June is FIVE

June turned five on the 2nd.  Five... FIVE!  I can't wrap my head around the fact that he's five.  FIVE.  I've been a mom for five years, he's been here learning and growing for five years.  Crazy.  Here's a little walk down memory lane, because why-the-heck not. :)

Not so long ago I was newly married and wondering when God would bless our family with out first little one... in late June 2006, we got our answer! (We were married in late May of 06.)  We knew it was a possibility to be expecting so soon and apparently June wasn't going to sit around and wait to join our family. :)

His pregnancy progressed uneventfully and we greeted him 5 days before his due date (again, he wasn't about to wait around...)

March 2, 2007 @ 4:09pm our first son was born.  7 lbs 3 oz and 20 inches of perfection.

We took him home and started live as a family of 3 in our teeny 1 bedroom apartment in Northern NJ. :)

Jim worked 3 days a week at his engineering job.  He painted with his Uncle on a 4th day and did school 2 nights a week.  I still coached skating on Saturdays but spent Mon-Fri as a stay at home mom, walking with June, doing playdates, and enjoying life as a mommy.

June was such a happy boy.   He never had that stranger-danger phase and would go to anyone who wanted to hold him.  He thrived on outings, attention, and being around people.  He was easily bored at home with me, which is probably why we did playdates from the beginning.  He was easier out and about than stuck at home.

3 mo

6mo

9mo

On the weekend of June's 1st birthday, we moved to PA.  Jim got the job he has now in King of Prussia and we were able to find a middle ground between living close to family and a driveable distance from his work.  The photo below is June outside our new town house.  The other big news was finding out we were expecting our 2nd baby that very same weekend.  Our move to PA was life changing in so many ways. 

12mo

18mo

At 20 months, in November of 2008 June gained a baby brother.  At the time I wondered why God had chosen the timing and the specific souls that he did for our family.  Why were these 2 brought together as brothers?  Why were each of them given to us when they were?  I'm still figuring out that puzzle as Josh and June have such an interesting relationship (i.e. not picture perfect) but I know there is a reason... welcome baby Josh...

Time keeps ticking by... 

2 years

2.5 years

3 years 

3 months after June turned 3, he gained a little sister. These 2 have a remarkable relationship. I can't describe it, but you can see the beginnings here. ♥ (and this was after MONTHS of June telling me daily that "I'll be mad if I get a sister.")

Suddenly it was 2011 and June was turning 4...

And out of nowhere June turned five. 

He's the head of our children.  Our first born.  June has so many great characteristics and some that drive a mamma bonkers but should serve him well in the "real world."  He's ambitious.  He's task oriented.  He's gentle-hearted.  He's stubborn.  He's empathetic.  He's June. 

Happy Birthday, June.  I hope this year grants you happy memories and lots of positive growth.  I'm going to keep being the best mom that I can to you (and that doesn't just mean that I'm nice to you... being a good mom means I need to mold and shape you.  I hope you see that when you are older.)  I can't wait to see you continue to grow and change.  I look forward to enjoying you in all your five-ness and looking at the world through your eyes.  I love you, buddy.