My baby turned 5. At the beginning of March, just like that, my tiny little person was a whole year older.

And as I’m sitting here trying to find the words to share my feelings about that, I keep typing . . . and erasing. Typing and erasing. It all feels forced. I really don’t know what to say that would express such a big – although in the great grand scheme of the universe, incomprehensibly small, but in the landscape of my own tiny life, just heartbreaking large – moment that this is.

I can’t believe how fast five years has gone. So fast.

Five years ago. Birth Day.


And the day he turned one. He was so proud to be toddling!


Second birthday. His first “chocolate” (it was carob).


Three!


And I had to share this picture, which was taken right around his third birthday. It’s one of my very favorite picture of him that’s ever been taken, because I feel like it basically confirms my suspicion that he is, in fact, Jim Morrison reincarnated. (The Lizard Prince?)


His fourth birthday, and that wild Lost Boy hair (this was his Peter Pan phase).


FIVE!

My 5-year-old boy is so smart, so friggin’ smart. He loves Star Wars and fairies and wrestling and science. He scales rock walls like a pro climber. He is learning how to share, and he loves to be the big boy and look after his friends. He has spirit and fire and independence, but also incredible tenderness, and genuine want for things to be good and right. He loves animals, and although we’ve had our share of sniffle bugs and even the occasional fever, he’s managed to dodge the majority of the major illnesses that strike so many youngsters these days. He’s never had the flu. Never had an ear infection. Never had to take oral antibiotics.

And can I say that he’s this healthy, smart, and strong, because he’s vegan? Well gosh, of course not. There’s no way to know. But I can say this – it sure ain’t hurtin’!

~~~
On his Birthday Eve, we enjoyed a little family celebration. My dad, and Damian, and Waits, and me, and Jeremy. We opened presents (this was the year of Lego Star Wars, let it be known), then walked together over to his very favorite restaurant, for a Thai food birthday feast. He got his pad see ew and he was a very happy boy. After dinner we returned home for candles, singing, and homemade chocolate-covered strawberries (I used my “magic shell” recipe from Rawesomely Vegan). The whole celebration was very simple. Simple and special and absolutely perfect.





On the morning of his fifth birthday, we measured his height on the “Waits wall”, just like we always do. He’s already grown an inch since December.

This kid.

I’ll tell you though, I am so full of excitement for the next five years. The next five years are going to ROCK. I mean how could they not, with my own little Lizard Prince?

♥ ♥ ♥

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