5

Paxton,

You are 5 years old. 5! 5 years old! I can't believe it! 5 puts you into a whole different category of life. You really are a big boy now! And I could not be more proud of the big boy that you are.

The thing about you that makes me most proud is your kind heart. You are patient, you are kind, and you are considerate, even at 5 years old. You listen. You try so hard at everything you do. You are amazing.

I cried the whole day of your birthday this year. Tears of joy. Tears of disbelief. I know it sounds so cliche, but I just don't know where the last 5 years have gone. It seems like today I woke up and all of a sudden you were a 5 year old little boy. You are no longer the tiny baby we brought home from the hospital that had a tummy ache and was so uncomfortable, but still had the best belly laugh I have ever heard in my life. You are no longer the toddler who was a little unsteady on his feet, running around our house so fast you fell head first into the wooden door frame and dented the wood with your hard head! You are no longer the 2 year old who would sing "Thhhhhaaatttt'ssss Elmo's World" over and over but instead of Elmo you would replace it with the different names of people in our family. You are no longer the 3 year old boy who's role as a big brother of 1 was revised to a big brother of 2. A job that you do so well and take so seriously. You are no longer a 4 year old boy who would tell knock knock jokes to no end that made absolutely no sense. You are now a 5 year old boy. Who is missing his bottom front tooth. Who is learning to swim so well. Who has conversations with his mommy and daddy that are well beyond his years. Who is nice to everyone. Who loves to draw pictures of superheroes and shares everything with his brother. You are a 5 year old boy who thinks he loves attention, but once it's upon you, gets shy and quiet. You are a 5 year old boy that reduces his mommy to tears daily remembering the sweetness and perfection you have displayed that day. You are a 5 year old boy that is a perfect role model for his siblings.

Paxton, you are the first child to ever have my heart. You are sweet and smart and sensitive and thoughtful. You are funny and silly and full of joy. You are different. You are perfect. You are mine. And I love you more than anything in the world.

Happy 5th birthday big boy!

Love,

Mom