Thursday, March 19, 2009

My Baby Turns "5"!

You know I'm a slacker and have been put on the "Crappiest Mom's in America" List when I wait 17-days to BLOG about my youngest child as he heads into a new phase of his life, or has pictures to mark this momentous occasssion 'cuz the camera is broken! All is not lost though, I will be adding updated pictures soon! YEAH!
Brody Jugant Harward celebrated his grand old number "5th Birthday" on Sunday, March 1. He has been waiting for this day for 365 days - and I am not kidding about that. Brody has asked how many days 'til his birthday comes ever since his 4th birthday. It was almost anit-climantic when his birthday finally did arrive because I think he thought something miraculous was going to happen, but, well, if you refer to my first paragraph you'll understand why.

This has been a HUGE year of new things for Brody. It's amazing to think that he has been a part of our family for 2 1/2 years. It's wierd to think that he has been with our family now just as long as he lived in the orphanage. Although things started out rough, I can't imagine our family unit without his pokey hair, his crooked smile, his moon-shaped eyes that disapper when he smiles, his love of sleeping, or his never ending appetite - eating anything (except tomatoes) & everything!
Here is what Brody has accomplished in one year (from age 4 - 5):
1. He can pedal his big wheel by himself!
2. He can hop on one leg over 25 times! (6-months ago he couldn't even stand on one leg!)
3. He can make his bed & clean his room by himself!
4. He can fold his own clothes!
5. He can brush his own teeth!
6. He can wipe his own bum! (and do a dang good job at it may I say - no skid marks!)
7. He can run down a hill without falling!
8. He can run up the stairs - alternating his feet! THIS IS HUGE!
9. He can almost go down the stairs - alternating his feet! AGAIN.... HUGE!
10.He can SPELL his name!
11.He can WRITE his name!
12.He is able to communicate better when he's frustrated, rather than throwing fits!
13.He can catch a football (at least half the time) when it's thrown to him!
14.He can tackle his older brother, Stoney (a feat not many can do!)
15.He can cross the street by himself (watching for cars) and not be terrified to do it!
16.He has 2 best friends & they are unseperable from breakfast to bedtime!
17.Has passed up his older sister (by 2 1/2 years), Peity, in heigth! (not a big shocker)
18.Learned all his colors this year at preschool & can't wait for Kindergarten next year!
19.His coordination has become almost perfect (not - as you can see in the video. :))
Brody continues to progress, move forward, and amaze us everyday! He has such a cute, loving personality & loves to be happy. In primary this past Sunday, right in the middle of sharing time Brody stood up and proudly announced:
"I am Chinese! And I love to eat!"
In a nutshell, this phrase partly sums up who he is. We have been trying to teach him about where he came from, and who he is, so that he can be proud of his heritage. He is a joy to our family and we will be forever blessed and grateful that our Heavenly Father led us to him.
Happy Birthday, Mr. Brojangles!

2 comments:

Juli said...

Is he really 5? Has it really been 2 1/2 years? I can't believe how much he has changed, in every way.

xóchitl said...

aw, what a sweet tribute to a handsome devil. missing you guys!