About the Kiddo: One post at a time: 5.0

Looks like we're down to yearly blog posts, y'all. [shrugs] Suppose it's better than nothing at all.

A few weeks ago I read my blog post about Nolan's birth (here). I do that every year around his birthday. Life changes so much with a kid. Life changes every year with a kid. I become super reminiscent around his birthday too. Especially this year. Maybe it's just because he's five, maybe it's because I have my first newborn nephew, I don't know. But, a part of me is fiercely missing his infant days - another part of me doesn't at all (ha!).

Have you guys ever read that poem about things happening for the last time without you even realizing they're happening for the last time? I've had a few of those moments recently. I found a box of old stuff in Nolan's closet and there was a diaper in it. A diaper. Do you know how long it has been since my kid has been in a diaper? About three years. I bet the last time we put a diaper on him, we didn't realize it would be the last time he'd wear a diaper. I bet the last he wore a onesie I didn't realize it'd be the last onesie he'd ever wear. It makes me wonder what else will just slip by unnoticed. Like him carrying around a ball of blankets (I'm kidding, I know that those are going to college with him), or asking me to hug him one more time at bedtime, or telling me he "needs" to be held, or kissing my cheeks while running around screaming that I'm now sour because he took my sugars. All of the things. All of the things! I will miss these moments so much when they're gone. Parenting is (c'mon, you know what I'm going to say) bittersweet.

I'll not get stuck on that though. Instead, I'll talk about Nolan.

Nolan's yearly cardiologist appointment went well. Everything has continued to grow and function perfectly, so we don't have to go back for two years! Yay!

Nolan did get diagnosed with Asthma back in October. I was in denial about it at first, but once he started a daily medication for it, it was amazing how much he improved. He can actually fight off the common cold now without it taking him out for two weeks. Crazy.

He is transforming into the most amazing person. This kid is so kind and gentle and just the sweetest thing on planet Earth! He's a bit timid, but getting more courageous with each day. He loves people. Weird, because me and his dad don't. (hehe) He can get along with just about any random kid we run into. He absolutely adores his cousins, it is just about the cutest thing ever. He regularly remembers them in his bedtime prayers and the love he has for them just melts my heart.

He still has some anxiety about school, but I think once he gets going with the day he usually has a good time. He has a best friend and he talks about her nonstop. They are adorable together! I think it's a fun and interesting thing as I watch how these little friendships he is making are really starting to blossom. I have fallen in love with the school program that he's in, just last week we signed him up for kindergarten there. [don't mind me, I'll just be over here sobbing 😭]

He learned how to swim this year. Not at swim class. That thing was a disaster and traumatizing and a huge setback. So, me and Cory followed a tutorial on how to teach him. Without any kind of float assistance he can 'fall' into a pool (once he was ready for that stage of the training, we practiced by just dropping him in off the edge - we got some funny looks for that 😂) and swim back to the edge and climb out. It's insane how much he improved from the beginning of summer!

Nolan's train and lego obsession has persevered. And my house has been taken over by the both of them.

He's much better at playing board games now, though he's still learning how to not be a sore loser - because mama plays to win 🤣

I love listening to him tell stories.

He can read simple, phonetic books (though he's been doing that for a bit, huh?).

His favorite foods are turkey sandwiches, pizza, and "food truck fries."

His favorite colors are still red and blue.

His favorite movie is currently Cars 3.

His favorite books are Look Out Kindergarten: Here I Come and Otis and the Kittens.

We're going on our first 'real' family vacation - we're going to Disney World in May! I'm super stoked about that.

As always, I'm convinced he's the best little person ever ☺️

Enjoy some pictures: