Dear Jack

Dear Jack,

Today you are 9 years old. I am so proud of the sweet boy that you are. You are truly a gift to this family. Your happiness and positive spirit fill our home with joy. You have so much energy and enthusiasm for life. You always want to try new things, explore new places and learn about the world around you. You are always thinking. I swear your brain is smoking sometimes. And, you want to share your thoughts and ideas with everyone. You are argumentative and will always make sure your voice and ideas are heard. But, most importantly, you are kind-hearted. You are sensitive, loving and always concerned about others. I love you so much and wouldn't change a thing about you. I'm grateful I get the honor of being your mom. You have taught me so much about living in the moment and experiencing life. Thank you for being my son and for making my life better.
Love,
Mom

Jack in Review

Jackson's Birthday

1 month old

2 months old

3 months old

4 months old

5 months old

6 months old

7 months old

8 months old

9 months old

10 months old

11 months old

1 year old

15 months old

18 months old

21 months old

2 years old

3 years old

4 years old

5 years old

What happened to my baby?!  How did 5 years fly so fast?

Jack Facts

Now that Jack is five years old, let me share a glimpse into his life today.

Jack Stats

Jack at his 5 year check up

• 47 inches tall!  (As always, off the charts!)
• 46.5 lbs.  (Can't remember exactly, but around 85%....long and lean.)
• 20/20 vision at his 5 year check up.  Whew!  What a relief that he took after his dad and not me.
• Size 13 shoe!  Can't find pants to fit the boy.  If they are long enough, they fall off him!

Jack Favs:

• Favorite TV shows:  Lego Ninjago, Tom & Jerry, Phineas & Ferb, Sponge Bob, and Octonauts (yes, I'm happy to say he has not grown up too much yet!)  He also loves anything on Animal Plant or the Discovery Channel.
• Favorite Movies:  Peter Pan, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, really he watches pretty much everything in our video library these days.
• Favorite Fast Food:  chicken quesadilla from Taco Bell
• Favorite Color:  black
• Favorite Sport:  baseball, swimming
• Favorite Book:  his picks rotate through all his books pretty regularly, but he does like Skippyjon Jones and the LEGO Ninjago books
• Favorite Toys:  loves Star Wars action figures, still loves cars, but especially LOVES conducting science experiments

About Jack:

• What he wants to be when he grows up? A scientist, although he will tell you he is already a scientist.
• The only vegetable he will eat is carrots and they have to be "bunny carrots." The big ones, not the little ones. He likes to gnaw on them like a rabbit.
• He prefers dark hair.  All of his girlfriends have had black hair.
• He likes Tinkerbell.  She is the only "girl" character he likes or will watch.
• Loves playing video games with dad. 
• Loves to wear anything camoflauge (picked this up from his cousin Bremen.)
• Happy kid.  Always in a good mood.
• Argumentative as all hell.  He likes to state his case and gets upset if he doesn't feel as if his point of view is heard.  (You can imagine how challenging his transition to Kindergarten has been.)
• He hates reading and writing, and art.  Another challenge in Kindergarten.  (We keep telling him he has to learn this before he gets to work on science.)
• He has an impressive vocabulary.  (I will take some credit for this, as I have always tried to use multiple ways to describe the world around him.)
• Loves his family.  When he snuggles with us, he gets the biggest grin.

Obviously, I could go on and on about Jack.  This is just a view into his life as a 5 year old.

4 to 5

For Jackson, this past year has been filled with changes.  Between his 4th and 5th birthday, Jack's mom (and best friend) went back to work.  Jack started preschool and then just under a year later, kindergarten.  That's a lot.  I also did not expect such huge developmental leaps between the 4th and 5th birthday.  Jack learned so much.  Not only writing and math skills, but his vocabulary and speaking ability soared in the course of a year.  He also gained so much confidence in his interactions with others.  He continually surprised me.  And, don't get me started on the growth spurts of the past year.  He is getting so tall!  He looks like a little boy, not a baby.  I am so proud of him. 

I want him to know that although my going back to work was absolutely the right thing for our family, that doesn't mean I wouldn't have preferred to be home with him until he went away to college.  I loved every second as a stay at home mom and miss it every day.  Spending days with this sweet spirit will always be a special memory for me.  I am a little sad that he doesn't remember a lot of it and that breaks my heart, but I do know that the time I spent with him influenced our relationship for the better.  It is the reason he and I are so unbelievably close.  It is the reason I am his favorite parent.  (Although Jack denies it, both Stuart and I know it is true.)  It is the reason he still tells his friends that his mom is his best friend.  I miss him every second that I am away from him,  I know that the most important job I will ever have will be raising this precious boy.

5 Year Old Photo Shoot

Here is my gorgeous 5 year old!  We were a little busy in August when Jackson turned 5, so we didn't take his 5 year old pics until yesterday.  Love that cute face.  As always, the outtakes are one of my favorite parts.  Jack did not disappoint this year.  He insisted on making up his own poses, and they were hysterical.  Here are a few:

Love this boy and his great personality. 

Dear Jack

My Dear Jack,

Today you are five years old.  I really cannot believe it.  This last year has been one full of big changes for you.  As I returned to work, you began preschool, and now kindergarten.  It has been so hard for me to be away from you; to trust others to care for you in my absence is harder than I ever imagined it would be.  Although I miss you so much while we are apart, I know these changes are important for you, so you can grow and become more independent.  You are developing such great relationships.  You have new friends, new teachers, and even have your first girlfriend.  You also are getting a chance to develop a deeper bond with your dad while I work.  I am so glad for all of these, but if I'm being honest, I'm also jealous.  I'm used to being your everything and now I share you.  It's very hard, but I am so proud of you.

You are such an outgoing little boy.  When you met your kindergarten teacher for the first time and bravely shook her hand and said, "I'm Jack Allen," I thought I might burst with pride.  When I drop you off at school, you barely have time for a good-bye because of your excitement for the day.  It's wonderful to see, even if it's hard for me to experience. 

I love our conversations.  I love your enthusiasm.  I love how sweet you are.  I love that you still kiss me multiple times a day.  And, I love that you still need me. 

I worry everyday that I don't do enough for you.  You deserve the best and I fail often as a mom, but know that I will keep trying for you.  I will strive to give you more attention, more patience, and more understanding.  You are the person who drives me to be better.  I am forever grateful to you for that.

I love you more and more each day.

Love,
Your Mom

Making a Boy

Jack was carefully placing his clothes on the floor one day, and I asked him what he was doing.  He replied that he was making a boy.  Now, I often find his clothes like this around the house.  Crazy little kid.