Six

6 years ago today my itty bitty Bug was born.

Weighing 7lbs, 12 oz. he was such a tiny little bundle of inexpressible joy, love and (for me) fear.

His personality has always been 10 times bigger than his britches.

Even now, at 6, that's no different.

Nate is just as LOUD as he is noticeably silent.  He's both cheerful and happy, and equally miserable and cranky.


For as driven and ambitious as he is (when he wants to be), he can be just as frustratingly stubborn and lazy.

His emotions, his actions, his expressions, moods, even his level of cooperation run at very contrasting extremes, almost constantly.


And he's insanely creative, hysterically funny, wildly imaginative, expressive, passionate, sensitive, completely lovable, and 110% awesome!


As he gets bigger and bigger, I do miss the little boy he was.  The "fwey" (pacifier) sucking, blanket sniffing, costume dressing, temper tantrum throwing toddler he once was is long gone.  

But in his place, I get a story telling, crazy singing, tooth-losing, capable, helpful, self-sufficient little MAN who can READ and WRITE and do MATH!!  

And I wouldn't trade that for anything.  

Happy 6th birthday, Bug (a-Boo)!!  

Dear Bug.

As you approach your 6th birthday (tomorrow!), I am realizing how quickly you have grown up into such a wonderful "little man".  I knew time would go quickly, but I guess I never realized how very soon your sense of self-sufficiency and independence would kick into gear. 

Nate - May 2007 (14 months old)

Suddenly you are such a big boy.  With your own ideas, opinions, plans, and desires.  It won't be easy for me to let you go explore these dreams as the years go by.  But I promise to try.

I'm learning so much lately.  It's becoming obvious that you need your space.  You like your privacy.  You sometimes WANT to be alone and lost in your own thoughts.  And that's ok.  As long as you know that I am ALWAYS here if you need me or if you do decide you do want to chat, sing, dance, or just tell me a story about your GI Joe's latest adventures.    

As you head out to conquer this, your 6th year of world exploration, I hope you remember that I love you.  I absolutely adore you, unconditionally.  And I am SO proud of you and the person you're becoming with every passing year.  Go get 'em Bug.

(Oh, and I guess I should re-evaluate my calling you Bug, too often, huh?)

Frog & Toad are so lame.

I had tickets to take Nathaniel to see A Year with Frog & Toad at a nearby college this past weekend (St. Patrick's Day).  Nate talked about it for weeks.  I looked forward to an afternoon out, just me and my Bug.

The morning of the show, I reminded Nate to wear something "handsome" (that's what we call dress up clothes) to our show, and he asked me...if I could just take Alex to the show instead.

For, he wanted to stay home with Daddy.

Ouch.

It appears, as his 6th birthday looms ever closer, that going to a play, with your Mom, is simply not cool.

Um, I think my Bug is growing up.

*sniff*

Party Prep

So, my Bug turns 6 (!) in 4-5 days.

I say 4-5 because depending on who you ask, how you count, and how long you want to argue about it, it's either 4 OR 5 days from today.  (But just for the record, I was there...I remember the day well...and I say...5 days, not counting today!) :)

Either way, party preparations are underway.

Nate decided weeks ago that he wanted a "Star Wars The Clone Wars Lego Party".  So, that is what he will have.  Or at least, what I will attempt to provide him.  I'm always up for a challenge.  (And, honestly, it's turning out to be little more than a barely recognizable conglomerate of various themes that somewhat resembles that suggested above but let me remind you, a party planner I am NOT!)

So, with the help of Pinterest, Google, various blogs such as this, and some fabulous friends and crafty relatives (whom are also FRIENDS!)...we currently have:

light sabers (which will be used in a game to test skill and teamwork, not just to beat each other with!)

and Jedi Knight robes for our little guests

We have Lego Man decorations

and Star Wars Lego Cupcake toppers (for cupcakes I have yet to make, of course!)

This weekend (again, thanks to the help of my person!) we'll be tackling some adorable Lego Cookies, some pretzel rod light sabers for favors and...(who am I kidding?  That's plenty for one weekend!) 

My very talented sister is attempting to draw a poster board Yoda to play "Pin the light saber on Yoda" at the party.

We'll celebrate his actual birthday in a low-key birthday-candle-in-a-cookie-while-out-to-eat sort of way. And then come next Saturday, it's PAR-TAY time!  In the words of my beloved (soon-to-be) 6-year-old,   I just hope not to "totally FREAK OUT!"  :)

Or Maybe Van Gogh?

 

I guess I should have known here, nearly two full years ago, that Alex would someday be "my artist".  This kid loves to "do a craft".  This, of course, entails lots of paper, a moderate amount of glue (elmer's or stick), and scissors, markers, glitter, crayons, you name it.

He'll make snowflakes.

Or "maps".

He's made me a three dimensional hippopotamus and a monkey (with ears and a tail).

I have an entire wall of projects he's made for me "to take to work" -  everyday I add a new one or rotate out some older ones.  It's great!

His "process" is fascinating to watch, actually.  He'll take a piece of paper, purposefully draw an elaborate (yet plan-fully executed) series of squiggles, dots, lines, letters, and shapes.  Then he'll flip it over and do the same on the back...repeat, repeat, repeat.  This kid can go through a ream of paper in no time!  It's amazing!

We have gone through more paper, paint, markers, and glue than I can believe with Alex!

He also loves scissors.  He has been cutting up coloring books, papers, and anything else we'd give him since he could hold scissors.  His teacher marveled at how skilled he was at cutting in school...well, that's because he's had a LOT of practice!  I've swept/picked/vacuumed up more shards of paper from the carpet, floor, and table than you can imagine.  For a while I was calling him "confetti boy".  I thought for sure he'd find a hobby in Scherenschnitte!  He's a paper cutting fool!

His other love, of course, is glue.  It doesn't matter what he's glueing, as long as it's something.  All those scraps of paper I mentioned above?  Yep, they became layer upon layer upon layer of glued 3-D fabulousness!  Usually all monotone, but stacked one piece of paper on the other.  It's beautiful.  (Ok, so it's only stuff a Mother could love...but I'm impressed with his handiwork!).  I love how he takes his paper, slobbers glue on it, takes the scrap he's going to glue down, holds it there and dramatically counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5!  Somehow magically at "5" it sticks...everytime!

If it's not art materials he's crafting with, it's play-doh, or moon dough.  He'll squish, cut, roll, and mangle that medium for hours at a time!

He's even taken to painting himself on ocassion.

 

He even draws on my phone when we're out and about using one of the fabulous free drawing apps I downloaded. 

I have to admit, after Nate (who rarely sat still doing any one thing for more than a MINUTE at a time!)...I'm loving this.  I get to color, draw, make play-doh food, or simply get the dishes done while Alex is occupied!