Happy 5th Birthday Braden

Wow, how the years have flown. I can still vividly remember your first birthday party and it’s hard for me to come to terms with that being 4 years ago. I remember where our life was 5 years ago and how different things are now. When you were born we were in a 500sq ft basement apartment with two kids and a dog. We would live there for another 18 months after you were born. Then we moved in to our house (1725 w 140 s) and that summer had your second birthday. Today- of all days- and in an unexpected turn of events- the sign went up in our front yard that our home is for sale and once again we are moving.....but that’s another story for another day. 

You started life as a stubborn but very easy baby. You put me in the hospital and preterm labor from 27 weeks on but when it was time to eject you, you didn’t want to go, and then you came in one sudden WOOOSH. Then for three days you kept failing the hearing test. The doctors were legitimately concerned that you were deaf. They brought me paperwork on the specialists I would need to go see and what to do next. And then, on the third day, just as we were leaving the hospital, they wanted to test you one more time and BOOM. You passed. That’s you bubba. You march to the beat of your own drum. You were my easy going, great sleeping baby, but also my tenacious and limit pushing toddler. 

Today you turned 5. Today you are not really my baby toddler anymore, you’ve moved on to the big kid side of life. I’m thankful it’s not the teen years yet but it still  blows my mind that I’m no longer shopping in the baby section at any store. It’s hard to see your youngest grow up. The saying “the days are long but the years are short” summarizes motherhood completely. I think back to 5 years ago when I would give anything for a shower and a nap. The days seemed to drag on at times while I counted down the minutes until you were both big enough and on to the next stage. No more bottles, diapers, binkies, etc. Now we’re here. I blinked and my babies grew up. 

Braden you are fire and spice. You bring happiness every where you go but you also have the power to burn the house down if your needs aren’t met. You have an insanely good memory and never forget things, especially when it’s a promise I’ve made to get you a treat or prize on (insert future day).  Parenting you is so different from your sister. You are wild and vocal about your emotions. Which isn’t a bad thing, and truthfully I think you get those qualities from me. I have grown and learned so much from being your mom. Everything I thought I knew has been different with you. I have learned more patience and what it’s like to fight with a mini version of myself. You love passionately. You love adventure. 

Right now in life you love to climb on any rock you find. You are obsessed with technology, truly obsessed. You will play any video game, iPad, or game you find. You love to play “army men”- so much so that it was the theme for your party. You still love sushi, newsies, and anything blue raspberry flavor. You love to have dance parties and play chance the card game. You love to jump on the trampoline with sister, and you liked gymnastics until you got moved to a higher level and things got hard. When the coaches push you too much you just stomp out of class. You like to be included with the big boys, and do whatever they are doing. We had your birthday party and 9 friends came. Four of which were over the age of 8, but came as good sports to support you. We are still working on night time potty training, you sometimes can do it but sometimes I think you’re just too lazy in the morning to actually make it to the potty. 

You just finished speech therapy for the year and have made so much progress. Honestly I will miss how you say certain words but I know it’s for the best. 

When you call for Madison you yell SISTAS like how they do in the movie hocus pocus. 

In the fall you start piano lessons AND kindergarten. Again, my baby is growing up and it’s weird. 

I kick myself all the time that I didn’t document your tiny stages as much as I should of. I hope both of my kids look back at their lives and know how deeply their mother loved them. How much I tried to remember those moments and document them. You. Are. So. Loved. 

Sometimes you look at me with those big brown eyes and I just melt. I don’t know how I got to be the mom of the most wonderful little boy in the world. After your birthday party we all went to the pool as a family. When it was time to leave uncle josh said “ok buddy time to go” and you replied “hold on a second, I just want to remember this day” then you took a deep breath and looked all around you. Once we got home, you blew out the candles and when you took a bite of your cake you ran over to my side and squeezed me and said I was the best cake baker ever. Then daddy and I tucked you in to bed and I sang you to sleep. 

Happy birthday little man. Today was chaos but I loved every minute with you. 

”Little boys should never be sent to bed, they always wake up a day older.” Peter Pan