Last night, as I was settling in to bed, the little guy came into our room and said, “Mommy, it’s my birthday. Can I please come snuggle with you? I promise I will fall asleep.”

It was 10 o’clock and I was recalling five years ago when we were told, around that time, that I would need an emergency c-section.  It wasn’t what I had expected, but I really had NO idea what to expect as I had never given birth before.

All we wanted was a healthy baby.

I hugged Reece tight last night as I ran through that night in my head and told him the story he has heard many times before.

“…sitting on the operating table shaking from the medicine they gave me to slow down my contractions to keep you safe. You see, every time I had a contraction your heart rate dropped. They told me to sit still so they could give me another medicine so it didn’t hurt when they made the cut in my belly to get you out…

I held Poppa’s hand and minutes later the doctor announced, ‘You have a healthy baby boy!’

I turned to Poppa, tears streaming, and said, ‘You got your boy.'”

I got my boy….and he is all I could ask for in a little boy

Challenging, frustrating, and defiant at times.

Thoughtful and loving, most.

Strong and funny.

Smart and precocious.

Cautiously observing, sometimes.

Fearless, most.

ALL. BOY.

Yesterday, on his fifth birthday, he learned to ride a bike without training wheels.

Today, he went on a zipline at playgroup…

and, tried riding his bike “off-road”.

He skis.

He climbs rock walls…

among other things…

He loves to go fishing.

He is starting to play team sports.

He loves superheros…especially Batman, Angry Birds, and Mario.

He knows more about the iPhone, iPad, and the Wii than I do…well, not really, but he’s better at all the games.

He still has trouble falling asleep…just like when he was a baby.

He likes to come snuggle in our bed…never liked to snuggle as a baby.

He likes to play with his friends from playgroup, preschool and the neighborhood.

And, is always willing to make new friends at the playground.

He likes to wrestle with his Poppa, shoot nerf guns, train dogs, and hit a baseball.

He’s learning to swim and loves to play at the pool…including going down the water slide and jumping off the diving board by himself.

And, most of all, he adores his family.

He is kind to his sister, is willing to give hugs and kisses, and tells us he loves us all the time.

Reece is all I could ask for in a little boy.

home is…celebrating five years of all boy.