Perfecting Imperfection

Dear Nate,

Happy 6th Birthday!  I can't believe it was 6 years ago that you were born.  I remember so much about that time and yet, it seems so much LONGER than 6 years ago!  If anyone would have told me that you would have a sister and 2 brothers by the time you were 4, I would have told them they were NUTS!  But . . . here we are and you are an awesome big brother!


This year was a BIG year for you (and me).  It was the first time I actually sent you to school instead of having you in school with me.  I knew you were ready.  I knew you were going to do great and that you needed to kind of spread your wings a tiny bit and do something on your own - you are awesome at it, by the way.  I will say, though, that I missed you as soon as I put you on the bus and it was probably one of the longest days of my life until you stepped off the bus at 3:29.

Now, we are both old pros!  I still love the fact that you want me to get out of the car and actually walk you to the corner when we drive...it reminds me that you still need me.  I also love the days when PapPap comes and sits with the other kids and I walk down to get you at the bus stop because you hold my hand the whole way home. We don't really get too much time just the 2 of us anymore and I love that 5 minute walk!

You are also getting to be so smart!  You surprise me everyday by the things you know and how well you can read things.  I will tell you - I am probably going to have to be more on my toes because you are starting to know the words I spell to Nana on the phone and you can read things I leave up on my laptop.  I'm so proud of you.

You are still a very sensitive little boy.  I worry sometimes that people will hurt your feelings and I really do want to protect you from that but I also know that you are a strong and sensitive little boy and you will have no problem taking care of yourself.  I love that you decided that you wanted to keep up with ice skating and hockey . . . I know you will get better at it with practice and baseball season is coming up again, too!!!

Thank you so much for being such a wonderful son!  You really are amazing and I've learned so much being your mom.  You taught me how to be a mom!  You are a great role model for your brothers and sister and we all love you so much!

Now, you HAVE to stop leaving your shoes and socks in the middle of the floor and put your clothes in the hamper at night and you will be perfect!  hehehe

I love you,
Mama

Tee Ball is hysterical!  I usually don’t get to watch the games because I am busy chasing the twins or Danika around to make sure they don’t:

1) Run onto the field
2) Hit someone with a rock
3) Steal someone’s cell phone or
4) Try to drink someone’s water…

At least those are the things I was trying to prevent them from doing at Thursday’s game.

In Tee Ball, no one wins.  Everyone bats 3 times and everyone runs all the bases.  When the last batter is up they all run home and feel like winners.  Nate really does feel like a winner.  He tells me after every game that his team won (even though no one keeps score) and that he hit 3 homeruns because he ran home 3 times.  He is very proud that he is playing and even more proud that he is playing for a team sponsored by the Police. 

I’ve noticed a change in him in the last week.  I’m not sure where it came from and I don’t always notice it but he seems more mature to me these days.  Like I said, though, not always…we still have to tell him not to hit his sister or tease the babies and he still whines a great deal.  There are other things, though, that make me think my baby is growing up a little bit.  He got dressed all by himself this morning.  He slept in his bed all night the last 2 nights.  He’s even been following directions after I ask him 3 times instead of 5.  It’s an improvement to say the least!


It could be because they’ve been able to go outside and run off some of that pent up energy.  It could be because we’ve been talking to him a lot about being more grown up and responsible because he will start Kindergarten in the fall.  Maybe it is just his time to mature a little.  Whatever the case, I’m thrilled that we are getting a little bit of a break with his behavior lightening up a bit.  For a little while, I thought he was going to give us a really tough time.  His teacher must have been right, though, he was going through a stage…I’ve already noticed the change and I’m liking this new Nate.  I guess this is where I can say he goes from Preschooler to School Aged kiddo.  He’s ready…am I?