two months later...

I got a little behind on posting for W's birthday, but here we go.  W turned FIVE in January.  I can't believe it.  The past five years have flown by.  Our little family has grown and changed so much, and so have we as parents!  More on than below, but first a little about the birthday boy.

This year has been a big one for him.  He has really become so independent (which gives me hope that we won't always be in the toddler stage).  He loves to listen to chapter books, draw characters to cut out and play with, build with legos, and dress up.  He is a serious guy and asks about a thousand questions a day.  He has a true sense of fairness and compassion for people that we are starting to see.  I know God will use him in big ways!  He loves his sisters fiercely, and he and H are the best of buddies (which is great except when we are trying to get them to go to sleep in the same room #impossible).

Getting his clues for his scavenger hunt on his birthday...it lead to his new lego table (which was previously his train table).  He loves all scavenger hunts, maps, adventures, etc.

Realistic view of what your birthday party looks like when you're the oldest of 6 cousins

Blowing out the candles of our cake (I had a birthday, too, but I won't mention my age).

Attempted family shot...no kids looking at the camera.  Nice job.

Birthday morning...a little help from baby sis

I think each time your oldest has a birthday, it makes you look back over however many years you have been a parent.  I can't believe I have been a mom for five years, and I also can't remember a time when I didn't have all these littles running around.  Parenthood can be tough, but it is also so wonderful.  If I have learned/am learning anything over the last five years, it is not to judge.  Having three kids is teaching me that every kid at every stage is so different.  What was difficult with one may be a breeze with another.  One may sleep through the night/nurse/potty train/give up the paci/obey/share so easily, so you think it was you that did it so successfully, and then you try the same thing on the next child and fail.  There are so many times that I wish I had encouraged a new mom, instead of just advising.  We are all trying hard, and my kids are teaching me so much about grace toward others and myself.

For the last five years, I've been stumbling through and learning to be a parent.  But you know what?  W loves me unconditionally.  He extends forgiveness every time I mess up.  When I lose my temper, when I'm impatient, when I am tired of answering five-year-old questions, he loves me.  God is teaching me about grace through his sweet five-year-old heart.  I want to love as freely as him.

Happy Birthday, to the one who made me a mama!  You are so very loved!