I've put off these birthday posts for too long, because I feel like I want them to be perfect. I want my boys to feel so loved and happy when they look back on these posts. But I have realized I just need to get them done. So here it goes: This one is for you, Garret.
Garret,
You are incredible! Seriously, the way your little mind works just blows me away. You are so curious about how the world works and what makes machines work. So many things I'm sure I didn't think about until much later in life, you have already started wondering. What is life like on Mars? Why is it called the Red Planet? What does every combination of color make? Are these animals poisonous? Are these creatures nocturnal? I feel silly saying "I don't know" all day, but it happens. Thank goodness for the internet, because I have been saved by searching the web for answers so many times. You aren't as interested in how people work. For the most part, mankind and their interactions with each other are just far less interesting to you. You are much more curious about the workings of lava and how long it would take you to dig underground before you find it. You love science, and I hope you always will.
Experimenting with food coloring with your buddy Josh. Turns out I am the worst at knowing what colors make what when you mix them. Luckily, we can experiment, and if we can't Dad always seems to know the answers... he's a pretty smart fella.
Speaking of Dad. You are a huge fan of him. Sometimes, I think that it should hurt my feelings, but then I think about it, and Dad is great. He is so kind, so patient and so, so loving. He loves being with you just as much as you love being with him. One day you told me "Mom, I don't want to make you sad." I asked you what you were talking about and you went on to explain, "I don't want to make you sad that I love Dad the most." Well buddy, I'm so so glad you love Dad. He is one of a kind and you will forever be blessed to have him in your life. So you keep loving Dad and spend all the time with him that you can.
Garret, you are so so creative. This is sometimes hard for me, because I really dislike crafts and the mess kind of drives me crazy. However, you are great at cleaning up after yourself and have showed me that crafts can be pretty useful. You made me a pen holder! You taped it next to my calendar so I could easily mark off the days. So helpful and thoughtful. You also came up with the family art wall. This big strip of brown paper came in a package and you came up with the idea to tape it on the wall and use it for drawing. Dad and I both love it and will keep it up until the day we move.
Pretty fancy accessories you made yourself!
You always seem to have paint, markers, mud, food coloring, and many other things all over your hands, clothes, body, etc. When I try to tell you to stop being messy and stay clean, you just tell me "But Mom, artist, get messy when they are creating." You definitely are always creating things. When Dad picked you up from preschool one day, you were showing him all the things you had created while at school. Your sweet preschool teacher came over and told Dad, "I'm going to be reading about that boy someday. He's going to be famous."
You are always climbing everywhere! We are seriously thinking about getting you into rock climbing because it seems like the climbing comes as naturally to you as breathing.
You had two birthday parties this year. The first was at the Sciencenter in Ithaca, before we left for Christmas break in Florida. It seemed like a perfect place to celebrate our curious science-loving kid. It was a great experience and a party that just fit your little personality so well.
Your second party was in Florida, with family on your birthday. You actually ended up with a fever that evening and feeling pretty crummy for about a week, so I was really glad we had celebrated you earlier in Ithaca with your friends.
Getting ready to watch The Good Dinosaur with G-ma, Reid, Dad and me on your birthday. Also, we found out that your cousin Emyline would be sharing your birthday with you. Pretty special.
Your cute ice cream snowman cake and getting help blowing out your candles from Reid.
Garret, you are our sweet, silly, clever, underwear-on-backwards, best five-year-old boy! Thank you for making our life so much fuller and brighter. You are one of my very best adventures.
First haircut at the barbershop
Love you so much, Gar-Bear!
