Lego Mini-figures...

I love playing Legos and especially love my mini-figures. I recently earned some new ones - the set included a hobbit and wizard. Dad has been reading The Hobbit to Sister and me and we love it. I was so excited. That blanket is set up as a little Hobbit hole. I have also turned many of my mini-figures into dwarves, too.

Five Year Well Check...

On my second day of being five, I went to see my pediatric health care provider, Nurse Practitioner NM.

If you would like to compare with last year, you can click here.

Here are my stats:

Weight: 38 lbs (25%)

Height: 42 inches (25%)

Blood Pressure: 80/48 (normal)

I received all my kindergarten vaccines, too - DTap, Polio, MMR, and Varicella (chicken pox). It was a total of 3 shots. Mom brought some special band-aids. I was so excited to see the Toy Story Band-Aids that I was completed distracted from the shots and did not flinch. Plus, the medical assistant student did a great job and Sister was there to offer reassurance.

We did get my special monkey weighed, too. He was 6 oz. I was also really excited that I got to take home some gloves. I used them for a while as super hero costume attire until Mom found some real ones for me.

There was a nurse practitioner student also working with me. This is the same teaching clinic where Mom did her training so she knew it would be fine for the student to examine me. I checked out great. Everything was within normal limits and I am growing and progressing just as I should according to the American Academy of Pediatrics parameters.

My asthma was well controlled and I was off all my medications except occasional rescue inhaler use. That is until I came down with a horrible virus. Then I was using my inhaler and nebulizer every 2-4 hours and not sleeping. After two weeks and a probably secondary infection, Mom started me on antibiotics and prednisolone. Finally, I started to improve. (Although, the "roid rages" aka emotional outbursts were not that great but breathing and sleeping were most welcome.) I'm back on some maintenance medications until cold/virus season is over. At least I did not get influenza A like Cousin Dede did. Guess my vaccine worked. This probably also explains why my growth is slowed a bit compared with my previous history. I will likely catch up as I get older. Asthma and the meds can slow growth velocity but generally I should reach my expected adult height - it just might take a bit longer.

Interests: Super Heroes and Star Wars (specifically Jedi)
Favorite books: Currently reading The Hobbit with Dad, books about my interests, monkey books (Curious George and the Pizza), Star Wars Lego Mini-figure reference manual

Favorite foods: cheese pizza, freeze dried strawberries, "unhealthy" mac n cheese, fruit snacks, fries, spinach (without stems - I will now specify), and still no sweets but unfrosted sugar cookies are my dessert of choice, water is still my drink of choice

Favorite movies/shows: Land of the Lost (1972), Jonny Quest (1964), starting to enjoy Star Wars movies (have only seen Episodes I, II, and IV), Peanuts from the 1960s

Favorite toys: super hero and Jedi costumes - I have several and wear them all the time, my new minifigures, legos

Naps: I have quiet time every day and about 75% of the time I will still sleep but if I miss my nap I am not too grumpy

I am reading and loving it. Mom is still working with me to work through some of the more complex words but now that I can read it has made for some interesting questions when I read questionable things.

I do sleep with a menagerie of characters - Daniel and Daniella are still my beloved cats but now Monkey is in the mix as is Woodstock and Captain America.

Well, there you have it. Me at my five year well check. Just wait, six is just around the corner, but don't mention it to Mom or Dad because they get sad whenever we talk about me getting older or bigger. They say it is just going so fast. They do seem to feel a little better when I tell them my future farm house will have a guest bedroom where they can stay when they come to visit my wife, me, and my five children (3 boys and two girls) and I will always give them snuggles, too.

Five Year Birthday Party

I am a bit behind in posting these photos as my birthday party was about a month and a half ago but starting with my birthday the four of us have birthdays all within 6 weeks of each other, add this to the holidays plus a 3 week illness flaring up my asthma and it is the perfect storm for getting behind. However, I think the photos are worth the wait. Auntie J made a collage for me that is proudly displayed in my room from this very special day.

Since the aquarium opened I asked to have my birthday party here. We booked it 3 months in advance because I was so excited. It was just a special day.

With Grandpa N petting rays. It was he and Grandma's first visit to the aquarium. Note the resemblance between us.

My youngest guest was most interested in the rays.

Feeding the tropical fish with my guests.

Nan pointing out the clams in the boat tank.

Dad and Sister petting rays.

Watching Beam, the new sea turtle.

With my neighbor and friend. We are spying the sharks swimming with Beam.

Petting the tide pool sand creatures.

Blowing out the candles on my fish shaped sugar cookie (thanks to Auntie all our guests had fish cookies). 

After the party at the aquarium we all departed to my favorite restaurant, Red Robin, and had grilled chicken (chic on a stick) and steak fries. It was so fun having my family and friends close to me on my special day.

On my actual birthday...

Photos from my actual birthday (separate posting on my party)...

Mom and Dad had to work on my actual birthday so Nan took my photo on my exact birthday time. However, we had a small birthday celebration (my second one) that night. Grandma and Grandpa brought over pizza (my favorite food) and Good Neighbors DandM stopped over with sugar cookies. 

We had a singing of happy birthday (which I no longer will cry during) and I blew out my candles twice (once for the video and once for the still shot - yes, I seem to tell all of Mom and Dad's little secrets like that these days). 

I had lots of cards and phone calls from friends and family. It was truly wonderful being celebrated by so many. Thank you all.

Enjoy the photos starting with my exact 5 year old photo...

To our little guy,

Thank you for being the most amazing young man and son. We are so proud of the young person you have developed into and the wonderful things you do and say every day. You are caring toward others and love your sister and family. You are warm, friendly, polite, all mixed with energy and creativity. We thank God every day that you are apart of our family and we have the honor of being your parents. You are our real life super hero.

Love, 
Mom and Dad

Santa Visit 2012

It was the best year ever!

Historically, I've been a little shy around Santa. This year we were invited to a special visit with Santa and I did great. I actually had a few minutes to really chat with Santa. I asked about him, Mrs. Claus, and the reindeer. He told me he was well (which I thought was amazing for being almost 200 years old). He said Mrs. Claus is busy with the elves getting ready for Christmas, and the reindeer were busy doing reindeer games. 

I asked for Star Wars legos. Santa reminded they are small pieces so I need to pick them up. He also made me promise to go to bed early on Christmas Eve and not peek. 

It also helped that I was able to talk with my good friend about visiting Santa and watch him visit with Santa, too. It was all great. Awesome actually.

Last Day of 4

Here are some photos of my last day being a four year old. After a relaxing morning at home with Mom, Dad, and Sister, I dressed myself (cape and mask, too) and headed out with Mom and Sis to do some Christmas shopping and birthday shopping for Dad (his birthday is a week after mine).

We went to HobbyTownUSA. We love our local hobby store. I wanted to look at rockets.

Later on after lunch and naps, we took a hike on the Oregon Trail. Then home to have Dad cut my hair. Mom interviewed me on my last day of being 4 - see video (it is almost 4 minutes long). 

After my interview, Mom and Dad had a surprise for me which I happily shared with Sister - dinner and a show. The show - Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.  It was my first viewing. As Mom and Dad suspected, I LOVED it and was captivated the entire time.

I was so exhausted after my day I went right to sleep but not without asking a million Star Wars questions of Mom and Dad.  They keep saying they felt a grave disturbance in the Force. I suppose I'll understand better when I'm five....

Halloween 2012 - Captain America

I was originally going to be The Hulk but Captain America is my true favorite super hero. Mom and Dad surprised me with a new suit since my other one was quite tattered. I'm holding my super awesome shield that Dad picked up for me. I like this suit since it has muscles. My other did not have that.

So far, there are only a few candies I will eat - sugar free lollipops, laffy taffy, skittles, and gummy life savers. No chocolate. Honestly, though, I was more interested in showing off my costume than in gaining candy.

I had the best time. In years past I've only visited a couple homes in the neighborhood. Tonight we went everywhere. It was so much fun.