William Dean at Age 5

To my dearest, first born:

Five?  Holy cow!  Really?  How did time pass so quickly?  Five sounds so... big.

But I know it's true and I know you're so excited for the big things in your very near future.  You're going to KINDERGARTEN this fall!!!  Are you sure you're ready?  Are you sure you don't just want to stay home and be little for awhile longer?  Of course you don't.  Silly me.  That's not how life works.  I know you'll be fine and you'll do great despite being one of the youngest in your class... 'cause God sure broke the mold with you, kid.  ;)  How did you get to be so fearless and confident when it comes to new things?  I have a lot of prayin' to do that God will guide me in being the best supporter I can be for you in this great big, new step in your life.  I really am so excited for you!

Thankfully, we don't have too much clothes shopping to do before school starts.  You're still comfortably wearing mostly 4T clothes (almost no size 5 at all).  When daddy took you to your five year well check and Kindergarten exam, the nurse weighed you at 38#6oz.  And at home, (cause the doctor's office always seems off) we measured you at 41 3/4".  You've had quite a growth spurt!  1 1/4" in the last 6 months and you've moved up to between the 25-50th percentiles on the growth chart.  The doctor's office gave you two final vaccinations before Kindergarten starts and, though you really didn't want them, you never cried and daddy was SO proud of you.  You passed all your screenings with flying colors.  Way to go!

Recently, you have taken on a few new responsibilities around the house and I'm so proud of you for really taking them seriously.  You immediately dress yourself upon waking on week day mornings, pull up your bed covers and feed the dog.  You're also helping me empty the dishwasher and/or set the table from time to time when I ask.  For this, you are earning your very first allowance... and will hopefully learn some valuable lessons with managing your finances.  ;-)

So let's talk about what's new with you lately...

Well, for starters, you earned your orange belt in karate back in May.  Great job, Little Dragon!

You, of course, have become a speed demon on your new bicycle and are making me nervous with how quickly you fly around our driveway.  But, somehow, I totally trust you because your balance is definitely one of your best physical strengths.

Without any formal lessons, you are practicing diligently in learning how to swim.  You've got a ways to go, but we've seen big improvements so far this summer!  You love to have us count while you go underwater by yourself.

Hmm.  As far as your favorite things nowadays?...

That's easy.

TRANSFORMERS.  TRANSFORMERS.  TRANSFORMERS!!!

You think and talk about them almost 24/7.  They are your very favorite toys right now and you just obsess over every detail and memorizing all their specific traits.  Thank goodness daddy is patient with actually transforming them, 'cause you'd get so frustrated with mommy's pathetic efforts.

I will never forget the look on your face the day your Sentinel Prime arrived at the house.  You'd counted your birthday money with daddy very carefully a week before and figured out that you were able to afford to pay for him (your first lesson in managing money).  So daddy placed the order and you patiently waited... and waited... and waited... for one whole week for it to arrive. 

Your excitement was electric!

Here is a washed-out picture of your beloved toy...

He's joined the collection and you play with each of them daily.

What else?

Oh, you have really gotten good at getting haircuts with daddy!  Such an improvement over previous years.

And whenever you get one... you look so suddenly older afterwards!  :(  Kinda' pulls at my heart strings.  But gosh you are handsome and a clean cut always makes your eyes POP!  :)

So let's see...

In the next six months, I am looking forward to:

1) enjoying the rest of the sweet summer days with you and our family

2) shopping for your school supplies (first time ever, really!)

3) your first day of Kindergarten!!!

4) watching you mature and grow within an awesome school system

5) hearing all about your highs and lows each night at dinner

6) continuing to read our daily devotions at bedtime and praying with you that you learn to love God

7) fall and winter holidays and all the festivities that go along with

William, one of your latest "I-love-you-bigger-than's" goes like this (with slight number variations each time):

"Mommy, I love you bigger than the tallest scraper with 47 seismosauruses stacked on top and 36 blue whales stacked on top of that!!"  (The largest dinosaur and animal that ever lived.)

First of all, holy cow, that's huge!

And second of all... right back at ya', kid.  ;-)