Date Night!

My sweet boy is now 6 years old and with all of the growing up he has been doing, he has taken on new responsibilities. One of these, is piano lessons. Starting last week, he has to practice, at least, two times a day. Big responsibility for a little guy once you add in school and sports. He is doing amazing and shockingly, practicing on his own first thing in the morning and again in the afternoon, withOUT being asked! I know I am being a little braggy and presumptuous, but I think he is going to blow us away some day with his skills. My Dad plays by ear, and like I've said before, not just a few things, but literally he hears a song once and he can play it exactly. I am praying my Bobo has that talent, and after his lesson today I am starting to see a few signs he has the "ear". I think my biggest challenge is going to be that he does something once, memorizes it and then doesn't want to read out of the practice books. Stinker. Anywho, I say all of that to say, Bobo deserved a date night with Mommy for all of his hard work, and just for being his sweet self.

After his lesson today, he got a hair cut and then we were off for dinner. I told him he could pick any place, his choice, and he said, "Hmmmm. There are a lot of places I like....but, I am going to pick Arby's. You know why Momma? Because I know that is your favorite and I like to make you happy." You are starting to get it right? I mean the kid is just too gooey sweet. We talked over dinner and he shared his excitements and fears of First Grade. That conversation almost left me in tears. I remember that anxiety of the unknown, and I wish I could make him feel all better about it.

Izzy is a thinker. He loves to ask questions and he has come up with a game he calls the "Question Game", which involves him asking very big, difficult questions and I have to give an answer-even if it is just a complete and wild guess. We go back and forth and laugh at our answers.

Question Game from tonight's date:

Iz- "Momma, why do we have to grow up?"
Me-"Well, God designed us that way. Our bodies grow and age daily and there isn't anything we can do to stop it."
Iz- "Good answer...I'll take it."

Iz- "Momma, why do we exercise?"
Me- "God made our bodies with muscles. If you work out and eat healthy, your muscles will grow and you will become strong. If you don't, your muscles stay small and you will be weak."
Iz- "Yeah, you are right! I think you have been reading."

Me- "Izzy, why do we have belly buttons?"
Iz- "Okay, this is a hard one. Well, I have thought about it a long time, and so this is the truth. *picture the next part with lots of hand movements, finger pointing, and serious eyes* Your belly button is connected. It circle-lates (circulates) all the way through our body to our blue vines (veins), which go way up to our chambers in our neck. This is how we can breathe. It is all because of our belly button. It's a true answer, Momma."

Me- "What did you dream about?"
Iz- "I dream about you every night! I think about the fun we have and then I dream about fun things I want to do the next day. I also pray for you in my dreams."
*Cue Tears.*

Oh, he makes me laugh! Izzy loves to talk and that is really all he wants to do on our dates. He doesn't really care what we do, he just wants to be able to talk the whole time. After dinner, we spent some time at a park, shopped at Target where we found a new game to play and spent the rest of the night laughing and playing.

As Izzy and I spent quality time together, I reflected back to those moments in the NICU, when his life was so fragile and then, I looked at him tonight, and his 6 years flashed before me.

Seriously, this was like 5 seconds ago when he was 2.

FLASH!

And now...

SIX years of non-stop joy, laughter and blessing to my soul. These six years have literally been a flash, and I want to make as many memories as possible this year so he has lots and lots to dream about.

Life is short, make lots of happy memories!