Dear Caleb,
It's 5:33 A.M., and I can't sleep. All I can think about is how much I want to record your 5th year of life. My memory is not fantastic, and I don't want to forget the details. I know I won't capture everything that made your fifth year so special, but I at least want to give you a snapshot. I want to preserve sweet little you.
I didn't think it was possible to love you more than I did the day you were born, but I was wrong. This year with you was magical. We decided to hold you back from kindergarten an extra year, to give you time to mature (and if I'm being totally honest, it was also because I wasn't emotionally ready to let my last baby go). We sent you to St. John's Junior Kindergarten program. It was a half day, four days a week. You wowed us all with your math skills, handwriting, and love of learning. It was the best of both worlds. You got the stimulation and education you needed. I had mornings to myself to clean, do laundry, volunteer, etc. Then we had our afternoons together.
What a special time! Our morning routine was so precious it brings tears to my eyes as I type. After your siblings were off to school, you would invite me to join you on the prayer room couch, by the big window. You would still be wearing your footed pajamas. "Mom, wanna buhd [bird] watch wif me?" You sat curled in my lap, a thumb tucked in your mouth, your other arm wrapped firmly around my neck, anchoring me in place. Often Abby, our lab, would jump up and join us, licking our faces until we rolled off into a pile of giggles and blankets on the floor. Then we'd have breakfast and you would rush upstairs to proudly dress yourself. You are so independent.
I cried the first day I dropped you off. I held it together until you were in your room, settled at your table. I was a mess in the parking lot that day. But I soon settled into a routine of cleaning, volunteering, running errands, and tackling the never-ending laundry. I looked forward to our time apart and our happy reunion. I'm not going to lie, some days were better than others. If the weather was nice, and you were outside on the playground for pick up, you would shout, "Why did you have to pick me up so early? We just got out here!" Most afternoons we would enjoy lunch, read, play Hotwheels, and pretty soon, brothers and sister were home.
Fridays were the best days. You referred to them as a "free day off." For the first part of your school year, we would take special trips on Fridays. Then I discovered UP! It was the day shelter for homeless women and children downtown. You and I would spend our Fridays there together. You would play with the kids (if there were any). You would serve imaginary ice cream to the ladies. You would load up the wagon and drag coffee supplies around the room. They loved you. And you loved them. You couldn't wait to go each week.
There were many other special things about this year. You played tee ball and LOVED it. You played basketball. You loved swimming. You loved camping. You loved playing with others. You just loved life.
Knowing we were moving to Texas, we decided to have a joint for you and Jack before we left town (and before your actual birthdays). We invited your friends to All About Kids (a kids' gymnasium) where you bounced to your heart's content and ran around like a crazy man. You loved all the shenanigans.
On your actual 6th birthday we were on our house hunting trip in Texas with Grammy. You were so excited. We found a house in a neighborhood that had a really neat manmade lagoon. They allowed us to have passes to get in that day so we could celebrate with swimming and cake. It was so much fun!
I can't wait to tell you all about yourself since we've been here in Texas. Spoiler alert: You are an amazing 6 year old! But I'll save that for next year's post. For now, just know how much I loved spending time with sweet little five year old you. You are my precious baby. Love you, Cay-Cay!
It's 5:33 A.M., and I can't sleep. All I can think about is how much I want to record your 5th year of life. My memory is not fantastic, and I don't want to forget the details. I know I won't capture everything that made your fifth year so special, but I at least want to give you a snapshot. I want to preserve sweet little you.
I didn't think it was possible to love you more than I did the day you were born, but I was wrong. This year with you was magical. We decided to hold you back from kindergarten an extra year, to give you time to mature (and if I'm being totally honest, it was also because I wasn't emotionally ready to let my last baby go). We sent you to St. John's Junior Kindergarten program. It was a half day, four days a week. You wowed us all with your math skills, handwriting, and love of learning. It was the best of both worlds. You got the stimulation and education you needed. I had mornings to myself to clean, do laundry, volunteer, etc. Then we had our afternoons together.
What a special time! Our morning routine was so precious it brings tears to my eyes as I type. After your siblings were off to school, you would invite me to join you on the prayer room couch, by the big window. You would still be wearing your footed pajamas. "Mom, wanna buhd [bird] watch wif me?" You sat curled in my lap, a thumb tucked in your mouth, your other arm wrapped firmly around my neck, anchoring me in place. Often Abby, our lab, would jump up and join us, licking our faces until we rolled off into a pile of giggles and blankets on the floor. Then we'd have breakfast and you would rush upstairs to proudly dress yourself. You are so independent.
I cried the first day I dropped you off. I held it together until you were in your room, settled at your table. I was a mess in the parking lot that day. But I soon settled into a routine of cleaning, volunteering, running errands, and tackling the never-ending laundry. I looked forward to our time apart and our happy reunion. I'm not going to lie, some days were better than others. If the weather was nice, and you were outside on the playground for pick up, you would shout, "Why did you have to pick me up so early? We just got out here!" Most afternoons we would enjoy lunch, read, play Hotwheels, and pretty soon, brothers and sister were home.
Fridays were the best days. You referred to them as a "free day off." For the first part of your school year, we would take special trips on Fridays. Then I discovered UP! It was the day shelter for homeless women and children downtown. You and I would spend our Fridays there together. You would play with the kids (if there were any). You would serve imaginary ice cream to the ladies. You would load up the wagon and drag coffee supplies around the room. They loved you. And you loved them. You couldn't wait to go each week.
There were many other special things about this year. You played tee ball and LOVED it. You played basketball. You loved swimming. You loved camping. You loved playing with others. You just loved life.
Knowing we were moving to Texas, we decided to have a joint for you and Jack before we left town (and before your actual birthdays). We invited your friends to All About Kids (a kids' gymnasium) where you bounced to your heart's content and ran around like a crazy man. You loved all the shenanigans.
On your actual 6th birthday we were on our house hunting trip in Texas with Grammy. You were so excited. We found a house in a neighborhood that had a really neat manmade lagoon. They allowed us to have passes to get in that day so we could celebrate with swimming and cake. It was so much fun!
I can't wait to tell you all about yourself since we've been here in Texas. Spoiler alert: You are an amazing 6 year old! But I'll save that for next year's post. For now, just know how much I loved spending time with sweet little five year old you. You are my precious baby. Love you, Cay-Cay!
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