FIVE

Dear Ryan,

      Happy Birthday, sweet boy.  You are five whole years old today (well not officially until 5:45pm).  Everyone told me that you would grow up super-fast but I really had no idea just how fast they meant.  Five is super-big.  Five is a whole hand worth of fingers!  Five means you are a big kid now, it means that Kindergarden is only a blink away, it means you aren't a baby anymore.
      At 5, your favorite things are: the color red, playing Super Mario Brothers on the Wii, riding your bike, hitting the baseball and coming into our bed early every morning for cuddles.  You are an early riser and you go to be easier than anyone in this house.  You still love your monkey and new blanket and need them with you to sleep.  You dislike eating meat (except for chicken nuggets and deli meat), turning off Mario, trying new things and drawing.  You love to play board games and love to win.  You are learning that it is ok not to win too though.  You say you want to be a fireman when you grow up because they rescue people and help others.  I am so proud of you, Ryan, so very proud of you!
      The night before we brought you home from the hospital, I was overwhelmed with so many feelings.  I was worried about possibly messing up or failing you in some way.  There you were tiny and new and it was our responsibility to protect you, shape you, teach you right from wrong and raise you to be a Godly man.  Since I am with you mostly all day, it is my responsibility to choose the right things for you, expose you to the world and teach you to be an honest, caring and good human being.  There are times that you may think that things aren't fair or that I am being to tough on you but that is only because I know you can do things.  Even when you think you can't, I know you can!  Ryan, you are such a good boy.  You are honest.  You are so very kind.  You have the biggest heart and you love everyone.  You are gentle and you listen to us most of the time.  You are super silly and a little clumsy but that is what makes you you!  You have the purest heart, you love to cuddle and you have the most optimistic outlook on everything.  You have so much patience with your brother and sister.  You set a great example for them.  I hope that you always love them this much.  I hope that you always call Owen your best friend and I hope that you always feel the need to watch over and protect your sister.
     Thank you, Ryan for making me a Mom.  That is the greatest gift I have ever received.  Thank you for allowing me to see life through your eyes.  Thank you for showing me the magic in life and for helping me remember to slow down.  Thank you for your unconditional love.  Thank you for telling me that you will always be my baby, even when you are grown and you are bigger than me.  Know that no matter how big you are, how near or close you are that you are always, always my baby, my first baby.

I love you the most Ryan, more than a billion, more than infinity, the most.

Love,
Mommy

our yearly interview...

What's your favorite color?  red

What's your favorite toy?  my imaginext castle

What's your favorite fruit? apple

What's your favorite tv show? Super Hero Squad

What's your favorite treat? gummies (fruit snacks)

What's your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? pancakes

What's your favorite thing to eat for lunch? a turkey and cheese sandwich

What's your favorite outfit?  Mario shirt

What's your favorite game? Super Mario Bros Wii, Zingo (board game)

What's your favorite snack? apple

What's your favorite animal? Rhinoceros

What's your favorite song? Ride this Chevy - Jason Aldean, 5-1-5-0 Dirks Bentley, Old Alabama - Brad Paisley

What's your favorite book?  Froggy Learns to Swim

What's your favorite cereal?  Cinnamon Chex

Who is your best friend? Owen, Luke, Dylan, Noah, Libby & Gabby

What's your favorite thing to do outside? ride my bike

What's your favorite drink? lemonade

What's your favorite holiday? Christmas and summer

What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Monkey 

What do you want for your birthday dinner? pizza

What do you want to be when you grow up? A fireman.   

What's your favorite movie? Toy Story 3, Cars 2, Wreck it Ralph

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? Texas to see my family. 

What's your favorite thing to do with Owen? play with him.  Emily? give her hugs and kisses Daddy? Go to the playground Mommy? Spend time together.