And then he was Five

I've spent the better part of the week pinching myself in order to really believe that my son would actually be turning five today.  Five somehow seems so different from Two and Three and Four, doesn't it?  At those younger ages, we can almost still pass for toddler, still so little, not so school-aged, and still a little bit my baby. 

Five is different.  Five is Preschool not just for fun, but also because it's time to prepare for Kindergarten next year.  Five is a much taller boy who has lots of friends, understands social rules, and asks permission to go out and play.  Five is less Sesame Street and more SpongeBob SquarePants, and is full of adjectives and adverbs, big-picture concepts and beginning reading.  Five involves adding and subtracting, and points out black and white photos as "History."  There's no buying clothes for Five in the baby, or even toddler sections of stores, and the new toys of interest involve many small pieces and instructions to be read.  Pieces that need to be transformed, carefully.  Five asks lots of questions, remembers everything, and adds little spikes to his hair every time you finish combing it down.  Five can make his own lunch, and even his little brother's if he's in the mood.  Five is fiercely loyal and incredibly loving, and experiences both great excitement and hurt feelings more quickly.

In my twenty months of blogging, I've created a handful of videos to celebrate anniversaries and birthdays, but hadn't yet done one for KJ.  As I put his video together over the last few days, I had the opportunity to look through his lifetime of pictures, and the very fact that I get to have all of those precious memories of him makes me feel like the luckiest person in the world.  It's hard to believe, though I'm sure it is true, that all mothers feel this way about their children, because when I think about KJ and remember all that I've gone through with him and all that he has brought to my life, I am overwhelmed with emotions.  More than anything, he makes me feel so proud.  Everything he thinks and says and discovers is incredible to me, and I really do think he is the most incredible person, even at just five years old.  I am so blessed to be his mother.  He makes every day better than it might have been.

When I talked to him about making a video, I told him that I needed to choose a song to set it to.  His first suggestion was Welcome to the Jungle by Guns N Roses, and unfortunately I couldn't imagine setting those sweet little baby pictures to it.  His second choice was Danger Zone from Top Gun, and while it is quite the fitting song for my child the airplane buff, it was a little too fast-paced.  What I did choose plays right into his very favorite thing in the world, and seemed perfect.  If you've met KJ for two minutes or less, or even if you've been reading me for a while, you know that he is obsessed with airplanes (jets, to be exact,) and that if there is one thing he talks about, around the clock if we would allow, it is his dream of someday becoming a pilot.  Unfortunately, my son is also legally blind in his left eye, and has poor vision in his right, which is not exactly going to help in achieving his biggest dream.  If he says it once a day, he says it one hundred times, though.  He is going to fly.  And if he believes it, then so do I.

Happy Birthday KJ boy.  Enjoy your movie.

Comments

[your gramma]

Yes, I beleive you can fly too! And this video made me cry because you are growing so-o-o-o very fast that I can't believe it. God bless you always. Have a WONDERFUL birthday, my sweet BIG boy! I love you.

[Diane]

What a wonderful momma you are. Absolutely Love the song choice and the sentiment. Congrats to you and Kevin, and of course Happy B day KJ!!!! Enjoy your day!

[your mom]

I had to come back here and watch again. Mol, you are so good and such a wonderful mom. Your boys are so very blessed.And we are so very blessed to have you in our lives and our world. You give so much to make others lives so much better. God bless,Sweetheart! Love you with all my heart. mom

[Dad (Kev)]

Fantastic job Mol! The intro and the movie are wonderful!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KJ! I Love You!

[Wendy]

Loved the video!! Happy 5th Birthday to KJ! Very Sweet...

[ashley&family]

Molly, it is simply too darn early in the day for you to make me cry! How sweet! I love watching my children grow but does it have to be soooo heart wrenching?

[David McNelis]

Darn you for making me get all man-blinky on a Friday morning! Happy Birthday KJ.

Kudos on the excellent use of the theme song from Space Jam too!

[Carrisa]

Oh the tears! KJ will get to fly, I believe that. Wonderful job on the video Molly.

And Happy Birthday KJ!!!

[Sadie]

Oh good Lord. Between the movie and your Mom's comments I'm over here in tears. He is so cute- it just makes my uterus ache for a baby...

I have no doubt about him being a pilot-- He'll find a way to make it happen.

[Dad]

I should've know better than to try to read this and watch the video at work! Here I am with all these truck drivers and I'm trying to keep a dry eye! God Bless You KJ. You're flying in my heart now and always!
Love, Papa

[Silly Hily]

I haven't even watched it yet but I can guess what song you picked so I will be watching this without sound b/c I can NOT cry at work Molly. Jeez, what are you trying to do to me.
Five does seem so....not baby. While you feel lucky to have KJ, don't forget that he is VERY lucky to have you!
And it really is amazing to feel what we feel four our children and it's so hard to put into words. But you did a nice job.
Now, I'm off to watch KJ grow up before my eyes.

(And I also, I do believe that one day, he WILL fly.)

[Frema]

What a great video. Be sure to burn it on CD and stash a copy in his baby book. Even though he's not a baby anymore! (Sob)

Happy Birthday, KJ!

[Silly Hily]

Oh Molly. He has such a fabulous smile.
Happy Birthday KJ!

[crookedeyebrow]

I can't stop crying!
That was perfect and what an awesome mom you are!

Happy 5th Birthday KJ!!

[Michelle Z]

What a beautiful video!

I hope KJ had a wonderful birthday and loves being 5!

Braden just turned 4 a couple weeks ago, and he's already talking about when he's 5. I think 5 is the 'cool' age to be!

[Sant]

You know... I held my shit together last night when I previewed the video, but-- that was before you had a post to go with it. I can't believe he's five already. In the blink of an eye.

Happy Birthday Kajey boy! I'm sure you got taller today;)

I love you, kid:)

[Your Wisconsin Cousins]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KJ!
Hope you had a great birthday.
I can remember meeting your mom, you, and your dad at a resturant in Glenview. I was so in awe how well you were walking(at 10 months I believe). Now, look at you - you are ready to FLY! You will fly one day KJ - We believe in you! Reach for the sky!
We can't wait until see you on Saturday!!!
Hugs and Kisses.

[Rachel]

Oh Molly, what a wonderful tribute!! KJ is sooooo lucky to have such an awesome mom. I cannot believe he is 5 and yes, it is so much harder the older they get. At least when they turn one they are still babies.

And, KJ will fly one day, you will see. That boy can do anything!

[Liz]

GAH!

I'm late to the birthday celebration on account of my laptop's Blue Screen of Death.

But OMG...I'm BAWLING!

Happy birthday, KJ. And happy birth day to you, Mom....