My six-year-old boy

Today was the last day Leo will be six.  He is very excited about his birthday tomorrow.  

 I always get a little mushy around birthday time.  I think about how this kid changed my life in ways I could never imagine before becoming a mom.  Taking care of a baby is extremely miserable, but we still have our low moments around here.  Leo is a sensitive little guy and tends to have big reactions to situations that don't go his way.  He's so much like me it freaks me out sometimes.  On Saturday when we were getting ready to go to Felix's party he asked who would be there and said he didn't really like going to parties with people he doesn't know.  All I could say was "I know what you mean, kid."

He's smart and creative and completely hyper at times.  He runs back and forth around the house over and over because he just can't help himself.  He's turning into a great reader, which pleases me immensely.  

He's also obsessed with getting presents.  He loves to talk about presents and he's been pouring over a Halloween catalog for the last few days.  I knew it would drive him crazy to wait for his birthday so I let him open a present from Ito and Grandma Sharon this evening.  He spent time putting this Lego kit together with no help and was happy as a clam.  No whining or complaining.  It was great.  

It will be a regular day for him tomorrow - school and gymnastics class.  I won't be at school when they celebrate his birthday since I guess that's not cool anymore when you are a first grader.  I plan to make him a little cake and we'll take him out to dinner.  And of course, there will be presents.