SIX. In the blink of an eye

In the blink of an eye, our baby turned SIX. Just like that...

It seems like JUST YESTERDAY that the hospital staff BEGGED ME NOT TO PUSH while our doctor was at home, unable to locate her shoes, while I was in active labor. My hospital room was an all-hands-on-deck situation where everyone was ready to jump in to help with delivery, but everyone respected our wishes that MIKE wanted to deliver his own child (and the doctor had to be there to keep up HER end of the bargain.)

Following labor and delivery, I was STARVING!!! (And the hospital kitchen is closed at that hour; thankfully, we stopped to buy some Jimmy John's subs on our way to our induction so that we would have something to eat later.

Silas is darned lucky he wasn't named JIMMY JOHN because THAT was the only thing on my mind after he entered the world crying.

To honor this tradition, each year since, I've enjoyed a Jimmy John's sub on his birthday. (This year was NO EXCEPTION; we had just gotten a Jimmy John's in town and I snuck over on my lunch to enjoy one in the quietness of our house during my lunch break from school.)

Jimmy John's sub on May 1 in Dubuque. May 2013

With his sixth birthday, came the reminder that, as parents, we have failed at our mission to have him STOP sucking his thumb. *This was a goal challenge given to us by our dentist before his next birthday... many, many years ago.

In these pictures, he is holding the bag of the anti-thumb-sucking deterrent that is sold in the local pharmacy. When THAT didn't work, the dentist recommended another (stronger) one.

Little stinker... used to ASK FOR THE PAINT... and then would be sucking his thumb minutes later (despite the fact that kissing him and getting the smallest amount on your lips would leave a horrible taste in your mouth FOR HOURS!!!)

ONE. 2012

TWO. 2013

TWO. 2013

THREE. 2014 - May Birthdays Party

2014 - The BIRTHDAY HATS

FOUR. 2015.

FIVE. 2016

This goofball can SOMEHOW handcuff HIMSELF to the basketball pole in the driveway (while the rest of us are inside the house.) Thankfully, he can also self-release himself when the neighbors warn him that the coyote comes out at this time of night and that it is misfortunate that he is stuck outside.

He's smart... and adventuresome... and WANTS TO BE BIGGER THAN SYDNEY!!!

2017 - hand-cuffed HIMSELF to the basketball hoop