Five Years Old!!

Dear Jordan,

You have been five for almost two weeks now and it looks good on you!!  We had a blast celebrating your birthday and let me tell you...you are a very loved little boy.  We had to have TWO parties to celebrate you and even then we didn't get everyone who wanted to come.  You love your friends and your friends love you!  On top of just being with people, you were excited to get some great presents.  The vast majority of your gifts are art supplies...it's perfect!  You are actually creating something right now as I type this.  I'm trying to monitor your glue use and so far you are doing well.  You're making little faces and gluing the eyes on.

I love watching you create!  Your brain just goes a million miles an hour and the things that you come up with are very impressive.  I say this as a non-creative person.  You also got some legos and are starting in on that new world of fun...so much creating to come!

You are such a blast to parent...sometimes it's hard, but we're getting the hang of this!  I provide structure and you are mostly predictable.  Sometimes you change something up to keep me on my toes, but we have many more peaceful days than we used to.  You have grown to respond and obey more quickly...even though I still have to teach you had to stop yourself when you are doing something.  You do it most of the time: 1. Freeze and become a statue.  2. Count to five.  3. Tell me what you are going to stop doing.  4. Stop doing it.  It's things like this that you respond to and you remember how to do it and most of the time will actually do it!

I think one of the most amazing things about you is how well you love your friends.  You are always thinking about them and wanting to draw them pictures.  When I told you we were going to Bayne's house to take them a meal (they just had a baby!), you immediately went and made him a card.  It blesses me to see your heart.

I'm proud of you!  Keep learning and growing and you'll be able to do anything you want to!!

Love,

Mom

Growing In So Many Ways

Dear Jordan,

Here we are, coming up on your fifth birthday.  Your FIFTH birthday!?!?  It's hard to believe that much time has passed.  You are thriving and growing.  I feel like every day you stand next to me and you've grown a little more.  And now you are learning letters and trying to read.  You ask questions all day and want to know more about everything.  I try my best to answer every question, but you've always got one that surprises me.

One of my favorite "Jordan stories" that perfectly describes your passionate desire to take the lead and make things happen is the one of the day that we found a "Lost Cat" poster on our door.  I showed it to you and read the details and you made it your personal mission to find Justice the Cat.  You taped the flier on the door so you could look out and watch for him.  You begged your dad to take you on a bike ride so you could search.  He said that you wanted to ask every person you passed and even go door to door.  You are committed to the things you care about!

Another thing I am really enjoying is watching your love for gymnastics.  I knew it would be a good fit but it is perfect for you!  You do it with so much joy and gusto.  I love to watch you attack everything they give you to do.  There have been so many times that I looked up to see you to a new kind of flip into the foam pit or jump of a spring board as hard as you can and grab the bar.  It's good for your sensory needs, but it makes you smile and gives you joy too!  I love watching you grow in your interests.

Another way I love to watch you grow is in creativity.  You will get an idea and make it happen.  Your Grammy bought you a "doodle book" with a bunch of starts to pictures and you finish them.  But you never finish them in a way that is normal.  There was one with a guy on a post and surrounded by water.  The suggestion is that you rescue him and it's implied that you draw a bridge.  Nope, you had to draw a helicopter!  I love seeing that little light bulb come on in your head.

Just a few more weeks and you won't be four.  It makes me want to weep and celebrate at the same time.  I love you so much and am so proud of you!

Love,

Mom