Happy Half Birthday--5 1/2!

Dear Brodan Smith,
To say you have really grown up in the past six months would be such an understatement. Sometimes I feel like I am talking to a little adult. And although I know this is far from the truth, I can't help but be amazed at how dang smart you are for such a little man. Seriously! You blow me away sometimes!  You have such a thirst for knowledge, and although I have to admit that I can get tired of your endless questions and "Moooommmmm" that I hear probably a hundred times a day, I am so impressed by you all the time. Sometimes I pretend to listen while I'm doing other things, nodding my head and saying, "Uh huh" while you launch into one of your stories, but you are quick to call me out for "not listening" and always challenging me to get my head back in the game and be ready for the next slew of questions and activities. You are fun...sometimes exhausting...but oh so fun!

This year has been one of the best yet in preschool. I am so happy that we made the decision not to send you on to kindergarten. You have blossomed so very much this year in all areas. You love everything about school and have a natural curiosity that makes you one of those students I would have loved to work with as a teacher. You are exhibiting all signs of pre-reading, can do simple math problems, love drawing your observations in your science journal, and you remember everything! We can't get anything past you because you are always listening and you never forget! There is no doubt that you can do great things if you set your mind to it. :)

check out those hockey pads

Your very favorite thing right now is hockey. You have gone from marching on ice skates once a week to doing crossovers, jumps, and glides three times a week, in full pads and hockey gear!  I was a little apprehensive about this at first, worrying that we were trying to do too much, but the fact is that you love it, and you are getting really good! It has been a wonderful bonding experience for you and Daddy to go skating at the park in the evenings after dinner and go shopping at all the hockey stores for your gear. You love to skate with your buddies and always tell me that you'll play on the Wild one day and Brady will play on the Bruins. Big dreams, Mr.!

I never would have believed it, but you have actually become a responsible little guy. You love to keep a chore chart and earn stickers for completing your tasks. You are an amazing big brother (99% of the time with Callan and 50% of the time with Leyton) and love to help take care of Callan, cleaning him up and taking him out of his highchair, and pushing him in the stroller. You tell me quite often that it's hard to have little brothers because they always get into your stuff, but you try very hard to be patient.  I know it's hard and they would drive me crazy, too. :)

a pile of brothers

You are definitely a boy's boy right now. You have completely no interest in girls. In fact, I asked you a month or so into school if you even knew the names of the girls in your class because I never heard you talk about them. Thankfully, you did know them all, but you still don't ever talk about them.  It must be true that girls take an interest in boys sooner, because already this year I've heard from Harper's mom that she had a dream about you and Ainsley's mom said she is writing a book for you at home.  You think this is all very hysterical. Only a matter of time, my friend...

You're the bestest firstborn we could have asked for. You give us so much to look forward to, make us proud every day, and keep us on our toes. We think you are a really cool kid. Thanks for being our Brody!

Love,
Mommy