Profile of My Six Year-Old

Last year I started a tradition of "interviewing" my five year-old and writing down all of his milestones.  Now another year has come and gone and I find myself writing about my (gulp) six year- old.  Oh, watching my son grow up is bitter-sweet for me.  I'm so proud of my little guy--his sweetness, his enthusiasm, his joy, and his empathy.  He's my best buddy, and we have lots of special and even "deep" conversations when we're together.  Still, I miss the baby days of grabbing his hands to help keep his balance and having him cuddle with me until he falls asleep in my lap...  I try to savor the moments, but they still seem to go by much too fast!

Drying off at Veteran's Memorial Park.


Characteristics:
Lewie, you are a people person to the max.  You enjoy talking, and you want company wherever you go.  If you're watching a cartoon or even one of your train "YouTube" videos, you ask Mommy, Daddy, Grammy, or all of us to join you.  If you're playing with your Legos, you'll often exclaim that you're "missing" a piece--your secret ploy to get someone to sit by your side and be with you.

You are thoughtful and kind.  This year we started taking you shopping to pick out presents for your friends and family, and it turns out that you're really good at choosing the perfect gift.  You told Daddy to buy me the most beautiful bouquet of flowers for Mother's Day (how did you know?), and when we shopped together for Father's Day, you saw the fireworks display at the supermarket, and said, "Mommy, I want to get him this!"  (You know Daddy way too well!)

You are passionate.  Your love for trains only seems to grow stronger each year, and we're now realizing that your hobby is not a fad.  While you're slowly starting to grow out of Chuggington and even Thomas (though you still like movies like "The Blue Mountain Mystery"), you have not stopped playing with trains.  Now your interests have switched to Lego trains and Lionel trains (which are harder on our wallets) as you see them on YouTube and exclaim that you'd love to get TRAIN X for (insert holiday).  Your love of trains have even prompted us to make special trips near railroad stations--two of which are happening this fall--the Stasburg Railroad in Pennsylvania and the Green Mountain Railroad in Vermont.  It seems that your excitement has now gotten the entire family involved :)

You are inquisitive.  When Uncle Terry passed away, you had so many questions to ask about God, Jesus, and heaven.  Your innocent questions forced me to ponder deeper answers to "the meaning of life" and "why are we here?"  The birth of your youngest cousin Lily also prompted questions like "where do babies come from?" and "why can't daddies have boy babies and mommies have girl babies?"  You've admitted you would like to have a baby yourself, but I reminded you that 1) you're too young, and 2) boys don't have babies.

I suppose I can go on and on...but now, it's time for your list of favorites:



Eating strawberries at March Farm.

Favorite Book:
The Little Engine that Could

Favorite Cartoons:
Thomas the Train--sometimes
Sponge Bob
Paw Patrol
Peppa Pig

Favorite Colors:
Pink and orange

Favorite Dessert:
Chocolate ice cream with hot fudge, whipped cream, and Oreo cookie crumbles on top

Favorite Food:
"Well, it's dairy, but my favorite food is macaroni and cheese."

Favorite Friend:
"I like everybody, Mommy"

Favorite Game:
Tag

Favorite Movie:
The Lego Movie
The Polar Express
Frozen

Favorite Number:
100

Favorite Pastime:
Legos
The Lionel Polar Express Train
Trampoline
Swings

Favorite Place:
The Shoreline Trolley Museum
The Danbury Railway Museum
The Naugatuck Valley Railroad
Home
Mommy's and Daddy's workplace
Any parks (where there's kids to play with)
Any hotel (especially ones with elevators)
Any pool or beach

Favorite Sayings:
"Daddy, are you going to lawn the mow?"  (We're to blame for this one.  We never corrected you.)
"Mommy, you're never gonna a believe this."
"Mommy, you made my day by saying that."
"Stop interrupting my good time."
"Easy, peasy, lemon squeezy."
"On aboard." (Instead of "All aboard.")
"Mommy, can I watch train movies?"  (YouTube train movies...)
"Let me show you the details on this train.  Also, you can hear the crew talk sounds..."  (This is you creating your own train YouTube video just like you watch from Eric Siegel from http://ericstrains.com/.)

Favorite Songs:
"Best Day of My Life" - American Authors
"Happy" - Pharrell Williams
"Let it Go" - Idina Menzel - Frozen

Milestones (from Age 5):
First time "jumping" off the swings
First time parasailing
First time swimming underwater with a mask
First time getting dressed by yourself
First time putting a 100 piece puzzle together
First time making a  Lego car, camper, train, boat, etc. by following directions (all by yourself)
First time writing your full name
First time playing soccer (although you've decided this is not your thing!)

 

Lewie, every year it's a joy to watch you grow.  For the first time this year, you've already surpassed Mommy.  When we bought you your Lego train set for your birthday, in no time at all, you had the train wired and moving around on its train tracks.  I don't even think you looked at the instructions. (Not having a mechanical mind at all, I was amazed by your genius;  even daddy was impressed!)

I don't know where next year will take us little guy, but your first day of kindergarten is coming up next week.  As always, I look forward to many more new and exciting adventures with you.  Just do me one favor--don't grow up too fast!

Forever yours,

Mommy

Profile of My Five Year-Old

As the years go by, I start realizing how quickly I forget about things...Lewie's first word, his first step, the first time he helped me make cupcakes...

Before I forget about this year, my goal is to list all the highlights and the quirky, wonderful things that make Lewie, well...Lewie.



My favorite little guy in the whole wide world.

Characteristics:
Lewie, you LOVE people.  You are talkative and social.  You love to be silly and make jokes (especially potty jokes), and you are the sound effect king.   You are sweet; you give Mommy and Daddy dozens of butterfly kisses and hugs, and you even hug and kiss your favorite teachers.  There's no surprise that this year, like last year, one of your teacher's came to me and whispered, "Lewie's my favorite."  It seems like you have the ability to make friends and admirers wherever you go.

You are smart; your math skills have scored off the charts, and there's no question that you're interested in all things technology.  From computers to cell phones, from cars to trains, from elevators to escalators, from vacuums to flashlights, you are interested in how things work, and if given the chance, you would open up every panel to see the batteries and wires inside.  As you expressed to us one day, "I know about wires."

You LOVE life.  Every morning you wake up happy and excited to begin a new day, and while you're sometimes reluctant to go to school, we often have a hard time getting you to leave.  You love your playdates with friends and even special Mommy and Daddy days.  The only thing you don't like to do is sleep.  "Sleep if boring!" you've exclaimed on more than one occasion.  Oh, if you'd only know how sleep, one day, will become your best friend.

And now, without further ado, here is a list of your favorites this year...

My favorite picture

Favorite Book:
The Polar Express

Favorite Cartoons:
Thomas the Train
Chuggington
Sponge Bob
Peppa Pig
Scooby Doo
Team Umizoomi

Favorite Colors:
Pink and orange

Favorite Dessert:
Vanilla ice-cream in a cup with hot fudge and rainbow sprinkles

Favorite Food:
Yogurt

Favorite Friend:
"I like everybody, Mommy"

Favorite Game:
Hide and Go Seek
Plingo

First Item He Bought with His Own Money at a Tag Sale:
Two "man purses," and a sun hat for Grammy

Favorite Movie & Soundtrack:
The Polar Express

Favorite Number:
100

Favorite Pastime:
Playing with his train table
Swings
Trampoline
Pretending to text on and charge his "pretend" cell phone

Favorite Place:
Any parks (where there's kids to play with)
Any hotel (especially ones with elevators)
Any pool or beach
The Danbury Railway Museum
The Essex Steam Train
The Thomaston Train Museum
Home
Mommy's and Daddy's workplace

Favorite Sayings:
"Hi my name is Lewie.  Would you like to play with me?"
"Out of my way, Express coming through!" (when you're on your bike)
"Can I have a piece of chocolate, please."
"This is my brother Nick." (But...you don't have a brother.)
"I'm a goofy goober." (from Sponge Bob)
"I love you, Mommy.  I'm think I'm going to keep you forever."  (This is totally your own saying.)

Milestones (from age four):
First time pumping on the swings by yourself
First time riding a two wheel bike (w/ training wheels)
First time going to a movie theater
First time roller skating
First time seeing a hot air balloon
First time taking swim lessons
First time packing your own suitcase
First time playing Angry Birds
First time visiting the library on a weekly basis
First time putting on your shoes by yourself
First sleepover (next door w/ Aunty Kiki)

Oh how I wish I could "freeze" these days.  The cuteness has only continued through these last five years,  and everyday you make me more proud than the last.  Yes, Lewie, to use your very own words, "I think I'm going to keep you forever."

Mommy