Gaines Reginald is 5!

I just truly cannot believe I am writing this post. Seems like yesterday we were trying to survive the night with our first born who would only sleep if you held him....all night! We recorded every move you made. You are amazing sweet boy. 

STATS AT 5:
5 years old
41.4 lbs      56%
43" inches  52%
BMI 15.76 60%
Vison 20/20
Last shots except flu until he is 11! Craziness to think of him as being 11...

Gaines Reginald at 1 years old and 5

These are a few of my favorite things about you at 5:

You have your own sense of style and you own it. You love khaki pants, button up shirts, sweaters, and ties. Anything professional and preppy. You consider it a punishment to wear lounge pants/ sports pants. We have heard numerous times during meltdowns "I don't match or I look ridiculous!" Your mommy has finally given in for the most part and let you wear what you want but it is war when I want you to wear something you don't want to.

You love art, crafts, and projects right now. I do have to admit this seems to be the one thing that truly occupies your time. Normally you get over an activity or toy in about 5 minutes tops. I don't know how this happened but overnight you seem to know how to draw really things. Of course this went from some drawings to posters and themes etc. when you do something you do it big! You love the details like your mommy for these things and it is "just ruined" when it does not come out like you had planned. You also are a great delegator. You come up with these elaborate projects like a puppet show or details for your theme birthday party then you assign all the work toy your Nonni, Poppy, etc. I'm not sure if you ever lift a finger or if you just direct.

You are still more into community helpers than other boy toys like Ninja Turtles or Super Heros. You want to be a police officer. You loved the ticket books that you gave out as favors for your birthday. The big toy for your birthday was the Fisher Price Imagiex Rescue Center.

You are very independent. You love your friends and cousins but if you don't want to play what they are then you just leave and go off by yourself or find the adults to chat their ears off.

You know all your letters and how to write them. Starting to spell a few sight words. Love preschool.

You are so stubborn. If you get in trouble, you refuse to look at us and you refuse to say your sorry (probably because you are not sorry!).  

Your creativeness and imagination is amazing. You are so smart. I cannot wait to see how you take on Kindergarden. Big plans!

We love you so much and are so very proud of our 5 year old.

Questions

Gaines asked me this week, why do they call a pair of underwear a pair? 

Good question Gaines let me see if Google has an answer....

When I'm an Adult...

In the car today Gaines pipes in from the back and says:

G: Mom, when I'm an adult I know where I'm going to live.

Me: Where?

G: Not with a husband or a wife. You are going to be so excited when I tell you! 

Me: Where?

G: With your friends Jessica, Melissa, Chris and their cute little baby girl. She is so cute! 

Me: But Gaines I will miss you so much.

G: You can come visit. 

Me: Well, Atlanta is too far.

G: Then I'll move to Knoxville and live with Aunt Stacie, she doesn't have a husband.

Me: Gaines, this makes me so sad. I don't want you to leave me.

G: You can visit me at Christmas. 

Well, that was when the conversation ended. At least he is independent.

We were telling Daddy about this tonight and Will said, "I'm going to live here FOREVER!" Bless him!

Boot Scootin' Boogy with Gaines

Gaines has taken his singing performance to another level - he is writing his own songs now and has added a mustache. Please someone stop this child! His creativity and imagination is out of control. 

For your viewing pleasure this video is self-titled by Gaines 

"Gaines Rocking Out."

Gaines's favorite country song is "Highway Don't Care" by Tim McGraw featuring Taylor Swift. Gaines prefers Tayor's parts! Here is a video of Gaines's performance.

When I'm A Grown-Up...

Daddy told Gaines he could not do something and this was the response. When I'm a grown up...

Gaines and his journal

Gaines's new thing is what he has learned in his "journal." I have never seen this journal but it is obviously full of quite a bit of information.

When we were at the beach he would say, "my journal says fish live in the ocean."

"Did you know in my journal there is a dog page and you know what it says? Dogs eat stuffed animals. They think they are dog toys. "

"Gaines, does your journal say anything about birds?"

"No there is no bird page."

Soccer Party

We kicked off Will's crazy birthday weekend with Gaines's end of the season soccer party. Gaines loved his trophy and his 20 business cards that Coach Lauren promised him if he kicked the ball. You would think he loved his soccer season=). The coaches gave Will an honorary jersey! He was so embarrassed of course and ran under our legs.

Dribbling machines!

Gaines and Coach Lauren

When I am 16...

While driving home from the last day of school this was my conversation with Gaines:

G: Mom, I really miss our white car. 

Me: Well, when you are 16 and you are old enough to drive IF you have really good grades and you are a very good kid maybe Daddy and I will buy you a white car. 

G: yes, a white highlander.

Me: you will have to drive your brother to school and then when he is 16 you all will share the car. 

G: no, you will get us two cars.

Me: no sir, we will not be able to afford two.

G: then I'll get a wife.

Me: why do you need a wife? You don't want to get married at 16? Who are you even going to marry?

G: I told you already. I need you to make me a ring in a box and give to kylee like a prince and princess. 

Me: Well, what does getting married have to do with a car? You still have to share your car with your wife.

G: no I don't. Wives get their own cars.

Gaines and Kylee - Last Day of school

Swimming Lessons

We just finished our first session of 8 classes with our new swim teacher Miss Erin. We decided to go a different direction from last summer and overall it is working much better. We have definitely had some highs and lows over the past 4 weeks. 

Week 1 consisted of A LOT of tears and pleading from both boys and the second lesson I actually stayed outside and the boys did much better. After that they said they would "do good" and I came back in to watch. 

Week 2 was GREAT! They both were excited and gaining confidence and courage. That would be the "happy" pictures below. Gaines was gliding all by himself and wanted to do it over and over again.

Week 3 - Will decided he loved the water and had no fear and Gaines was hot or miss. one day he would be fine and the next day he would just ignore his teacher or say "I can't do it."

Week 4 - Gaines went under way too long while he was not listening and I think he got scared again so this week was miserable. He would cry and plead all over again which made Will more fearful than he had been in weeks. Erin said that especially at his age they go through this but it makes for a really long lesson. 

Overall, they are working on rolling and resting on their backs, if they fall in or get to deep to lean back and rest, blowing bubbles, gliding to the steps or side of the pool, going under, and jumping in. It is interesting even in this this excel in opposite steps. Gaines does really well rolling to his back and floating and Will goes really well gliding to the steps he even kicks his feet naturally to get there. Will can hold his breathe for an unusually long time which is good and nerve racking at the same time. Gaines panics and Will is pretty calm.

Week 2: A turning point! They both had such a great lesson.

Gaines gliding to Miss Erin and Will thinking about it.

Songbirds

The entire fam came out to see Gaines's Songbird performance at church this morning and he did so much better than Christmas! He actually sang both songs and even waved once. Will thought he was big stuff sitting in big church watching his brother. He sang to the songs too while eating whatever Nonni has stuffed into her purse. I told Gaines to take care of Lucy in his Sunday School class. After class LK told Uncle Garrick that "Gaines was playing with his friends and wouldn't introduce me and I didn't get a snack. I kept telling Gaines I didn't get a snack and he wouldn't do anything." 

Gaines and Saylor
We always take Saylor with us to practice on Sunday nights since Ms. Sheree has to work.

Gaines's Fan Club

Zoo with Ezra

I had an emotional parent moment when you hurt for your child and your child does not even realize it is going to hurt. Ezra's dad told me that they had decided to put Ezra in another school next year and I thought I was going to loose it. I mean seriously boo-hooing (not in front of him but as soon as I got in the car). Gaines and Ezra have been together since they were 20 months old and truly he was the only child Gaines would play with for 2 years. I have gotten to know his parents and they are great people and it breaks my heart that they will not be together next year. I know that I have to put my big girl pants on but Gaines will not even realize it until the first day of school. He keeps saying, "It is not true. That he is just going in the Fall." 

With all that being said Ezra's mom and I are trying to make an extra special effort to get the boys together so we headed to the zoo today. 

I l ove to hear them call each other by name and what they talk about.

Will just hangs right in there!

Mr. Independent

This morning as soon as Gaines got up he came downstairs to ask me a question.

Gaines: Mom, can I pick out my outfit and dress myself?

Me: Sure, but I do want to see what you picked out.

Gaines: I want the bright blue and white check shirt with pocket. Can I also wear my bow toe?

Me: Of course.

This is what he was wearing when I picked him from school today.

Bow tie Builders

Gaines and Will looked so cute today in their outfits Gaines picked out that I had to take pictures!

Gaines picked out their outfits and then he decided they were construction workers. The clothespin on his helmet is for his walkie-talkie to work. They were making up songs for their business.

School

School

Will and Papa Jim calling for the horse - once the horse finally came over Will was petrified!

Skipping Rocks and Bow-ties

Mimi and Gaines working on some clues.

This table I remember from when I was a little girl at Mimi's house - there are some things that should NOT stand the test of time.

What happens at Mimi's when you need a bag for all your goods that you have collected or found in their house - they each came home with a purse. Gaines's we can kind of call a satchel - Will's is a straight up purse. I found a brass bell in Gaines's bag.

Live Action - Gaines's Soccer Game

Gaines's Fan Club trying ot get him down the field - LIVE ACTION!

Police Day at School

Since Gaines returned to school after Christmas Break he has been bugging Ms. Sonya to have a Police Officer Day at school. Originally, he had these great ideas where Nonni was going to make 8 police uniforms for his classmates including badges (one day he added billy sticks to the list). When I tried to explain to him that we did not have the money to do that or the time he responded with "Nonni will do it, she does whatever I want." He also suggested we sell the new van we just got if we didn't have any money. Then one night he got out of bed for the 500th time and I laid him back down and he said, " I have an idea. Poppy can build a machine that will make the police uniforms quickly then we will have plenty." His teacher bought his classmates all little notepads where they could go around and "investigate" like police officers. Ms. Sonya agreed to make a day in February a Police Officer Day. By the time that rolled around Gaines was already onto something new (his office work and serving as the boss). As I walked in to the his classroom I kept thinking "Little Christy coordinated this entire event."

Gaines's First Soccer Game

Well we had the entire Beverly Hillbillies out to cheer on Gaines at his first ever soccer game or sporting "event" ever. He is still not very into it at all. He does not cry or complain about going or being out there BUT he does not do anything. He literally stays at the center circle while everyone else is running around him. now don't get me wrong, other kids were crying in their moms laps and picking flowers so I am thankful he is out there. Garrick is positive he will get used to it so we will keep cheering him on like he is the next David Beckham!

No videos - he didn't move fast enough to document with a video!

#12 Ready for his First Game!

Awww yeah! He is ready!

Will waiting to watch his big bro's debut.

Coaching from the sidelines

Getting warmed up - be prepared this is the most action you will see!

Love this! The teams praying before the game.

The teams race towards the goal passing #12 in the center

Gaines running towards his water bottle

Getting a little pep talk from Daddy.
Will says, "Send me in!"

Gaines running from the bugs

#12's turn to kick! Go Gaines! He did kick and run - we are improving!

Go Fire Stars!

Good Game! Good Game!

Going through the tunnel with the parents cheering.

Will finally got to take the field!

#12's Fan Club

Mark Your Calendars, next game Saturday, April 6th!