Sliding Into 6!

If you are new to the blog you need to know that nary a kid's birthday passes in the Fidler household without an annual blog. I can't remember when I started this little tradition, but it has definitely become tradition. So, with less than 2 hours left on this Cinco de Mayo, which is more importantly known as ELI'S BIRTHDAY in our household, let's continue the tradition,shall we?  (Run-on sentences are also a tradition. Sorry.)

On 5/5/05 our world got a whole lot sweeter. We welcomed 8 pound 4 oz. Joshua Eli Fidler into the world. Our family looked a little different then than it does now.

There's Josh with Baby Eli, (I think I called him Baby Eli until Baby Kate was born) :), Sarah and Abby. I had my hands full with 2 year old Sarah and Abby. The energy between the two of them could have launched a space shuttle. I was also in school full-time. I was wored out, but some kind of happy. Eli was the sweetest, easiest, most laid back baby. He slept longer sooner than both my girls. He nursed like a champ. He just hung out and took in the action. And there was a lot of action between Sarah and Abby. Sometimes I realize I don't have as many memories of Eli as a baby and it is simply because of the fact that he was so good. If it weren't for the fact that I couldn't stand to put him down I might have forgotten he was around.

Some of my favorite toddler Eli moments are when Sarah started kindergarten and Kate took really good naps during the day. I had just left my job with Hospice and was soaking up every minute of being at home. We would cuddle up in the recliner and read, "Down by the bay where the watermelons grow, back to my home I dare not go......" Do y'all know that story? I do. Eli did. He actually memorized the whole book.

Another fun time was potty training. Well, the potty training wasn't so fun, but I'll never forget the day I took him to the store to get his "big boy" potty. He spent the rest of the day taking it apart and putting it back together. I knew then that he was all boy. :) 


This year Eli started kindergarten and has excelled all the way. He just makes me so proud. He loves to learn new things, ask lots of questions, WIN, and run. He is sweet, gentle, competitive, inquisitive, athletic, and cuddly. And all boy. He loves any kind of sport, especially baseball, Star Wars, Legos, the Wii, riding bikes, scooters and skateboards, and watching movies. He adores his sisters. They adore him. He plays hard. So hard that he's gone through two pairs of shoes this year, and I mean literally gone through them. I finally threw away one pair that he insisted on wearing to church even when ALL 10 of his toes were exposed.

Eli, I always knew I would have an Eli and you are exactly what I thought he would be like. You are just so cool and awesome and I love being your Mom. I can't wait to see what this year holds! Happy Birthday!