The Winters' World: Jameston is 5!

Our first-born, Jamseton Wade, turned 5 years old at the end of September. It's so hard to believe our fun-loving, outgoing (most of the time), curious, silly, sweet (most of the time :-), strong-willed but sensitive, BUSY boy is five!! Where oh where has the time gone?! Seems like it was just yesterday we were bringing him home from the hospital and trying to figure out how to be his parents. What a fun five years it has been!

List of favorites in the above picture: color (blue), drink (sprite), meal (mac and cheese with hot dogs and broccoli. very detailed, that boy!), book (Marvel superheroes), song (VBS song, All Around the World), animal (lion), activities (coloring, reading books and telling stories), sport (soccer), movie (Despicable Me), TV show (TMNT). "I want to be an archer first and then a leader when I am bigger."

We took in our long and lean boy to his pediatrician well-check. Below are his measurements:

Height 45.5 in. (93%)

Weight: 43 lbs 3 oz (70%)

He wears size 12.5-13 shoe

He passed his vision and hearing screenings and loved getting to draw for the nurses :-) We are taking him in to an ortho doc to check out his crazy long/curving second toes (talipes cavus) later this month! And we may be seeing an oral surgeon in the next year for his overbite :-)

There is SO much I want to document about this fun and exciting (and trying) age! Things I don't want to forgot about our JW at age 5 are:

He talks a lot! And asks tons of questions!! Never a dull or quiet moment with this fella :-)
Most common statement he makes is, "I have a good idea." All the day long.
JW loves to help me in the kitchen! If there is a simple recipe that isn't too messy, I always ask him if he wants to help, and he always wants to! And, when it comes to get ready for a special occasion (holiday, birthday party, etc.) he is on top of it! He will help with decorations, setting the table, etc. Love that he is so enthusiastic about it! 0
He has been practicing math and counting to 100 since the summer. He can write his first name and we're working on middle and last names. He knows and can sound out all the uppercase/lower case letters. We are going to tackle reading at the start of the year! He thirst for books should make it FUN!

Quirky things about him that I have to document:

He loves footed pajamas and is sad that he can only wear them about three months out of the year, when it is actually cool enough in TX to wear them :-)
JW doesn't want to let on that he still really likes Mickey Mouse, since that is a "younger" show. So he asks if we can put it on for Blake or Elise.
He also still calls TV "td" and says "somefin" for something, even after correction.

He is now a SWIMMER! And he LOVES the water, any form! Baths, lakes, pools, etc.

He eats anything and everything. We swear he's always growing! But he LOVES love craisins, mac and cheese, cereal, and any kind of dessert (sweet tooth like his momma :-)

He could color/draw for hours, which often comes in handy when I need him to be preoccupied (long road trips, doctor appointments, etc.). I mean, the boy is obsessed!

And, like most boys, he really likes to build anything (puzzles, games, and LEGO's)! He has such a big imagination by the stories we tell together and can watch movies that hold his attention. He is into anything with superheroes, ninjas, ninja turtles, knights and dragons!

His absolute favorite thing to do is get into costumes and pretend...he can be a little dramatic, ha!

Like a lot of kids, he could be outside all the day long. So thankful for cooler temperatures so he can run off some of that energy :-) He likes to jump on the trampoline, swing, ride his scooter/new bike, play in the sandbox, kick the soccer ball...and just sit on the patio. So much fun (and tiring) keeping up with him!

Our oldest LOVES any kind of music (thinking about getting a (quiet) drum set for Christmas...maybe :-) but he especially loves the guitar and piano.

He recently got a haircut but was sporting a serious curly Shag (see above pics)

We've had some behavior issues with this fella, mainly anger and self-control (vs. his little brother) and talking back and not listening (the first time) with me. It's been hard, but I feel and pray that we're getting there. I knew parenting was going to be difficult, but I mean....it's not for the faint-of-heart!

JW loves to lead (sometimes in a bossy way) and is a great big brother, most of the time, for that very reason. He has a similar personality that I did (before I became more laid-back because I'm now a mommy:-) in that he has a very type-A personality. He is a civil and social rule follower, for sure. He and Blake have their spats, but all in all, they are loyal brothers!

And he is suuuuper sweet with Sissy! At first, he wanted to just hold her the most/hug her the longest, but now he interacts with her not for competition's sake. He LOVES to make her smile and laugh, and he is quite the big helper for me with her (holding her, getting a diaper, helping entertain her if I have to tend to Blake :-)