Five years old

Dear Reece,

A week ago, you turned five. And I can tell that this year is going to be the best yet with you, especially since life with you has improved every year since you entered the world screaming at the nurses for daring to take you from Mama's warmth and security and give you a bath. Really, you've been a pistol ever since but have settled down by now to a steady level of pistol-ness that allows you to be yourself without making the people around you ready to give you away to the nearest unsuspecting stranger. You hardly ever have any sort of melt down, but you let your brother or anyone else know when you are (justifiably) annoyed or offended. You still make the "stinker face", but it now indicates that you're being silly rather than obstinate. Mostly, you're sweet, cuddly, clever, and full of energy, and we all love to be around you.

You have a tendency to travel via hops and skips rather than just walking, so Grandma Phillips dubbed you "Mr. Hippity-Hop Skippedy-Doo". Your favorite thing lately is to see just how far you can jump, either off of something to the floor or into someone's arms. This routinely gives your dad heart palpitations, since your landings make such a loud and shocking sound. I've been amazed at how far you truly can jump, and I'm thrilled that you are not afraid to keep trying.

You also love your brother so much that it just overwhelms you sometimes. Just this morning, you decided you really wanted to catch up to him at the bus stop before he got on so that you could give him one more hug, and your despair at not making it nearly broke my heart. You want to do everything that Greyson does and sometimes have trouble understanding that there are things you need to wait to do until you are closer to the age Greyson is now. Although you don't realize this, there are many things we let you do that we never would have let Greyson do at five. I guess that's the trade-off for not having us to yourself ever.

You know how to read but would prefer to have someone read to you. But you do enjoy showing when you can read something - mostly signs when we are out running errands. You do a great job using the information around you to figure out what words are when you can't exactly sound them out. You are starting to figure out time - telling time and understanding it. You like big numbers, so whenever I mention a length of time in minutes, you ask me how many seconds that is. This has forced me to do some very quick multiplication in my head, and occasionally I have to ask Greyson to check my work.

You are also very logical. When I asked you, the day before your birthday, if you could please just stay four forever, you very matter-of-factly replied, "You know I can't do that, Mom. I just have to keep growing and growing." Because you are our second, and unless something bizarre happens, our last, I'm really trying to hold onto this time with you. Everything about you is still so little and cute but you can handle so much on your own. I even find myself asking if you will run an errand with me so I can have your company. Now if we could only get you to keep your clothes on when you go to the bathroom...

Love,
Mom