Growing, Growing!

Joseph celebrated his 5th birthday recently.  Five is like this thin line.  One day he was four and coasting through toddlerhood and then he turned five and became this little kid...this 3rd little person in our house to hold a conversation with, this 3rd little person in our house to depend on, this 3rd little person who now helps himself to the refrigerator and takes showers all by himself.  It's strange, very unsettling at times....almost like we're not sure what to make of this newfound independence.  He has some really mature, heartfelt things to say sometimes.......he told me that he gets the saddest at night when Dad is away on "bacation"(aka work travel) because Dad has to sleep all by himself.....and he told me that he is excited for kindergarten because he really wants to make new friends but he's sad because he won't see his old friends so much anymore.  So as hard as it is to come to terms with Joseph growing up and out of toddlerhood, we are doing our best to embrace his growing body, his growing personality, and his growing desire to do it all by himself.

Happy 5th Birthday, Joseph!

Here is some little Joe you never got to see...

  

    

   

Thomas celebrated his 3rd birthday days later.  He is a very independent three, we think, but still has the layer of toddler chub that you want to nibble on and he still snuggles up and smiles at you like only a toddler does.  He's lovable and thoughtful...and has this way of asking things that big kids ask but in this little voice..."You don't mind, Mom...if I leave my sneakers here?  You mind if I do?".  Some of his favorite things to say lately....well when he does something good he says very cheerfully, " Atta boy Thomas!" as he swings his one bent arm like Popeye.....then there's his frantic "I have to go big giant poooooooooops!" as he runs nervously to get himself set up(his teacher at school thinks it's hysterical)......and my favorite is when I ask him something- he swings his arm and does this little hop saying, "You gotcha!" instead of "you betcha!".  Lol!  Even though he's a little shy, and sometimes clings a little more- he'll do anything to keep up with his brother, Joe.  They've become great playmates.

Happy 3rd Birthday, Thomas!