Tyler at 6

Another year older...it's hard to believe. People have been telling me lately that Tyler looks different, more grown up. It's hard to see when I spend my everyday with him and it doesn't even really show up in my age 5 to age 6 comparison but I know he had changed. He's looking more grown up and acting more grown up.

Age 6

Age 5

Stats:
Age 6: (home stats...no doctor this year (wahoo))
weight: 45.6 lb
height: 46.25 in

Age 5:
weight: 40.2 lb
height: 43 in.

Tyler is much the same boy as last year in many respects. He still loves to snuggle, still loves soft snuggly things, still calls me up to his room for snuggles every morning. He still wants to be carried down stairs to start his day. He still loves his blanket and teddy bear more than anything. Deep down he is still a sweet sweet boy that loves his family, loves happy things, and loves just hanging out at home. But of course there are many changes as well. Tyler is far more independent. He is more able at playing independently (as long as Dave and I are in the room) though his favorite is playing with Hailey. He is fine being with his friends socially and has no problem with me leaving or hanging back. I see the "boy" in him coming out as he makes new friends and finds his way in world of "Kindergarten". He still tests the boundaries and I'm sure like every kid he always will. But thankfully he's still my boy, still a rule follower for the most part, and constantly growing and changing.

Tyler is making big strides in reading. He is starting to learn his sight/heart words and is able to ready some short beginner reader books now. I can't wait for him to learn how to read. He loves being read to so much and I'm sure that will never change. But I know he is going to love reading novels. He just loves stories. Of course when you can sit through your dad reading Harry Potter, it's hard to spend 15 minutes working hard to read "Pat is a cat". It's not nearly as interesting to him. It's easy to see when his heart and mind aren't into his reading and he gets absorbed in the pictures again. Tyler has a broad and vast vocabulary. Sometimes he really makes me smile at the complicated sentences and "grown up" words he uses. He still loves to write and I find him trying to write new words, sounding them out. Tyler loves to draw as much now as ever. When he is motivated he does amazing things. He doesn't draw daily but when inspiration strikes he will site down and work hard on his project.

Legos are still his life and are a part of his everyday. He LOVES kits and can work through the directions of even a very complicated kit all by himself. He also loves making his own creations with loose legos. He gets inspired by something he sees or a lego kit he sees and he makes his own version. He is very creative and very intricate in his designs. His biggest love of all is the lego minifigures.

Outdoors Tyler still loves to run, bike, hit baseballs, hit golf balls, and play tennis. He is an excellent swimmer. He played indoor soccer last spring and outdoor soccer this fall. Tyler is going to try a basketball clinic this winter which is a little different than the YMCA basketball we did last spring. And though Dave is heading up all baseball stuff, I believe Tyler will be doing Tball this spring (he could easily do without the Tee though).

Right now he is interested in Knights, Castles, Bugs, Sea Creatures, Lego videos on the computer, Harry Potter books, Dad's stories, art projects, finding books at the library, ninjas, pirates....just to name a few things.

A list of favorites....I'm asking him this very second and he is six and the answer might be different 5 minutes from now.

Color: black

Movie: Astro Boy (only seen this once)

TV show: Penguins, Electric Company, Word Girl, Miss Spider

Food: Cheese burgers, shrimp

Thing to do: Legos, park

Song: Soul Sister

Person to play with: Mom

Want to go to: Disneyland

Wants to learn: how to build awesomer legos (straight out of his mouth)

Pants: soft pants or dark colored jeans

Tyler's really happy face....one of my favorites