Happy 5th Birthday, Jack

(Written April 2016)

Dear Jack (Jackers, Jackie, Jackie-Cakes)

Happy 5th birthday, sweet boy!  First and foremost, I want to tell you how proud I am of you.  I try to tell you this often but just in case you forget...you are a wonderful person.  Obviously, I'm a little biased but somedays you even amaze me with your kind heart.



This morning I got up early to hop in the shower so I could go to your birthday celebration at school. A few minutes later, the shower door popped open and there you stood, full dressed for school (albeit your shirt was on backwards!) and a huge smile on your face.  You KNEW today was the day you've been waiting for and you were ready!

You are a social being (which thrills your more introverted parents) and over the last year and half you have been put in many situations offering opportunities to make new friends and you have exceed my hopes.  So much so that I actually have to limit how often you knock on neighbors doors because you would do it every single day.  Being an only child myself, it sometimes baffles me why you can't just play by yourself but I now realize that's just who you are being around others is what makes you tick.

You have been at your school for 4 years and next year you will move onto a new school with new friends.  Over the past 6 months your teachers have been telling me stories about what a great leader you are and how you are alway so patient and compassionate with the younger kids.  God, I hope this never changes.  My favorite story has been, on your "full day school" days you will sometimes help the teachers sing and rub the backs of the little ones who nap at school.  Melted my heart and made me tear up.

I know, next year, it will be sad to say goodbye to the great friends and teachers that have helped you become who you are today.  While I'm nervous for you because this was hard for me, I know in my heart that you will do awesome in kindergarten.

You learned to ride your bike, write you name and have started the process of learning to read.  A sippy cup of milk in one hand and your manhood in the other is STILL your security blanket.  It actually makes me sad to think that you will probably be giving up your "sippy" cups this year but I know that someday your wife will complain about you sitting on the couch with your hand down your pants so that brings me comfort.  Much to my chagrin, you are obsessed with the iPad.  Every day that's the first thing you do when you get home from school and every day you slyly come to me asking if you can get a new game.  You are totally a gamer!  You even introduced Opa and Daddy to new games that they like to play.  And every day, I take it away and tell you to go use your brain. XO.

For me, the most exciting change over the past year has been watching you become an INCREDIBLE big brother.  I often have people ask me how you and Leo get along and I say with pride "Actually, pretty great!!!"  Granted, there are times where neither of you has patience for the other, that's to be expected.  But, God, watching you two together is the greatest gift ever (I'm actually crying now thinking about it...you boys have made me so weepy!)  You help him with his shoes or getting a snack, when he's upset or hurt you hug him and ask in a sweet baby talk voice "What's wrong? It's ok Baby-Boo!"

When you are at full day school, Leo will walk around the house asking, "Where's Jackie?" and whenever you have friends over he will follow you around for hours. At this stage in life, Leo is your satellite but you handle him so gently (except when you two are wrestling like wild animals!).  He looks up to you so much and I hope, so desperately, that you two will always find comfort and friendship with each other.

Who are your best friends at school- Trenton, Emilie and Ella
Favorite color- Dark, dark black (a few months ago it was dark brown...weird, I know!)
What are you going to be when you grow up-  Scientist
What do you love to do with Dad- bowling

What do you love to do with Mom- go to the pool
What do you like best about school- I get to, like, have a snack.
What do you like best about yourself- playing and using my brain
What is your favorite food-shell noodles
Favorite toy- my cement mixer and stinky truck
Favorite show- Dino-trux
I am the best at- drawing
Favorite animal- elephant, hippos, giraffe
Favorite book- Jungle Book
Favorite song- Like the Ceiling Can't Hold Us
Where do you want to visit someday- the beach
Favorite thing to do with brother- wrestle and play
Are you going to get married someday- Yes, a new girl
What makes you nervous- cracking my head open (?----which turned out to be VERY serendipitous as just a short time later you indeed did end up cracking your head open)
What age do you look forward to and why? 6 because it's so old
What makes you happy- the sunshine

Jack...I love you.

Mom