Friday, October 10, 2008

Big Five, Big Dog! (Alternate title: Holy Shit, Already?)

Dear Big Dog,
Wow, you’re five. You’ve been on the plant for half a decade. I can’t believe how quickly how time has passed. Yes, it is a cliché, but it so completely applies. Hell, I swear I can still feel the back labor! At the same time I can’t believe you’ve only been in my life for the past 5 years, since your presence so fully integrated in my life, I don’t know how I’d see the world without you.

You’ve grown from a squirming newborn to a charming little boy, and I am constantly surprised by just how much you’ve changed. You’ve been more boy than baby for a while, but this past year has been a year of more subtle changes. Your vocabulary has continued to blossom, or should I say explode? You’ve acquired so many new words, phrases and are even able to apply the subtleties of intonation. It is as though you are a language sponge, (even for many of my most inappropriate expletives) and you seem to truly enjoy playing with words and meaning. I love watching this side of you develop.

At this tender age, you've already written your first book, (Toot the Train) complete with illustrations. Even more, you tell stories and sing great songs, all original, all slightly odd, all 100% Big Dog. I never know if the story is going to involve ghosts or raining pizzas, snakes or talking dogs, all I know is that I'll never hear anything like it anywhere else.

This year also marks your exploration into traditional comedy. Sure, some of your jokes don’t really make sense, but true comedy takes time, right? I love watching you play with paring incongruous concepts, finding the humor in a specific word, or probe the potential for laughs in an absurd situation. I can’t wait to see where this takes you, little man.

When we lost Mao, that was your real first hand experience with death. I’m not sure we did the right thing as parents by shielding you to an extent, but even as an adult I have such limited experience in this realm and I’m not really sure what I believe about what happens next. I think you got it, you knew he was gone, and that he had been very sick, but I wonder if you needed more from me. Maybe I was too cloaked in my own grief to really support you. I’m sorry for that. Even then, your efforts to comfort me when I was sad were truly moving.

You had other big transitions this year too, from your daycare/preschool to your new school. You shocked me with your readiness to embrace the new environment. I’d been protecting you from this transition, and it turns out you really thrived on the new challenges. Way to go!

Some things have not changed, you still love animals. I don’t think a day goes by that Nikita is not showered with kisses. Dashiell may be bigger than you know how to manage, but he gets his fair share of sweet words and probably more than his fair share of treats. More recently, you show such an adorable connection to Goldie, it is hard to believe she is just a fish in a tank. You talk to her and share with us her observations on the world. I love the way it shows your desire to connect with others, even those who don’t breathe air.

I’m sure you know it, because I say it often, but Big Dog, I am so proud of you. Not only are you handsome, smart and funny, you are a nice person. You are sympathetic to others and full of love. How could I ask for anything else?

Happy Birthday my big guy! I love you more than words could ever convey.

6 comments:

geekymummy said...

Happy happy birthday day Big Dog. And congratulations on five years of mommyhood!

Robin said...

Happy birthday big guy, and very nicely written mommy. We're looking at a five of our own on Monday.

Mrs. F said...

Happy birthday Big Dog!

AnnetteK said...

Happy Birthday! Five is wonderful!

Anonymous said...

Awww...they grow up too fast!!!

Anonymous said...

My first baby just turned 9 on Sunday. While I live in denial at how fast he is growing I am in awe of the way in which he grows. The good and the bad. Hope Big Dog had a great birthday!

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