Nope. I refuse to believe that you are six! It's just not possible. No way, no how. The calendar, however, says differently (it lies!). sigh.
So you, little buddy, are a Big Kid. I've tried to deny it, but you keep rubbing it in our faces. This past year has seen some HUGE growth for you. Of course, there's the usual stuff-- you've officially outgrown all of your 5T pants, and are now rocking your 6 Slims. And I have a feeling you'll be in the size 7's before too long! How did you get so tall? Your t-shirts appear to be shrinking, too, and we've had a few good laughs over some former favorites that seemed to transform into revealing "belly shirts" overnight. As I type this, I am actually thinking to myself that I need to pick you up a few more pairs of jeans to make it through the winter. You have also been eating us out of house and home lately. This growing business is expensive!
In other news... You have your very first loose tooth! It's been loose for a few weeks now, and is officially a "dangler." Momentarily, you'll be getting your first visit from the Tooth Fairy. And it is a bittersweet reminder that you're getting bigger each and every day. Knock it off already!
One huge accomplishment this year was that you finally overcame your fear and learned to swim. You've had all the requisite skills for a while, but you were so convinced that you would sink if you took your floatie off-- it took a complete stranger (your swim teacher) to convince you to just let go and do it. And you haven't looked back! We're hoping that this newfound bravery translates to bike riding, as well, where (again) you are fully capable-- the only thing that holds you back is your fear! You tend to over-think things a bit, much like your mommy. I think we both need to adopt a more "zen approach" like Nate the Swim Instructor has! You can do it!
Oh and then there was this other little change this year... going to kindergarten. And, just as we expected, you are ROCKING it! We are so proud of the great behavior reports we get about you, and you've been amazing us with your reading and writing abilities. You love school so much that you set up the stuffed animals and play "animal school" with Maya when you get home. You've made friends quickly and easily, and look forward to learning new things every day. You soak up knowledge like a sponge. Just recently, you told me all about warm and cool colors, which you had learned about from your art teacher. You are constantly noticing new words in the world around you, and are amazed that you can read them. It's like you're solving a puzzle-- you're so proud of yourself, and we can't help but be amazed by how quickly you are learning! You continue to manipulate numbers with ease, counting by twos, fives, and tens up into the hundreds-- just for kicks! It's like YOU are a little puzzle, and all the pieces are starting to click into place. You're a confident kid, always comfortable in your own skin, and a kid who is kind to others and well-liked in return.
Really, you are awesome, Niko. We had no real idea what we were getting into when you were first born. You cried all the time! We didn't know what you'd become. But you are a pretty exceptional little guy. And, at the same time, you still love to snuggle and express your love for your family. And we love you, little booger, more than you will ever know! Happy Birthday to the best little six-year-old boy we could have ever hoped to know. You rock, kiddo!
All our love, always,
Mommy, Daddy, and Maya
