Five

October 22, 2003. 5:33 a.m. That's the exact moment I became a mommy. I was blessed with a 7 pound, 2 ounce bouncing baby boy. Life has never been the same since...and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Cole was a good baby, despite a few weeks of colic. He had adorable blonde, spikey hair and big blue eyes. He was pretty easy-going and not too demanding. He loved his bouncy seat and his blue blankey....still does. He loved watching Baby Beethoven and eating sweet potatoes.


Cole's first birthday involved 3 different clothing changes. He started the day in a tux looking like a gentleman farmer. He changed into his new John Deere overalls complete with tool belt. Finally, he changed into his birthday suit for the eating of the cake. He has loved tractors since...forever. He crawled for the first time to get to Daddy's special tractor. His first words were dada and tractor. He was even obsessed with toilet paper "bales" at one. Still is...

Cole never went through the terrible twos. He was happy to have tractors and the occasional John Deere movie. His second birthday pictures looked like something out of a Ralph Lauren catalog. So handsome in his sports coat and jeans.
By age 3, Cole's tractor obsession was growing stronger. He had a one year old baby sister who he loved and adored. He has always been so caring and loving toward Claire...until she got old enough to cause trouble. Cole started speech a few months before turning 3 and has been involved in speech in some way since. In May he was put on consultation only for making such great progress in the 2 1/2 years he has been in a speech program.

By age 4, Cole became a little more interested in his birthday party attire. Suits and ties were out of the question. T-shirts and jeans are much more his style now. By 4, he knew more about tractors and equipment than many adults...certainly more than his momma. My sweet boy is now 5. Five years old. It truly seems like yesterday I was holding him against my chest, rocking him to sleep. I can remember every detail of my hospital visit, every moment of his birth. Now he is in preschool. He is doing awesome with learning how to write his letters and spell simple words. He brings home a new project or art piece every day and is so proud to show us what he's done in school. Of course, he is still tractor obsessed. He is getting old enough to go more with daddy to do "real" farming. He comes home with such a smug little hard-working attitude. He is my sensitive one...my crier. He likes to follow the rules and does what he's told. He's cautious and afraid of everything. He is a wonderful, sound sleeper. He loves to play in the dirt. He fights with Claire much more than I ever imagined two kids could fight. She always starts it. Every fight goes like this: Cole has a toy. Claire takes the toy. Cole cries. Claire laughs.

Happy Birthday, my sweet little boy. I love you.