B is 6

Fufamaloo,

You are six today! I can hardly wait for you to wake up because I know you are excited for this special day. Your energy continues to make our family laugh on a daily basis because you are the funniest little guy. You say the funniest things and have the most bizarre interests. We love you to the moon and back.

Here are some of my observations of you...

1. You are zainy. I don't really know what other word to use that properly describes your personality. You make others laugh when you are not trying to, but you just say the cutest things...
• Whenever you are telling a story to me, daddy, a teacher or any adult, you will always say, "... because do you know why?" It is your coined phrase. You'll say, "Mom, I had fun at school today because do you know why?"
• One day, we were all in the car together and you rolled down your window. When we asked you why you did that, you said "There is a fart in the car."
• Recently, a volcano erupted in Hawaii and it was all over the news. Now, whenever you draw pictures, you'll draw one of a "volcano interupting."
• You still like for me to come to the bathroom with you when you go #2. You'll sit on the pot and talk and talk and talk to me. The other day I asked why I had to continue escorting you to the bathroom and you said, "I just love to go potty with you."
• You still need constant affirmation. "Mommy, don't you just love when I..."
• The other night, you were telling me about how you go into deep sleep. You said, "Mom, when I am in deep sleep, it's like I don't exist. It's like before I was born. I don't remember anything when I am in deep sleep."
• You have nicknamed Annie so many things. You call her Fluff Dog, Banan Dog (which morphed from Annie Bananie) and recently, you call her Fernan Dog. It makes us laugh.
2. You love to play Minecraft. I watch you play and am impressed by how quickly you can navigate the game with all of the different key strokes on the controller.
3. You are scared of roller coasters. And water slides. Really, you are scared of anything enclosed. I think you are claustrophobic.
4. You have the craziest hair. It goes with your personality. Your hair is light brown and coarse, and it never lays flat. Usually, you'll shower before bed at night, so by the next morning, your hair is going in many directions. Even if you shower in the morning, your hair dries a bit crazy. Everyone loves your little boy hair.
5. You love to draw. Just last night, you drew three pictures (one of a rainbow, one of flowers, and one of polka dots) and immediately insisted that we send them to Mimi, Baba, and Uncle Ryan. You love to put your notes into envelopes and add the stamp/return address. Then you ran to the mailbox in the pitch dark and pouring rain to get the pictures in the mail.
6. Your excitement for being a kindergartner and learning is pretty darn cute. The other day, you jumped off the bus and said, "Mom! Guess what? We got to use computers at school today and I got my very own password!" Our neighbor Ruthie was standing there and I watched her put her hands over her heart because you are just so innocent and precious.You are also eager to show me any Lion cards (a school reward handed out for good behavior) or any special work from school right at the bus stop. You'll throw your backpack and jacket on the street and start pulling out folders right there. 
7. Your best friend is still Owen Park. You are making new friends at school, though. Some new favorites include our neighbor Andy Feldpausch (also in your class), Tyler Stone, Matthew Marshall, Daniel Phung, Jackson Blechman, and Drew McNamara.
8. Your favorite food is sushi (although you really could care less about sushi, you just like grabbing food off the conveyor belt at "conveyor belt sushi." Your second favorite food is corn dogs.
9. Your favorite restaurants are Tokyo, Tapatio, Chipotle and Subway.
10. Your favorite color is "all the colors."
11. When you grow up, you want to be a professional soccer player or an engineer.
12. Your favorite TV show is Netflix. Lately, you've been watching a lot of Lego shows.
13. You loved playing soccer this fall and are excited to try basketball this winter.
14. Your body is still long and lean. We have your 6-year well check in a couple of weeks, so I am curious to see where you land on the growth chart. I've noticed that you are one of the tallest in your kindergarten class. You are also taller than some first graders.
15. Relative to Taylor and Matty, you are more immature as a six-year old than they were. I suppose that could be because you are the youngest. I still have to micro-manage you to get you dressed (or get you to do anything, for that matter). You whine a lot too. :( I am hoping that you grow out of this soon, but I do love that you need me more than the others did at this age.
16. For some reason, you get embarrassed whenever you are given attention in a public setting. If you are on stage or a soccer field, passing me in a hallway at school, being sung to at your birthday party, you stifle your smile. It results in the cutest little facial expression.

    

    The Stifled Smile

17. You enjoy going to church with us and you LOVE reading your Bible stories. It's darling. Melts my heart to see you digging into the Bible and asking thoughtful questions (most of which I cannot answer). 
18. Speaking of questions, you must think I am the biggest dummy. You ask me the toughest questions daily. I am constantly telling you that I do not know the answer and we should do some research.
• How do sewer systems work?
• Where does pollution go? How does it break down the ozone?
• How do cell phones work? Where does wifi go?
• How do lightning rods on houses save the house from being hit by lightning?
• What causes earthquakes? You are very concerned about natural disasters.
• What is the solar system? How big is the sun? How does a rocket get to the moon?

I had a really hard time watching you start kindergarten and now I am having a hard time accepting that my baby is six-years old. Thank you for blessing our family with your joyful laughs, your intricate brain, your zainy personality, and your affirming love. We adore you!

Love, 

Mommy

Opening presents on your birthday.

You're Six!

Birthday dinner

Post birthday dinner meltdown when I refused to buy you something at Michael's.

Update: Brayden had his 6-year well check on 12/11/18. Here are his stats:
Weight: 43.5 pounds
Height: 47 inches
Our long and lean boy is in the 35th percentile for weight, 77th (!) percentile for height, and his BMI puts him in the 7th percentile.