Somehow, my little is 5
I don’t really know how we got here so fast, but at the same time, it’s hard to remember life without him in it.
Five feels big. A whole entire hand. Not a baby anymore, but still so little in the best way.
Who he is right now
At 5, my little is full of energy, very big opinions, and even bigger feelings.
He’s funny without even trying to be. He notices everything. He asks a million questions. And he keeps us all on our toes. Every. Single. Day.
He loves:
- playing outside
- anything with wheels
- snacks (always snacks, especially gummies and ice cream)
- being part of whatever big bro is doing
- and pushing for just a little more independence whenever he can
He still has that little kid sweetness to him, too. The kind that shows up in random hugs, silly sayings, and moments where he just wants to be close and cuddle on the couch or in bed. “Mommy, I just waaannnnttttt you.”
The season we’re in
Five feels like the start of something new.
While we didn’t push to keep the big little and saw him race through the milestones of little boy life, we purposely tried to keep the little, well little. But all of our trying seemed to go unnoticed by him. We’ve left behind all of the toddler stuff, but we’re not quite in full “big kid” territory yet. He officially crossed “the aisle” and all of his clothes are now from the big kids’ section. I knew to expect that this time around, but still mourned when it happened.
We’re in this in between stage where he’s growing fast but still needs a lot of guidance and an even bigger dose of comfort.
I’m trying to slow everything down and take it in a little more.
Because it really does go by so incredibly fast. My husband says that tomorrow he’ll be 10, then the next day 20. He used to say that with the big. Now the big is getting ready to turn 10.
What I want to remember
I don’t want to forget the way he talks right now. “Treadmiller” instead of treadmill. “Why I do that?” instead of “Can I do that?” The way he says things slightly wrong sometimes. The way he gets excited about the smallest things. The way he still reaches for my cuddles without thinking about it.
These are the little things that feel so normal and right right now, but I know they won’t always be this way. This chapter will eventually end. The page always turns.
And maybe that’s why I hold onto it a little tighter. I tell the hubby to let him sleep with us for as long as he wants. Don’t push the sleep in your own bed narrative like we did with the big.
A little extra truth
Every birthday with him feels like a gift.
When he was 2.5, he had a really scary accident and ended up in the PICU for two weeks after aspirating tiki torch fluid while playing outside with Dad and big bro. It was one of those times in life that changes you. He made it through, and he came out of it as exactly who he is now, resilient, strong, and very much a fighter.
Because of that, I don’t take these milestones lightly. Every single year, every birthday, every ordinary day feels like something I don’t want to rush past.
We’re just grateful. For all of it.
Happy birthday, my sweet little boy
We all love you more than you’ll ever understand at 5 years old.
We’re proud of you. We’re cheering you on. And we’re so thankful we are your family.
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