Happy Birthday Dear Joshy

5 years old

We celebrated Josh's 5th birthday this year. I remember thinking when Josh turned 2 years old feeling like he had been in our family a lot longer. I feel that must mean Josh has always had a special place to belong in our family. I continually feel very lucky to have him and to be his mom. He teaches me a lot of the time about being considerate of others and thinking of first. He does these things very naturally and is certainly a gift that he has been given. 

Josh's full name is Joshua Mats after my grandpa. When Josh was a wee one aka probably a couple months old I remember holding him and looking at him and just enjoying the newness of the baby I had just had and having the sense and envisioning him with my grandpa. He was holding his hand, walking with him, talking with him in a bright and beautiful place. I knew Josh had recently been with my grandpa before coming to me, and it was an amazing feeling. 

lego crab, Moana, Maui and his hook

 For many many reasons Josh is special kid. I mentioned how Josh easily puts people first to name a couple of examples. The stores that I usually run to with the boys are Walmart, Costco, and Safeway aka the cookie store. When I take them to the cookie store I always swing by the bakery so they get a cookie sample. There was a day I was only with Kaj and Josh and there was only one cookie left Josh grabbed it, split it in have without thinking twice and then proceeded to give the bigger half to Kaj. The other night the boys were still hungry after dinner so I allowed them to have the banana that was left there was just one so Kaj and Josh split it, and when Rowan wanted some Josh then split his half of banana to share with Rowan. Though these are small examples perhaps I feel like the significance is shown by how immediately he thinks of others. He also is just plain sweet. He was sitting with me the other day and stopped and said, "mom, you're beautiful." If that's not already sweet enough he actually tells me this quite often, and most of the time he does I feel like I am the complete opposite. This time after saying this he paused and told me, "I'm going to tell you you're beautiful every day." And he has. I can't think of a day since he told me this where hasn't told me. Josh also looks for ways to make others happy. He did the dishes one day and told me he wanted to make me happy. I watch him daily do things to make others happy.
Josh is great brother to all of his brothers. He knows how to be the best brother to each boy. He and Kaj- they are just two peas in a pod, When he plays with Rowan he is patient with him and teaches him things, he helps him on and off the trampoline, and he runs around a lot with him which is what Rowan loves to do. With Jonah he goes with the smothering approach, but Jonah loves it. Josh will pick him and walk around with him, he loves to make him laugh, any time he is around Jonah he is happy kid.

Josh is very bright. He can figure things out on his own very easily. He loves singing songs, and learning new things. He likes legos, riding his bike, and preschool. I really truly am impressed with what he can create with his legos. Not just in an, "Oh, that's nice, honey," mom approved kind of way, but legit he can create anything he sees and make is lego form. Josh is quite funny. He has a great sense of humor and often make the whole family laugh. 

I cannot believe how fast 5 years has flown by with him. I also can't wait to see Josh as he grows I know he is going to do great things. (He already does) I love you, Joshy bears.