On Being Five

A few weeks ago the little man turned five.  He was very excited about his birthday, not tremendously excited about people singing the Happy Birthday song to him, very excited about eating cake for breakfast, and has said he wants to be five for two years, because when he turns six he has to stop sucking his fingers at bed time.  Which, by the way, might happen sooner than that.  The dentist said a couple weeks ago that his teeth are starting to get loose, so he might have to stop sucking his fingers before the age of six.  Our deal is when his grown-up teeth start coming in, the finger sucking has to go.

Anyway.  Five.  Dexter is FIVE.  Today he told me he wants to celebrate his next birthday at midnight on the day he turns six.  With, you know, all the family and people who are going to be here to help him celebrate.  I told him good luck with that, I shall be sleeping...

At his five year check-up last week he was 46 inches tall, and 43.5 pounds of muscle, bone, and brains.  He needs four vaccination updates before he can go to Kindergarten in the fall.  He chose to have 1 shot last week, and then go back in three more times and get 1 shot each time.  He freaked right the hell out when he got his one shot because "it was a lot more pointy looking than Erin's shot."  But afterward he decided it was much better than he thought it would be, and the rest of his shots (on the next three trips we make to the doctor in the next five months) are going to be fine.

I thought it would be fun to take a look inside the brain of Dexter at five, so he answered some questions.  He has already asked if he can do another one when he is six, and he is already deciding his answers.  For example, his favorite color when he is six is going to be pink.  Please, be shocked...

1. What is your favorite color?  RED (I, quite honestly, believe he is making this up)

2. What is your favorite toy?  TRAINS (I know, I know.  It's surprising)

3. What is your favorite fruit?  APPLE  (or, as Erin calls it, BAPPLE)

The boys have to taste test before they decorate their cars.  You know, to be sure the candy isn't poison.

4. What is your favorite tv show?  Curling (we've been watching the Olympics)

5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? TUNA (and olives.  Mostly he enjoys the olives)

Unfortunate car crash

6. What is your favorite game?  ANIMAL UPON ANIMAL

7. What is your favorite snack?  CHEESE

8. What is your favorite animal?  CROCODILE

9. What is your favorite song?  NO! (It's actually called "Tantrum."  It's on one of Sandra Boynton's albums)

10. What is your favorite book? Your Body (great book, from Usborne, about how your body works.  So, yes, Dex can tell you where urine comes from.)

11. Who is your best friend?  I don’t have a best friend

12. Name one thing you do really well?  Play Animal Upon Animal (true - he is an excellent animal stacker)

13. What is your favorite thing to do outside?  BUBBLES

14. What is your favorite drink?  MILK

15. What is your favorite holiday?  Christmas

16. What do you like to take to bed with you at night?  MOON (pillow)

17. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?  TOAST

18. Where do you want to go on vacation? Grandma and Grandpa’s House

19. What do you want to be when you grow up?  A lot of things – drive trains, build houses (69,000 houses).  (Dex has frequently said he will live to be 200 years old, because he has a lot of things he wants to do.  He's going to start building houses next year, by the way.  And he has said he's going to need some help.  So if anyone needs something to do, you can help build 69,000 houses.  And apparently, add a hallway and a kitchen on to our master bathroom.)

20. What is your favorite thing to do with Mom or Dad? Play with you

Happy Birthday, Mr. Five Year Old.  We love you very much.  xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo