I Have a 5 Year Old

Today marked a milestone. From what I understand, it is his “Golden Birthday.” Not sure what that means. I would think your golden birthday is when you turn 100. Regardless, my son is now five years old and I am sitting here trying to figure out just how I got here.

The last five years of my life have gone by pretty fast. In those five years, I have had three children and grown my business about 500%. I have also grown a lot as a person, but this post isn’t about me, it’s about my beautiful boy who is growing up rather fast.

Liam was born 10lbs 5oz. He actually came out looking a month old. Within hours of being born, he lifted his head up off of my wife’s chest and looked her straight in the eye. From the moment he was born, my life was changed forever. I have often told friends that there are a lot of things you don’t really have to take too serious in life, but when you have a child, it is your job to give that child the best you have to give.

By the time he was a month old, he was so full of character. I used to say he looked like a square and a rectangle stacked on top of each other. At this point in my career, I was still working from home. I spent a lot of time playing with my boy. It was not until he was almost a year old that he was too active for me to get much work done with my son just a room away.

He grew fast. Before I knew it, he was crawling all over the house and getting into things. He loved pulling himself up and pushing buttons on the DVD player, something I used to do when I was a toddler.

It was around his first birthday, that we found out we were pregnant with our second child. Our family was growing and we were excited that our Liam would soon have a sibling to play with.

Two weeks before his brother was born, Liam slipped in the back yard and snapped his femur. It was a pretty good break. I had never been more scared in my life. I thought that we had broken our baby boy and that he would never be the same.

Thankfully God created the body to heal from trauma. After getting his cast removed, he had to regain enough strength in his legs to walk again. It took him almost two months after the cast removal to start walking again.

It did not take long before he was back at full speed. By his second birthday, just two months after his cast was removed, he was running around and playing as if nothing had ever happened. As even more time went by I realized that his broken leg was not going to be an issue that would slow him down at all.

Whenever there is a chance for Liam to be creative, he takes that opportunity. He is always proud of his work and wants to try again to see if he can make something better. It is a lot of fun watching your children grow up and surprise you with abilities they seem to produce naturally.

By the time Liam turned three years old, we were pregnant with our third child which turned out to be a baby girl. Liam was very excited that we would have a new baby joining the family and eagerly awaited the arrival of his new sibling.

From a very young age, Liam showed an interest in cars and going fast. I would take him for rides on the go-kart and it did not matter how fast I went, or how hard I cornered, he wanted to go faster. Speed did not incite fear in him, he just wanted more.

That Christmas he would get his first gas-powered go-kart and you could tell he was hooked. He also had a baby sister. In a short 3 1/2 years he went from being an only child, to being the oldest of three children.

At age four he started preschool. Our baby boy was not a preschooler and would spend two days a week out of the home. Liam really flourished at school. He made new friends and was learning new things to share with us. It was really amazing to hear him talk about the things he was getting to do at school. This is when Liam really started growing up fast.

As Liam progressed through his fourth year, he grew so much. Not only did he grow in height but he grew so much as a person. Our little Liam now had an opinion on just about everything. He also began learning how to test his Daddy’s patience.

Now my once baby boy is five-years-old. I am excited for him and this next chapter in life, but I miss him as a baby. I now understand why my Mother stares at me at times. She is remembering me as a child.

I am so blessed to be able to spend as much time with my family as I do. I get a lot of time with my kids and nothing is more precious to me than spending time with them. Toward the end of July, Liam’s race car will be delivered. He will start racing Quarter Midgets. He can’t wait and talks often about wanting to race like Dale Earnhart Jr. He explained to me that he wants his number to be 99 because 99 is faster than 88.

Liam, you are so special to me. You made me a Daddy first. Your first 5 years have had it’s ups and downs with hospital visits and plenty of bruises, but you are such a strong boy, and you always get past it. You are a constant reminder of why I always should seek God first. I want to be the best Dad possible for you and that will always require God’s assistance. My prayer is that you grow up to not only be someone people respect, but someone who respects other people. When I get upset with you, it’s because I want you to understand how your actions affect others. You are quick to realize your wrong-doings and apologize. You have had to deal with a lot of change in your first five years, but you seem to welcome it.

Your Mommy and I don’t always know what we are doing. We are learning how to parent at the same pace you are learning how to be a big brother. Just know that I will never stop being your Daddy and will always be there for you.

Don’t lose your loving heart. You are a good helper and even though you can barely get some doors open, you hold them open for your Mommy and anyone else nearby. You are growing into a fine young man.

I know I tell you this every day, but I love you.

Happy 5th Birthday Liam. I can’t wait until your Nerf Gun Birthday Party this weekend.