It's almost Jesus' birthday. That means it's almost Alex's birthday. He's going to be SIX! 6! Six! How many different ways can I write this so it doesn't look so ... I don't know ... so it doesn't look like we're entering a whole new phase of childhood? The phase where you lose teeth, get a little gawky, question the existence of Santa Claus, graduate to "adult" shoe sizes, want to read instead of being read to ...
Lucky for mom, none of these things has started to happen yet, or at least not all at once. While Alex's baby teeth appear to be holding steady, his x-rays at a recent dentist appointment show his permanent teeth are right there! He's wearing a size 12 1/2 or 13 shoe. Also, Alex has just begun to want to practice his reading at night--THIS is a GOOD thing! There are little ones in his Kindergarten class who read aloud during their Christmas performance. These little narrators were very impressive! So while we're encouraging Alex to read and helping him to sound out words at every opportunity, it's still a bit of a transition for me. I've been the one reading to him since he was a baby, something I've loved and cherished doing with both my kiddos. I'm adjusting to the fact that he wants to read to me.
Alex and "Ho Ho," our Elf on the Shelf.
On the other end of the spectrum, Daniella in her infinite 3-year-old tenacious wisdom insists that I read to her every night. Of course, I always do. It takes longer than it used to though because she asks so many questions along the way. Wow. It's like a million synapses in her brain are created every minute! Just writing that sentence makes me want to do research on child brain development. It's truly miraculous to watch these incredible stages of development. Daniella never stops talking, singing, asking questions, showing whoever will watch her latest dance moves she's learned in her ballet, tap and tumbling class. Her preschool teacher told me when Daniella stands in front of the class during show and tell, she never wants to sit back down.
It turns out my little girl is quite comfortable at the head of the classroom. No surprise there. This suits her center-stage personality to a t. At the Christmas performance, her teacher told me that as Daniella gets older I better clear my calendar because my "smart, beautiful and independent" one is going to keep me "very busy." Just ask Daniella what she wants to be when she grows up and she'll tell you, "a mommy, a doctor and a ballerina." Tonight, she added "an artist who paints" to the career lineup.
Daniella and her preschool teachers the night of her Christmas performance.
As for Alex, I remember when he was 3 he also wanted to be a doctor when he grew up. In fact, he was a doctor for Halloween that year. He told me tonight when he grows up he wants to be the guy on TV who tells the news ... and a home builder ... and a rock star, of course. I wonder if Santa will bring him a drum set this year.
Happy 6th birthday to my prince!
Alex as one of the three Wise Men in his Christmas program.
A recent pic of the kids at their first wedding for a special nanny (and real-life princess!). Daniella loves flowers and really wanted that bouquet!
With a fabulous friend at the Polar Express. Believe.
