Meghan: Nolan's 5th Birthday

Nolan is 5!

Whhhaaaatttt?! I really can't believe it. And 5 seems just so big! How did that happen? He loves all things Star Wars and Transformers. He'll do pretty much anything if you promise him some Transformers 'battles' on our phone. He is still an incredible reader, but is still working on coloring in the lines. He's been getting a little more confident with physical things like somersaults and jumping, but still prefers TV, games, reading, piano, etc. Speaking of piano, I started teaching him a little bit and we got him playing some Star Wars songs using colored stickers and he has memorized the songs pretty quickly! He also loves to perform and wants to show anyone that comes over. He loves puzzles and games and is a master at Sleeping Queens! He uses pretty big words for his age and can get pretty sassy at times. He loves preschool and pretty much every day he reports that his favorite part is snack time. When he gets shy he doesn't speak in a clear, confident voice. Instead he does this thing where he talks in a funny voice that sounds like it's coming from the back of his throat and also alternates which foot he's standing on. I've noticed that he's actually more shy around kids his own age rather than older kids. He seems to play better with older kids because they'll go along with his pretending to be an evil bad guy and will fall whenever he "kills" them, etc. We keep trying to tell him that he has to 'die' sometimes too! Sometimes I worry because he doesn't seem to have a lot of empathy when he hurts Branson and he can get so angry before saying sorry for doing something naughty, BUT then when I'm really having a hard time and start crying he is the first one to come up and give me a big hug and tell me I'm a good mom (even if I've just been yelling at him). He'll sit with me and rub my back or get me his special blankets to make me feel better. Or when Branson gets really hurt Nolan gets SO upset and won't calm down until he knows Branson is ok. It's times like these that reassure me that he'll be alright. He's just a kid trying to figure things out, but deep down he's such a sweet, sweet boy.

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We've started a tradition of writing "reasons we love Nolan" or whoever the birthday person is and putting them all over to the house for them to find. It's a small thing, but one I hope will always remind them how much they are loved. We text the extended family the week of their birthday to get some from them too :)

Nolan woke up the day of his birthday and loved finding all of the notes. He and Branson were absolutely adorable holding hands and walking through the upstairs to find and read them all.

So excited to bring treats to his preschool class!

Ohhh presents. Do you think he's excited?!

I just want to note how proud I was of Branson. I don't even remember prepping him that these were Nolan's presents and to let him open them, but he didn't even try to get his hands on any presents. He just patiently and excitedly sat next to his big brother and watched him open each one! Nolan on the other hand, when it was Branson's birthday, had to be reminded several times who's presents they were haha.

The main thing Nolan asked for for his birthday was a pinata! Not sure how he knows about pinatas, but he has been dead set for a couple of months now. Of course we had to get him a DV one!

I thought we possibly had too many gifts for Nolan, but Gm and Gp Bailey got him the same amount as us times two haha! I think it's safe to say they like spoiling their grandsons.