This child...

Today...

Today my baby turns five years old.

This child:

• Sleeps with a stuffed bunny from his first Easter and a Lego man flashlight named Big Abner.
• Requested that for his birthday we have frozen pizza for lunch and they be individually wrapped so that each person could open something on his birthday.
• Pronounces, "all right" as "all white."  We haven't tried to correct him because it's ridiculously cute.
• Tells me my hair is beautiful when he wants something.
• Isn't afraid of much, except dogs.
• Still bangs his head at night, though not too much.  From the time he was big enough to get up on his hands and knees he's rocked himself back and forth, knocking his head into the crib bars.  His doctor said it's not that uncommon and he'll likely outgrow it.
• Is extremely impatient for his breakfast.  If it takes longer than pouring cereal into a bowl, he's not interested.  Except on Sunday - every Sunday Bryant and The Boy work together to make pancakes for all of us and Pookie loves them!
• LOVES dough.  Every time I make a bread product, he asks for a piece of dough to play with.  He uses the rolling pin and cookie cutters and butter knives to create his own version of cookies or breads.  We "rise" them in a bowl and "bake" them in boxes.  Then he pretends to eat them and throws them away. 
• Is quite specific about what names he'll accept being called.  If asked, he'll tell you that you can call him Pookie, Peanut or his full name.  And by full name he means first, middle and last. 
• Likes to play outside, but fears the wind.
• Is always collecting something.  Whenever we leave the house, he'll tell us what he's collecting and whenever we see one, we tell him and he keeps track of the count.  Sometimes it's simple, like snowmobiles or deer, other times it's something so common it's barely noticed.  On the nearly three hour drive home yesterday, it was black cars.  I don't have a final count, though, because he fell asleep halfway.
• Is a snuggler and every morning he tells me he's empty of Mama-love.  We have a big hug and it fills him up.  Anytime he's feeling a little lonely or down, he tells me he's empty.  It's unbelievably sweet.

Happy birthday sweet, wonderful, intelligent, amazing Pookie!