They grow up so fast

April 10, 2011

Sometimes it’s hard for me to remember that Nathan is actually 5 years old. It’s not the number that gets me. If you ask how old he is, I’ll spout off "5" without a second thought. What I keep forgetting is there are still some things that change with age regardless of physical or mental abilities.

Our first shock back into reality happened this week when Nathan lost his first tooth. We knew both bottom front teeth were getting loose after the trip to the dentist a few months back, but it really didn’t sink in until we looked at him while drinking his milk and saw it pointing right at us. It was decided then, that it needed to be pulled to make sure it didn’t happen in his sleep or any other time when he could have choked, or swallowed it.

Nathan didn’t know what was going on, as he sat in my lap and Annette was wiggling. For once, Nathan wasn’t clamping down his teeth or fighting us being in his mouth. It took probably about 90 seconds before Annette got it out, and Nathan really didn’t seem to complain until it bled and we laid him back down. I went to get some paper towels and I saw him moving his tongue around, noticing that things didn’t feel right. I was almost excited for the tongue movement, as it was one of the things we had worked on for a long time in feeding clinic.

He’s not one to show off the new gap in his mouth, but with all of his smiles it isn’t hard to see either. Annette ran upstairs to get the hand mirror, and he looked at himself and laughed. It wasn’t so much about seeing the missing tooth, but he never knew we had a mirror that wasn’t attached to a wall.

Another change parenting a 5-year-old is clothes shopping. He’s come to a point where he’s between toddler and boys clothes. It’s hard for me to think of him as an extra-small boy, as I still see him as a big baby. No more Elmo and Wonder Pets pajamas, now it’s Mario and Spiderman. (Thank goodness Phineas an Ferb help bridge that gap in both sizes.) He’s outgrowing “Dad’s little guy” and growing into “Future rock star.” As one Nike shirt said “Soon you’ll see my picture on cereal boxes.”

This weekend was the transition in the wardrobe to pretty much wipeout any 3T clothes in the drawers. I couldn’t have told you he had that many clothes! All of the shirts he wore last year, the pajamas that haven’t fit for months, but kept being pushed to the back of the drawer are getting ready to head for garage sales. After seeing the piles fill his bed, we’re considering possibly having our own sometime this year.

Everyone sees Nathan getting bigger, the move up from the old walker to this one, and now this one doesn’t seem that big. When he stands up straight, (which can be a feat in itself) he can tower over many of his classmates. Most every parent wants to hold on to the time where kids are small, every day is new, and you never know what they’re going to say or do. We get to have that time longer than most, (and all the downside some times for getting what you wish for) but generally speaking, I don’t mind.

I love to see the new things Nathan does, and that’s all part of growing, both physically and mentally. When we put him in the pushchair and see that his footplate isn’t as low as it should be, we’re reminded that regardless of what we may think any given day, his is getting bigger. Our goal is to keep him getting stronger at the same time.

I’m sure it won’t be too long until that other front tooth needs to come out. He probably won’t miss it as much as some kids do. He’s not biting apples or trying to whistle. He really is growing up before our eyes and we’re thankful for everyday he’s been with us. It’s especially these times when we see the blessing he’s is. I think of the change in my life and know I’m the person I am today because he’s been such a special part of our lives.

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