Landon is Five!

Happy Birthday, Landon!

Five is a big number – a whole hand! It’s the beginning of “big kid” territory, signaling the end of the preschool days and the (soon-to-be) start of elementary school. How on earth did we get here so quickly?!

At your doctor’s appointment, you weighed 46 pounds and are 44 inches tall. You’ve gone down only slightly on the charts – 80th for weight and 75th for height. You are long and lean! Your pediatrician told us you grew four inches this year! You’re comfortably wearing size 5 clothes, emphasis on the comfort.

You’re all about “comfy pants” – a.k.a athletic pants – and love a brightly-colored top to go with them. You have a thing for pajamas, with a drawer overflowing with options and very specific opinions on what to wear when. This winter you’ve been particular fond of a slightly-too-small pair of red fleece sleeper jammies because they are just like the ones your sister wears.

Your love for your sister is boundless, and I hope you will always take your role of guider and protector as seriously as you do now. You are always concerned about where she is, what she’s doing and if she needs something. We have any number of nicknames for Hannah, but you have only one: Squirt. It is one of my most favorite things.

We’ve seen you blossom in Pre-K this year, becoming more confident around and social with your peers. You love to learn new things and your favorite thing so far has been learning about the Statue of Liberty and New York City. We are hoping we can take you to New York this spring so you can see it all in person! What a fun adventure that would be!

(Your future self may appreciate a funny story about this pending trip. You’ve been telling us you’re going to New York for months, ever since the theme week back in September. The mechanics and logistics vary. My favorite was this one: “Poppa and me are going to go to New York. We’re going to fly in an airplane! It will be so much fun! But you can’t go, Mommy. You have to stay home to watch Hannah and do the dishes.”)

Your teacher said your cognitive skills ability to understand concepts, plot lines, etc. belies your age. That was no surprise to us at all! Captain Literal and #elephantears are still adept descriptors.

A skill you work on every single day is writing. You love to write and practice your letters! And you are so good at it! Your hand preference has not changed; you have truly been left-handed since birth. A rare and special trait!

(Your love for firetrucks has also not changed!)

Some bigger-kid shows have started to see some airtime and a few former favorites are rarely watched anymore. (No offense, kiddo. We don’t really miss Peppa Pig.) Paw Patrol and Octonauts are favorites. And the past few months you’ve become obsessed with Thomas. You know all the engines, the correct names for all the places on the Island of Sodor, and your favorite episodes by plot line.

You eagerly counted down the days to Christmas this year and anytime you were asked what was on your list, we heard one thing: Legos!

Santa and your family delivered your wish and we now frequently find you sitting at the dining room table surrounded by Lego pieces.

Time at the park still tops your list of favorite things – whether a hike, trip to the playground or walks around Nana and Poppa’s trail. I have to mention the great job you did at the pool this summer! You mastered several new skills, including going off the diving board. We were so proud! You can’t wait until the pool opens up again.

You are my best kitchen helper and errand sidekick! You love to stand on your little green stool to help me measure ingredients and mix things together. You have always enjoyed being a helper at home and school.

This year has brought some changes and those changes haven’t been the easiest for you. You loved the 8 weeks I was home full-time with you and Hannah – they were special for me, too! – and having mommy return to a full-time job that is much more demanding than my previous job has been hard for you. You are also more aware of how much time away from home daddy’s job requires. It’s led to some big emotions that you’re not always sure how to handle. We’re not really sure how to handle them all the time either, but it’s something we’re all working on together.

Baba is still a beloved comfort object, and is often accompanied by Teddy. We’re really not sure how you sleep so soundly because when we check on you before bed we find all manner of things keeping you company. Thomas trains, various Octonauts, Legos(?!), cars…etc.

You have an unusual method of protesting bedtime. If you are irritated about going to bed, you wait until we are downstairs and then climb out of bed with your pillow and fall asleep on the floor. It makes daddy and I roll our eyes because we can’t think of much less comfortable than that!

You are eager to be big and do big things. We know you are going to do great things, but we want to keep you little for just a while longer. Don’t grow too fast, ok?

You are our very special firstborn child, fiercely loyal to your family, a bit of an old soul and an amazing dancer. How could I forget that?! Goodness you love to dance!! Your school performances were epic!

We love you more than words. You are such a gift and a delight, and make our days infinitely more interesting with your stories and questions.

Happy 5th Birthday, Landon! Thank you for giving me the gift of being your mommy – I love you very much!