Five?!

A question every mother of a five year old asks: How did those five years fly by so quickly? I'm feeling a bit wistful this week as I watch my first born baby lose any trace of baby-ness. He's all boy now...balls to the walls, all day long!

This was not so long ago, just hours before John's debut, and yes, it is as uncomfortable as it looks, but that's no fake smile! I would also like to point out that I am 5'3" with my shoes on and that's a huge baby in there, so what did you expect?

And then, our first snuggle. Oh hush, that's what a 10 lb. 7 oz. newborn looks like.

It wasn't long before he was stealing hearts with his big eyes and his funny faces. It's still the same today, only now the faces are intentional. This was just a lucky camera click.

And then, cute as a button on his first birthday. How was that possibly four years ago? 

And a few months later, after his spray tan. Just kidding, of course...he loved his beta carotene.

Right before turning two, just after coming in from our post-lunch, pre-nap daily walk around the block. We spent a good half hour every day pointing out every spray painted dot on the sidewalk and frog hunting, and right now I am remembering all of those times that I picked him up and carried him past the last few houses because nap time just couldn't wait any longer. Recently, he's been asking me to carry him up the stairs at bedtime, and I do it just because soon he won't ask and I wouldn't be able to even if he did. His feet dangle somewhere around my knees, his arms usually hang down around his sides instead of squeezing my neck, but he does still rest his head on my shoulder. Sigh....

Looking like a little boy, into cars and baseball and bugs, soccer and running and dirt, but absolutely not princesses, because "princesses are for giiiiirlies"

And earlier this week, the last day he would ever be four... 

I miss the baby-ness (even though we have Ben - you know, it's just different the first time you get to experience all of those things)...the baby smell, the sweet baby sleeping noises, the first-everything, but I also work really hard at being grateful for each day with him, at making sure he has at least a moment to remember as special each day. For all the time and attention I must give to his brother, he has never once shown jealousy or resentment toward Ben. I think that alone makes me a pretty lucky mom.  I am happy to have so many sweet memories of when it was just the two of us (I'm talking about during the day, while Landy was at work, not as if he wasn't part of it, too!).  My special, sweet, five year old John...... ( oh jeez - is that an adam's apple?)