Golden Birthday

Brandon turned 6 on the 6th of February.  We had a really fun day of playing games, eating donuts for breakfast, and having a giant cookie instead of birthday cake.  Brandon has grown so much in the last year and it has been great.  He is showing that he is more and more like his dad.  He is doing well in school, but he doesn't want to go.  For awhile he was asking me daily if he could stay home.  Not because anything about school is bad, just that he'd rather be home doing nothing.  I love this little guy so much.  Happy birthday, Brandon!

Beginning Reader

With about four weeks of Kindergarten down, Brandon brought home his first homework book. It consists of different things they are talking about...letters and the sounds they make, numbers, writing his name, and some sight words. The Kindergarten teachers have taken what is, in my opinion, a really great approach. "Don't push your child if they are not ready, please work at their pace." So, I asked Brandon if he wanted to work on it and he did.
We started going through the book and he was doing so well. Telling me the names and sounds of the letters, reading sight words, rhyming. I was excited and so was he.
When Brandon was younger, he didn't talk...at all. He made some noises, but didn't have any words. So, we put him in speech therapy. He did well, but I was always a little concerned that he would have a difficult time in school. He is doing well.
He doesn't like school, but that is because it is all day and he said, "It takes too long." However, he enjoys learning and is so excited to show me what he has accomplished. In fact, he just came up to me as I'm typing and is picking out the words he knows. Way to go, Brandon!

Happy Birthday, Brandon

Today Brandon is 5! I remember vividly this day 5 years ago. It was a Friday. I went to the hospital to have some tests done to make sure he was ok and there was enough amniotic fluid since I was going to go past my due date over the weekend.
After an ultrasound, the nurse hooked me up to some machines to monitor Brandon's heart and my contractions, if there were any. My mom was with me and said it looked like I was having contractions, so the nurse took the papers to the doctor for him to look at (not my doctor). He said everything looked just fine and they sent me on my way.
I went shopping with my mom (this ends up being a pattern for me)and had to keep stopping to hold on to the cart because my stomach hurt so bad. I had induced labor with my first 2 kids, so I wasn't sure what it felt like to go on my own. However, I was pretty sure this wasn't it, since the doctor had just told me 30 minutes ago that I wasn't in labor.
We finished our shopping and I had my mom drive home because I was in so much pain. I called my husband to come home and take me to the my doctor's office so I could find out what was going on. He checked me and I was dilated to an 8. Fortunately, my doctor's office is in the hospital so I walked myself down to labor and delivery with my husband following close behind.
By the time I was ready and checked again, I was at a 9. Brandon was born a very short time later. Now, 5 years later, I am so grateful to have this little guy in our family. I say, "little" because he is for his age. He also doesn't talk a whole lot, but when he does, he's bound to say something sweet.
In fact, he doesn't miss many opportunities to say, "I like you, Mom."
Brandon, I like you too. A whole bunch.