STOP GROWING UP - Cooper is 5

Dear Cooper,

Little man you must slow down! Just stop growing up!

You are 5!
 F-I-V-E – ARGGGHHHHH! You aren’t my sweet baby boy, you’ve out grown that turbulent toddler phase, in some aspects you aren’t even a little boy any more….. you are a boy, school aged and rearing to go.

Let’s see, words to describe you at this age: Confident, Smart, Caring, Sweet, Obedient, Comedic, Eager, Strong, Brave, Physical and yet you can still be shy.

You are a joy to be around. You have such an amazing little personality that it’s infectious in its nature just like that dimply smile.

This year you have flourished at pre-school. I can’t even begin to tell you how proud I am of you, not only for being a great student but for being a wonderful role model to your wild sister. You calm her in a way that sometimes I can’t and you care for her and all your friends so fiercely and with such protection it’s easy to see why you are so popular with other kids.

 You are so brave. In 6 months I’ve seen you learn to fly! You and your BMX at the top of that start hill – wow, my heart almost skips a beat when I watch you. I’m your biggest fan, and hopefully one day that won’t sound as awful as you think it does now!  This year you even decided to play soccer, and wouldn’t you know it you’re a natural at that too!

 
You and your dad have a really special bond. Watching you admire him is wonderful, but watching him admire you is better. No one will ever be there for you the way your dad will be.
 

Your hands while not so little still hold mine every chance they get. You still love to snuggle in bed with me on weekend mornings. You still nestle into my chest when you are sad and I wrap you up in my arms.  Your arms though, now they reach further around my back with every hug. You are getting so big. You still kiss my lips with pride at every school morning drop off – I wish that that would never change, but it will. This next 12 months is huge for you. You’ll start at St Matthews in February and I can guarantee you now I’ll be a mess of emotions as you so calmly and confidently wave goodbye to me on your first day.

Writing this I start to miss you already. I start to miss the things I know are going to change over the next 10 years. I start to miss my baby boy, I start to miss my turbulent toddler, and I miss the boy you haven’t even become yet because I know those days are coming.

We love you Cooper. We love you and we are proud of you. ALWAYS.

 

At 5:

Height: 119cm

Weight: 22kgs

Teeth: thankfully you still have all of them

You love: BMX, soccer, Lego and TMNT

You Can: write your name and spell it out loud. You can read sight words like The, mum, dad, at, yes, no and at. You can write numbers and letters. You can swim to save yourself.

Favourite food: scotch fillet steak with mash potato and gravy, lamb cutlets or curried sausages

Dislikes: capsicum and mum applying your sunscreen

Best Friends: Riley Tank, Pax Cawell, Liam Ward, Ben Grelec

Biggest event this year: Racing at BMX and receiving a trophy from BMX World Champ Caroline Buchanan.

Favourite Memory: Holidays at Forster