to Davyn at 5.
Thursday, February 11, 2010 at 12:55PM 
Most kids pass their birth dates with little visible change. But you're not "most kids". We still refer to your first birthday as your "coming out party". Our quiet boy turned on all kinds of personality that night, truly surprising us all. We had never seen anything like it from you - the sweet Baby D who was content to sit back and cuddle his way through life. Enthroned on your birthday gift (a baseball mit chair), you posessively ruled the roost. With the intrinsic knowledge that it was Your Day.
This birthday felt the same to me. Weeks before the big day, you were in countdown mode. You knew 5 was a major milestone and made all sorts of mental rearrangements to match its magnitude. "When I'm five you can't call me Tiny Elvis anymore. That will be Azure's name instead"..."When I'm 5 I will really be big"..."When I'm 5 I will read chapter books".
And it was all true.
Your party was much like the first birthday festivities. A typically docile boy took center stage. It was your day and you knew it.
And - somehow - the next day you were bigger. Your thought process did mature overnight. You firmly corrected any "Tiny Elvis" that escaped our tongues. And this week you are reading me a Frog and Toad chapter book. I'm simultaneously beaming and bemoaning.
Because the quiet cuddling Baby D still has a huge spot in my heart. You were such a singular baby. I know my mother eyes and heart (and memory) could be tainting reality, but I only remember an incredibly easy baby. A chubby bundle of smiles. A full belly and occasional kisses were the only requirements for complete content.
Echoes of that babe are still present in your diplomatic doling of agreement, unquenchable need for affection and uncanny ability to keep at a task long-term. But I've happily watched two more grown-up traits develop in you over the past year.
The first is a voracious love of learning. Last spring you decided to sound out every letter you saw of every word you saw in every place you were. That adds up quickly. You drove me dizzy and eventually were forbidden from frazzling me with the alphabet non-stop (what child has to be grounded for learning?!). But there was still no stopping you. Sadly, between pregnancy and having a newborn, I feel like I've only been holding you back in this area. You would happily read to me for the full 6.5 hours that Aidan is at school each day, but I limit our time to a half hour on most days. So you sometimes go sit for another hour poring over books on your own. It's slow going, but pure determination pushes you through until the last period and page.
The second trait I've watched and awaited is the seeds of spirituality. I have often come across you in quiet alone time talking aloud to your Heavenly Father. Learning the impact of that relationship will bless your life. Just last week I was occupied at the stove and asked you to go help your screaming baby sister. At first her screams doubled, but by the time my brain was rearranging cooking plans to accommodate her fussiness, all was quiet. You rushed into the kitchen exclaiming that Heavenly Father helped Azure fall asleep because you didn't know what to do, but decided to say a prayer. After your amen, all was calm. You spoke the experience with such confidence, such surety. I'm grateful to have a boy who knows where to turn for answers.
I look forward to seeing what another year will bring. So many changes are at your door. Kindergarten, is around the corner, portending days when you won't be all mine. That does tug my heart, but I know you will thrive. And you will always keep a bit of that sweet Baby D personality, readily accepting my after school demands for kisses and stories about your day. I will sit back and listen. With the grateful knowledge that I've been given the Joy of raising such a singular boy - my Davyn James.
Reader Comments (12)
He is a singular boy indeed if he truly knows where to turn for answers and puts it to the test at age 5. So very sweet.
Looked like a great Fire Fighter Birthday Party. Happy Birthday, Davyn!
This was such a tender tribute to your sweet boy.