My oh my, look who's FIVE!

Nathanael turned FIVE this week...November 10th to be exact.  It is hard to believe that our sweet baby boy with the dimpled chin is now a big boy who goes to preschool, knows his ABCs, and can count to 1000!  He continues to be a complete delight to our family with his sweet and silly temperament and that adorable freckled face :) We celebrated his special day by going to an afternoon Mass at Carroll College, followed by eating at a restaurant of the Birthday Boy's choosing...  He chose a Japanese Steakhouse so that he could see a fire show---typical boy.  Then we came home and gave him a few presents.  Simple and sweet.

Here is Nathanael the month he was born.  Simply adorable.  He was our first baby with that cute dimpled chin and I remember just wanting to kiss it all the time and gaze at his sweet face all day long.  I still love to cover him with kisses, and he still is super adorable, but now I can start to see in his face the young man he is to become.  In the picture below I see a 5 year old going on 15.   I see more maturity on his face and realize he's not a baby anymore.  Bittersweet.  But I am so grateful for each year God has given me with this sweet boy, and although I don't know how it's possible, I find myself loving each of my boys more and more each and every year of their lives.  I am one very blessed mother.

Dearest Nathanael,

my baby boy with the dimpled chin who is no longer a baby.

I still love to kiss that dimple and all those freckles, 

and I hope you will always let me.

I am so proud of the son that you are:

sweet, silly, and sensitive.

You are one of mommy's biggest helpers--

the way you play with Isaiah so that I can get things done.

I love the way your brilliant mind works 

and how you love to build and create with Legos and K'Nex for hours.

I love your smile, your laughter, and your joyful heart

that you contagiously give to everyone in our home and everyone you meet.

You are a blessing to our family, a firecracker of joy,

and I pray that you will set the world on fire with love for Jesus!