Happy 5th Birthday, Chandler!

I don't even want to make this post.  Not because Chandler's 5th birthday isn't a joyous occasion, but because it shouldn't even be here yet!  It feels like my little Chan should be more like...I don't know...3 maybe?  Where did the time go??  Five years have literally just flown by.

And I consider myself BEYOND BLESSED to have been given this sweet, precious angel boy for these past five years.  I thank God daily for allowing me to be his Momma and pray that I can live up to the task, though I fear that I fail far too often.  I want to be the best Momma I can be, not for me, but for him.  Because he deserves it...and more.

Right now as I am typing, it is 5:15 p.m.  In another two and a half hours I will officially have a 5 year old.  Unbelievable...  Anyhoo, for Chan's birthday post I thought that instead of sitting here typing all of my thoughts, feelings, & memories while sobbing uncontrollably, I would go back and take a look through his past birthdays.  I chose a few of my favorite photos from each day of my little guy.  Amazing how much he changes each year.  Hope you enjoy.

Meeting Chandler for the first time.  Best birthday gift EVER! 

Chandler Keaton Koehn, September 6, 2007.  Born 7:45 p.m.  This was taken about 9:00 p.m.

One year later.  Celebrating 1 Year with a jungle themed bash!  (And the last bday we would celebrate at our old house.)

Going in for the cake....

Fast forward to 2009.  Celebrating 2 years with Elmo & friends.

Chan's 2 year birthday present--he still rides this ALL.THE.TIME.

One of my very faves of my 2 year old little guy.

Three years & counting!  2010

Celebrated 3 with MOTORBIKES!  I've never seen a child so in love with them as he was!

It ROCKS to be THREE!  (with cousin Katelyn)

Last year on Chan's 4th birthday, 2011

Birthday was on a school day, so we had a mini-celebration that day

Followed by a Pump It Up party with friends that weekend

John Deere tractor cake, per his request

And finally our family party at home.  Love this sweet big boy!

He got just what he'd been begging Nana for...his tractor.

Me & my 5 year old today after school.

Another birthday on a school day, so we are saving the par-tay until Saturday.  Cake first, then the birthday boy is picking dinner.  I kinda hope he picks O'Charley's because I would love a piece of caramel pie :)

Happy Birthday, Chandler!  I hope your day is as sweet, fun, happy, and full of love as you are!  Love you to the moon and back, over and over again!!!

I will end today's post with the words that I write in Chandler's (and now Liam's, too) birthday card every year.  From Love You, Forever, a book that I simply cannot get through without crying (even though I never had that problem before I was a Mommy):

"I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always.

As long as I'm living my baby you'll be."

~Robert Munsch~

Till next week friends!

Brittany :)