Oh, Sam Buns, where have these years gone?! I really can't believe that you are five years old. In some ways you have changed so much this year, and in other ways you are still very much the same Sam that we welcomed into our family five years ago. It's been a little sad on my mommy heart to see you caught between wanting to grow up and be big like Travis, yet still wanting to hold on to your babyhood for as long as you can. I've learned to feel you out in the mornings to see who you'll be for that day (or that hour!), a big man or my little guy.
Some ways that you are still our little Sam Buns...
You still love all of your "guys". When you were just a little toddler you would stuff your shirt with as many guys as it would hold and carry them around for the day. As night came, you'd line them all up on your bed right next to your pillow and they would sleep with you. Now, at five, you still look forward to snuggling up with Happy, Rufus, Growler, Wrinkles, Puppy, Pluto, Crazy Guy, Boom Boom or Buster, usually all of them at the same time! We find ourselves laughing almost every night when we come in to check on you at the way you have everyone situated.
And speaking of night time, you still love to snuggle as you always have and we often find a little guest (with friends) in our bed when we come upstairs for the night. Sometimes Daddy will carry you back to your bed and tuck you in (only to have you come back again by morning!), sometimes we'll scoot you to the middle and let you snuggle the night away. And whether you've made it all night in your bed or not, we can't start any day without at least a few minutes of quiet snuggle time before the day gets started.
You are still fiercely protective of me, which I love. Daddy has no chance of sneaking in any unwanted tickles because as soon as I scream out you come running! Your favorite weapon is your head - you back up, tuck your head and ram Daddy with all your might! If nothing else it makes him laugh hard enough so that he's forced to let me go and you have won the battle for me! It cracks us up when you want to end every battle by having a "Samwich", where daddy and I hug each other with you in the middle. Those are our favorite ones!
You still love to suck your thumb, which we've been working on for the past several weeks. We've been talking about the fact that five year olds save thumb sucking for resting times and you're not sure you're completely on board with that plan. In fact, the day before your birthday you told me that you wanted to pretend that you were three and would be four the next day instead of five. Growing up is tough, huh buddy?
Some ways we've seen you grow up this year...
You've become SUCH a better and more willing worker! We've learned a lot about doing good work and being diligent and talked a lot about how hard daddy works for our family and you have really begun to take it to heart. You have regular chores that you are very faithful about and you have even taken to surprising me by doing some of my chores for me (like making my bed!) before I get to them. You are always SO excited for me to find that you've done that for me. I love it. You really like to do manly work and got your own tool box for helping dad this year.
You also love to explore and have adventures with your best pal, Travis. The day usually begins with the two of you deciding how you'll dress up. Will it be Indians? Marines? Cowboys? Pirates? Those are you're favorites and the two of you play for hours in the afternoon outside. You both earn your showers, that's for sure! And that's another thing that is so different from last year - bath time! no more do I need to run a bath and get you all clean. You and Trav can handle all of that on your own just fine. It's certainly handy, but makes me a little nostalgic all the same!
You are also reading!!! What a huge accomplishment that has been for you this year! I hadn't even really planned on starting that quite yet but you basically told me that you were ready to learn and you wanted to start right away. What mommy can resist that?! And you were right. The light bulb went off and you were reading! Just like that. You love school time and I sit in amazement most every day at how quickly and easily you are able to pick things up. You are such fun to teach - I can't imagine someone else getting the pleasure besides daddy and me!
You and I have this night time ritual where we sing about how special you are. Part of the song talks about how your smile brightens up my day and we "argue" about whose smile brightens the day the most. We also say how much we love each other ("I love you more than every snowflake that ever fell in the whole world") and you are determined that you are able to love me more. I try to tell you it's a game you'll never, ever win, no matter how hard you try, but I'm glad you won't listen. : )
But most precious to us is your tender heart that has really begun to develop this year. You've always been our more sensitive soul, quick to be sorry for your sin and easily corrected, but over the past few months you've begun to show a deeper understanding of who you are as God made you and who God is as your Savior. That is so precious to us. When daddy will ask a tough question after reading at night, you often know the answer and say it in a way that tells us that you actually understand what you're saying. And more importantly, that you actually believe what you're saying is true. You also love to pray and often remind me to pray for things as they come up. We had our first snowfall last week and as it was snowing you were having trouble falling asleep due to the anticipation of the next day's fun. You came downstairs and sweetly whispered in my ear that you needed me to pray for you to fall asleep. So sweet. Your heart is changing and it's amazing to watch. Nothing brings us more joy, little man!
Sam, we all love you so very much and simply can't imagine our lives without you. We are incredibly thankful that God chose to put you in our family! We're thankful that He's allowing us to teach you and love you and watch you grow for as many days as He's planned for you. We can't wait to see the man you will become! Happy fifth birthday, Sam. We love you.
Some ways that you are still our little Sam Buns...
You still love all of your "guys". When you were just a little toddler you would stuff your shirt with as many guys as it would hold and carry them around for the day. As night came, you'd line them all up on your bed right next to your pillow and they would sleep with you. Now, at five, you still look forward to snuggling up with Happy, Rufus, Growler, Wrinkles, Puppy, Pluto, Crazy Guy, Boom Boom or Buster, usually all of them at the same time! We find ourselves laughing almost every night when we come in to check on you at the way you have everyone situated.
And speaking of night time, you still love to snuggle as you always have and we often find a little guest (with friends) in our bed when we come upstairs for the night. Sometimes Daddy will carry you back to your bed and tuck you in (only to have you come back again by morning!), sometimes we'll scoot you to the middle and let you snuggle the night away. And whether you've made it all night in your bed or not, we can't start any day without at least a few minutes of quiet snuggle time before the day gets started.
You are still fiercely protective of me, which I love. Daddy has no chance of sneaking in any unwanted tickles because as soon as I scream out you come running! Your favorite weapon is your head - you back up, tuck your head and ram Daddy with all your might! If nothing else it makes him laugh hard enough so that he's forced to let me go and you have won the battle for me! It cracks us up when you want to end every battle by having a "Samwich", where daddy and I hug each other with you in the middle. Those are our favorite ones!
You still love to suck your thumb, which we've been working on for the past several weeks. We've been talking about the fact that five year olds save thumb sucking for resting times and you're not sure you're completely on board with that plan. In fact, the day before your birthday you told me that you wanted to pretend that you were three and would be four the next day instead of five. Growing up is tough, huh buddy?
Some ways we've seen you grow up this year...
You've become SUCH a better and more willing worker! We've learned a lot about doing good work and being diligent and talked a lot about how hard daddy works for our family and you have really begun to take it to heart. You have regular chores that you are very faithful about and you have even taken to surprising me by doing some of my chores for me (like making my bed!) before I get to them. You are always SO excited for me to find that you've done that for me. I love it. You really like to do manly work and got your own tool box for helping dad this year.
You also love to explore and have adventures with your best pal, Travis. The day usually begins with the two of you deciding how you'll dress up. Will it be Indians? Marines? Cowboys? Pirates? Those are you're favorites and the two of you play for hours in the afternoon outside. You both earn your showers, that's for sure! And that's another thing that is so different from last year - bath time! no more do I need to run a bath and get you all clean. You and Trav can handle all of that on your own just fine. It's certainly handy, but makes me a little nostalgic all the same!
You are also reading!!! What a huge accomplishment that has been for you this year! I hadn't even really planned on starting that quite yet but you basically told me that you were ready to learn and you wanted to start right away. What mommy can resist that?! And you were right. The light bulb went off and you were reading! Just like that. You love school time and I sit in amazement most every day at how quickly and easily you are able to pick things up. You are such fun to teach - I can't imagine someone else getting the pleasure besides daddy and me!
You and I have this night time ritual where we sing about how special you are. Part of the song talks about how your smile brightens up my day and we "argue" about whose smile brightens the day the most. We also say how much we love each other ("I love you more than every snowflake that ever fell in the whole world") and you are determined that you are able to love me more. I try to tell you it's a game you'll never, ever win, no matter how hard you try, but I'm glad you won't listen. : )
But most precious to us is your tender heart that has really begun to develop this year. You've always been our more sensitive soul, quick to be sorry for your sin and easily corrected, but over the past few months you've begun to show a deeper understanding of who you are as God made you and who God is as your Savior. That is so precious to us. When daddy will ask a tough question after reading at night, you often know the answer and say it in a way that tells us that you actually understand what you're saying. And more importantly, that you actually believe what you're saying is true. You also love to pray and often remind me to pray for things as they come up. We had our first snowfall last week and as it was snowing you were having trouble falling asleep due to the anticipation of the next day's fun. You came downstairs and sweetly whispered in my ear that you needed me to pray for you to fall asleep. So sweet. Your heart is changing and it's amazing to watch. Nothing brings us more joy, little man!
Sam, we all love you so very much and simply can't imagine our lives without you. We are incredibly thankful that God chose to put you in our family! We're thankful that He's allowing us to teach you and love you and watch you grow for as many days as He's planned for you. We can't wait to see the man you will become! Happy fifth birthday, Sam. We love you.