Letter to Noah

Dear Noah,

This is a picture of you, taken exactly 5 years ago, when you were 1 month old.

Last month we celebrated your 5th birthday. I can't believe it's been 5 whole years since the day I took this picture. I remember it like it was yesterday, laying your blanket over your rocking chair and getting you all propped up next to your monkey. I can remember exactly the way it felt to hold you in my arms as an infant (it's probably so engrained in my memory because I held you almost contantly - you were a pretty high-maintenance baby!). Tonight you went to sleep hugging that same monkey, although now of course you are much bigger than him. Over the last 5 years, he has become a bit tattered but you still love him like you have ever since the day you were born.

You have grown so much in the last five years. You even started elementary school a couple of weeks ago. Here you are on your first day:

You were apprehensive about it at first - you kept telling me that you didn't want to turn 5 because you didn't want to go to kindergarten. But you loved it the very first day, much to my extreme relief. It's so fun to talk to you about your day at school and to hear about the things you are learning. Tonight we sat at the dining room table and did your homework together. I can't believe you are old enough to do homework (get used to it, kid).

You are such a funny little guy. You like to tell jokes that you make up yourself. Generally speaking, they make no sense at all but they always make me laugh! For awhile they all ended with the punchline "because it wanted to POP itself!" but you're starting to diversify now.

Noah, I love you so much. I love your cute sense of humor and your tender heart and your funny grumpy faces and the way you dramatize stories and do all the different voices. I have loved being your mom for these last 5 years and I can't wait to see what the next 5 bring with you.

Love,

Mama