark teeth!) By watching him weed his garden and check for new produce daily. By watching him deliver freshly baked goodies to the neighbors because that’s what they did in one of his favorite books. By constantly making cards for people, and getting a thrill when he hands it to them. By being awakened by him saying “Let’s talk about stuff” and listen to him talk about all the things he wants to that day or listen to him talk about some of his “favorites.” Also, by being awakened by someone standing next to you at 6 a.m. with his bathing suit and goggles on ready to go to the beach, or with his dinosaur hat, sleeping bag and backpack ready to go camping. It is spent by listening to him chat with his friends (he has a lot to say!) and watching him get so excited anytime one of his neighborhood friends comes over (which is about every day :). It is spent watching him have dance parties with his brother and sister, or playing chase with him in the yard. It is most definitely spent while sitting on the porch while watching him and at least one or more of the 50 kids that loves to climb our special tree. It is spent by being continuously impressed by his speed and agility, and watching him dribble a soccer ball better than I can. It is spent by listening to him say “I didn’t like it, I LOVED it” about many things in life, or being taken aback by his graciousness at his age. It is spent listening to his teachers talk about how kind-hearted he is and how willing he is to share details about his life/adventures. It is spent watching him be quiet at times and wondering what he is thinking. By seeing his excitement over a new library book, and definitely over any book related to nature. Many hours have been spent around food as he loves making it, buying it, and eating it. It is spent watching him eat seaweed, brussel sprouts (his fave), asparagus, crab, any kind of fish, and pretty much any food under the sun with great enthusiasm. Time is spent in the best way possible–watching your child explore and appreciate the world around him and develop relationships with people he cares about. He truly is a joy to have in our family and I don’t think he has any idea how valued he is at age 5. His kind heart, his adventurous spirit, and his graciousness are noteworthy..and he is loved by all of those around him. Happy 5th Birthday, Elijah. I love how you’ve spent your first 5 years in this world, and I’m am grateful I’ve been by your side to watch it. We love you.
