Six Years Old! - Chase is really 6!

My dear Chase,

I am honestly sitting here struggling to put into words how much emotion I feel when I say those words out loud. You are six years old. I walk through the halls of our house and look at the pictures of our lives hanging on them and see you as a newborn resting on my chest 

Melting my heart just a few days old

And then I get to one with you as a one year old

Adorable at 1

Only to walk a few more steps and see you at two years old

Sweet 2 year old

Followed by you at three years old where I pause because my baby looks like a little boy

My silly 3 year old

And then I see you at 4 and think you can't look any more grown up

Headed to preschool at 4 years old

Only to start wiping away the tears that form with the memories of you being a five year old

My 5 year old

And now I see this 

First day of Kindergarten - 4 days after turning 6

And it makes me remember that I have been lucky enough to have been a part of all of this. You have blessed me with memories and kisses. Boo-boos to make better and tears to wipe away. You have filled my heart with so much joy and love that I thought it would burst until the next moment where it gets replaced with something not that nice! But somehow through all these memories and stolen moments, you have turned into an amazing person. I like to think that I get some credit in that but honestly, it is you. From the way you love others – friends and family alike- to how you pour your heart and soul into your passions and pursuits. To the fact that you just don’t give up. You push and push until you have done everything you set your mind to. You amaze me every day!

I have to embarrass you just a moment here and tell about the FLIRT you have become. You have managed to snag 3 middle school – soon to be high school girls- at the pool and they hang on your every movement. You used your brothers as the bait and then reeled them in! You make me laugh on a daily basis and for that, I thank you. You remind me to not take life so seriously and to remember that sometimes the joy isn’t in actually doing something but by just being around to watch it happen.

I am constantly amazed at your kind spirit and generous nature and I love to see you share this spirit with others. I am grateful that you still want to snuggle with me on the couch or read me a story and that you don’t mind kisses at drop off. Just because you are excited and eager to keep growing up, I’m not so sure. While I love to see you gaining more independence and strength without me, it saddens me to think that there will come a time where you won’t depend on me for much. I know that is my job and I hope I am doing it well, but it still gives me pause.

I want you to know and remember this forever – You will always be mine. You will grow up and make friends and fall in love and create your own family but you will always be mine. In my heart, in my soul and you will always be one of the best pieces of myself that I have created and shared with the world.

I love you buddy and can’t wait to see what the next year has in store for us!

Love, Mommy

 

Celebrating Chase turning 6 years old