Dearest Cooper,

My little man, you're five today. My head is spinning thinking about this. The last five years have flown by. I'm beyond grateful for you and the joy you bring to our family. You are a hoot ... so full of energy and wonder.

At five ... you're well above the 100th percentile for your height. You wear a size 7 and a good head taller than all your friends.

At five ... you're the world's pickiest eater. You survive on cereal, toast, milk, fruit snacks, and bananas (with an occasional apple thrown in there).

At five ... you're way into music. When we're in the car you beg me to turn on the tunes and crank them up as loud as I'll permit. As soon as the music is going you yell, "Everyone and everything DANCE!!!" And then you start dancing in your seat.

At five ... you still love your green blanket. It's now just a tangled mess of green threads, but you sleep with it every night and would be heartbroken if it was lost. You like to sneak into bed with me and Daddy ... and I don't have the heart to send you back to your room.

At five ... you still love to 'nuggle with me. Our bedtime 'nuggle is my favorite part of the day.

At five ... you insist I sing five songs to you every, single night before bed (Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star + I Love Y0u + You Are My Sunshine + Give Said the Little Stream + a silly made-up goodnight song).

At five ... you are SO ready for kindergarten. You love school. You know all your letters, numbers, colors, etc. You can do simple addition and subtraction. We're working on sight words right now and you're so close to reading on your own.

At five ... you have a mind of steel. You forget nothing. You say the funniest things. And you are always entertaining us.

At five ... I love you more than I ever thought possible. You are a piece of my heart and I couldn't imagine life without you. I can't wait to see you grow up into the wonderful, strong man I know you will be. You are so awesome. Being your mama makes me a better person ... heck, it's one of the things that makes me great.

I love you to the moon and back.