Five years ago.

Five years ago, I had just checked into the hospital the night before I was to be induced because of lack of amniotic fluid. I was nervous--about labor, yes, but mostly about having a baby boy who might grow up to be a bully.

Five years out and I've figured out that that shouldn't have been a worry. At five, Caleb is

the friendliest child I've ever encountered

given to busting a move

a voracious reader

a (sometimes overly) loving brother

deeply interested in not getting in trouble

generally pretending to be someone else (and conniving others to join his imaginary world)

not likely to eat his dinner

always trying to spend time with his daddy

a big helper

a silly face-maker

a teller of horrible jokes

going to kindergarten this year (gulp)

Happy birthday to my surprising, sensitive, funny, tall, scrawny, cheery, delightful son. I am a better person because he was born.