My first baby...

 ...is soooo not a baby anymore.  He's a five-year-old-boy!  I remember when we held Penn on the night of his birth-day and I asked Pack, "What do you think he's going to be like when he's four (I don't know why that age stuck out to me, but I guess I figured that would be the end of baby-hood)?"  "Four" seemed like an eternity from back then, but it came and went faster than I thought it could and that tiny little baby that I held for the first time is now this amazing and unique, FIVE-year-old human being!

One year ago!

The memory he has amazes me!  I can't remember what I wore yesterday but he can tell me what movie we watched when we stayed in a hotel two years ago!  He remembers things sometimes that actually gives me goosebumps because I've long since forgotten them.  Geez...I hope I don't mess him up too bad because I know our little Penn is like an elephant who never forgets!

 

And he's smart too!  I love watching Penn learn new things.  It's amazing to me how he learns.  He just needs to see you do it once and he's got it!  If only he had gotten that from me...  This year, he's learned how to read (a little), write, and tie his shoes, but he's most proud of mastering the Roku Remote.  Pack is always impressed with his early engineering and inventing skills, but we're still waiting on him to perfect his invention that would "keep Mommy from making any new foods anymore."  Nice try.

Penn's first (copied) sentence.  Not bad:)

A cardboard/bubble wrap stable (with LOTS of tape)

Baby Jude idolizes his big brother and does everything that Penn does.  When they have to be separated, Penn always tries to console Jude and make him feel better.  I'm so worried about Jude when Penn starts school...he's going to miss Penn so much!  Luckily, Penn is (almost) always a good example for his little bro.  I couldn't ask for a better "first kid".  His compassionate heart and love for his brother melts my heart. 

Per the usual, Jude is staring at Penn to see what he's doing:)

When Anna came into the family in January, Penn got to stretch his big brother skills a step further.  Now, he not only has to protect Jude, but to protect Anna FROM Jude!  And he takes his job very seriously.  Penn is absolutely smitten with his baby sister and I have a feeling he's going to make life very difficult for anyone who dares to bother his little sister for the rest of her life.

She's safe in his arms:)

Ever since he could talk, Penn would tell anyone that Jac was his best friend.  Jac is also his cousin and they are six months apart.  They couldn't be more different but they love each other dearly and completely exhaust anyone who has to watch them together (if you add Jude and the other cousins into the mix, you can hang up ANY semblance of order).  One day, these two could rule the world...

And they both have an equally good sense of fashion...obviously!

Mostly, Penn spends his time trying to be just like his Daddy.  Truthfully, he's practically his Daddy's twin anyway.  He loves to play with Ninja Turtles and He-Man Toys that belonged to Pack when he was little and he wants to dress the way that Pack dresses now.  Add some steel-toe boots and some inches, and this is his daddy to the T.

Definitely the name-sake:)

For his fifth birthday, we made a last minute trip to SC and had a little Batman party for him at my mom's.  It was a super-tiny party, but he told me it was the exact party he wanted (sweet boy)!  When we got back to VA, we gave him a new bike that actually accommodated for his super-long legs:)  and we let him decide how he wanted to spend "his day."  He picked pankcakes with sprinkles for breakfast, the Children's Museum, Chick-fil-a for lunch, and Red Robin for supper followed by birthday shopping and a yogurt bar.  He also bought sharing presents for him and Jude with his own money.  My stress level was low and my mama heart was happy!

Batman...this kid loves a good costume:)

Birthday Bike

Penn, you are creative, thoughtful, snuggly, inquisitive (Why? Why? Why?), responsible, sneaky and probably (one of) the most fun kids in the world.  I can't help but wonder what you're going to be like in five more years!!!  I am so proud of you and hope you'll always remember that you are loved no matter what and prayed for constantly!  Happy fifth birthday, my sweet little man:)