My 5 year old boy!

My beautiful, sweet Charlie,

I sit here nearly speechless. I can't believe you are 5 years old.
I remember sitting in your beautiful, striped nursery and holding my pregnant belly and singing Baby Mine to you. I wanted you to be mine so badly. I wanted to hold you and love you with everything I had in my soul. I was scared that I wouldn't have that chance.

But alas, you came. You gave us quite the scare and came WAY too early but you were there. Kicking and screaming. This tiny 4 pound little boy with a DIMPLE... that's when I fell 10 times more in love with you. When I held you for the first time and through all the medical equipment to help you breathe and under the surgical tape on your cheeks holding the tubes in place...I saw you had a dimple, just like mine. I knew you would make it.

And here you are, I have a BIG 5 year old boy. You hate when I call you little because you are 5 now. You have been wanting to be this magical age for what seems like years now...ha ha! No, but really, since you turned 4 all I have been hearing about is how much you are looking forward to turning 5. It's here now and you smile whenever anyone mentions it. This year has been so much fun with you. I have loved LOVED loved watching you become more and more of yourself. You have friends. Lots of friends. It fills my heart to see so many people like you and enjoy your company. You love to play around and tease them.

You are the most thoughtful, loving little person I know. Certainly the only 5 year old who cherishes birthday cards as much as the gifts. You've found your love for sports. You make me beam with pride when I watch you play t-ball or any sport for that matter because of your eagerness to learn how to play it. Not only that, you love to practice until you become great at it.

This year you learned lots of new things. I was ecstatic when you learned how to write your own name recently. You excelled in preschool. You found a new love for the Nintendo with Jackie... You continue to love your daddy so much. I love the bond you two have. You learned to really enjoy playing with Kate and you LOVE your baby Ella. You want to hold her whenever you get the chance. They both love you to the ends of the earth too.

I wanted to tell you this, Charlie. No baby was ever as wanted and NEEDED and LOVED as much as you were. My sweet, precious, little Charlie. I love you so much. You fill me up with all that's good in this world and I am SO looking forward to seeing you grow into whatever you will become. Don't ever let anyone hold you down, baby. You are amazing and you will do amazing things in your lifetime. Hold God close to you always, carry my love for you in your heart and you will be ok.
Love always,
Mama
xxxooo

 Here is Charlie at all of his birthday parties so far...

3 days old.

Charlie at his 1st birthday party...

it was a circus.

Charlie at Chuck E. Cheese

He chose Buzz Lightyear for

his 2nd birthday party

Arrgh! We celebrated his 3rd birthday

as pirates because he was all about

Jack Sparrow.

For 4 he had to have his Spiderman.

and now, my big boy is 5... and the Super Heroes theme

suited him well. He will always be my little superman.