Flynn the 5 year old!

Flynn is 5! He's stepping out of toddlerhood and it feels good. He loves the new independence he's found with his new skills this year. He learned how to dress himself completely with no help and things all facing the right way(the vast majority of the time at least), He can put his shoes and socks on by himself, although he still prefers my help with his shoes, He can buckle himself in the car and open his own snacks. He also learned to swing himself, but again still prefers me to push him because I can make him go higher and faster than he can do by himself. It feels like we're right in between him needing me for most things and him having more independence. I love seeing the pride he exudes when he accomplishes something new on his own. I'm his biggest cheerleader!

I've learned a little more about Flynn this year. As he was getting older and still having a good amount of trouble with things usually attributed to a younger toddler I got curious. He struggles with emotional regulation, impulse control, focus and the inability to be quiet when asked. All signs of toddlerhood, yes but also signs of ADHD. By the time my older three kids were around 4 years old, they were able to have a lot more control over these tendencies. Flynn was not having as much progress as I was used to seeing by this age. I read a few articles and books my friend recommended to me and started to suspect Flynn may have ADHD. When I read the book "ADHD is Awesome" by Penn Holderness, I became convinced ADHD is something Flynn experiences at some level. I haven't had him diagnosed professionally and I don't plan too. I love what Penn says in his book, "We use ADHD as an explanation not an excuse." So, while I don't excuse any of Flynn's behavior I also understand that it's harder for him than others to have control over his emotions and actions. I've already seen a lot of progress for him this year. I think just having the knowledge of how he might be processing things helped a lot! I will continue to research and read and figure out better ways to help him improve in the areas he struggles in. I see the hard that ADHD brings and the awesome it brings as well. Flynn is as LOUD and he is FUN! I love him all the ways!

Flynn's deep love of blankets has continued and with ADHD in mind it makes total sense! He wraps it around his head a lot like this. It seems to help him not be as sensitive to noises that bother him and helps him calm down when feelings become overwhelming. Flynn used to take his blankets with him lots of places to have some comfort from home with him anywhere. In the past year that is faded away and he rarely brings a blanket out of the house. I see it as a sign of growth for sure! But I still love to see him carrying his blankets around the house and to see him bundle himself up at night. My sweet boy! 

Flynn seems to love the activity that having 4 siblings brings! There's always someone to talk to and play with. Which is perfect, since those are the two things he likes doing most! (Other than maybe snacking) Jane and Flynn have stopped having arguments that just say, "I don't like you!" back and forth and have moved to mutual indifference most of the time. They are both very silly and excitable people though so they do make each other laugh a good amount. Atlas and Flynn have grown closer this year. There is still a lot of brotherly irritating, but they really have fun together now. So much so that it makes Alexandria sad when Flynn will go off to play with Atlas instead of staying with her. Xan and Flynn are buddies. They LOVE to play together. Sometime Xan will be a little too specific with her game and Flynn will decide he's done and it will make Xan sad, but otherwise they are almost always playing something together. Piper and Flynn have become friends over the past year! I'm so glad! He will share with her now. (not all the time, but I'm happy with progress!) And they will play together in the backyard together pretty well too! I love my Daniels kid crew!!

Weight

Birth: 6lbs 6oz

1 Year Old: 20lbs 13oz

2 Years Old: 26lbs 4oz

3 Years Old: 30lbs

4 Years Old: 34lbs

5 Years Old: 37lbs

We haven’t been to a well check in a while. I keep forgetting to schedule one honestly! But I looked back at my older 3’s weight and he’s lighter than Jane and Xan, but almost exactly the same as Atlas. Flynn doesn’t like to sit and eat for long and he’s so active. Not really a recipe to put on pounds. He seems like a healthy size for his height so I’m happy. I just hope he’ll start being less picky on food and eat more protein!

Height

Birth: 20 Inches

1 Year Old: 28.5 Inches

2 Years Old: 34 Inches

3 Years Old: 36.25 inches

4 Years Old: 39.5 inches

5 Years Old: 3' 5"/41 Inches

Flynn has never been tall. I wonder if he’ll shoot up at some point. I’m sort of expecting him to be a fit, athletic boy that’s on the shorter side like my brother and dad. He definitely seems to have more Daugherty looks and tendencies. I could be wrong though! Hard to tell at 5 years old. He’s an inch shorter than my older 3 kids by the time they turned 5. I hadn’t even noticed that all 3 of them were all around 3’ 6” at 5!

A Year in Pictures: Firsts & Favorite Moments

This section of my blog is my favorite! It also takes the most time to go through all the pictures and find the moments that were firsts and favorites. I absolutely love seeing them all together in order here, so it’s totally worth the time it takes to put together! I hope you enjoy!

First Potty Candy - Dec '23

First urgent care visit - Jan '24

First time playing his own video game - Jan '24

First Go-kart ride - Feb '24

First Brains & Brawn Club - Mar '24

First buzz cut! April '24
(Flynn was seeing his new haircut for the first time in this pic)

First time holding a fledgling - May '24

First time watching a chrysalis hatch - Jun '24 

First time sitting on a excavator! - Jun '24

First Hurricane! - Jul '24

Looking sharp! - Jul '24

Big drawing of siren head - Aug '24

First time trying the lake inflatables - Aug ‘24

First regular bed! - Sep '24

First play - Oct ‘24

Potty trained for #2! - Oct '24

First time climbing a tree by himself - Oct '24

Learning to swing himself! - Oct '24

First time trying VR - Nov '24

Turning 5! - Dec '24

Favorites

Flynn LOVES to snack, especially if that snack has even a small amount of sweetness to it. He’s a sugar addict even though I restrict sugar quite a bit. I can barely get him to eat any meat. Bread, fruit and cheese is what he lives off of. His favorites are strawberries, blueberries, grapes, grilled cheese and tomato soup, cheese sticks or sliced or grated cheese, yogurts, white Mac and cheese, crescent rolls, biscuits, cheesy bread pizza but no other pizza! Cool ranch Doritos, chocolate milk and popcorn. He has many other snacks he loves, but I’ll stop there. I can’t think of a candy or sweet he refuses, but he really loves popsicles and any fruity candy. He says McDonalds is his favorite food. (He calls it Old McDonald’s) :D

Whatever toy is new is Flynn’s favorite toy! He adores his birthday presents so much and then forgets about them a week later. And of course whatever toy his siblings get is also what he wants to play with most! There are a few toys he’ll come back to again and again. He loves his lego marble run! He just asked me to build it with him again. He enjoys his siren head figures and hot wheels cars too. He was very excited to get a pop rocket for his birthday.

Flynn's patience for books really grew this year. He will sit and listen to almost any picture book I will read to him. He also really loves when I read aloud a chapter book at bedtime. Not so much because he is enjoying the book, but he likes to hear my voice next to him in bed while he falls asleep. He gets disappointed when I don't have a chance to read at bedtime. I really try to make sure it happens most nights! Any and all of his favorite books are about natural disasters! Every time we go grab our library holds he asks if there's a volcano book for him. There is a little story about the picture book he is holding above. My sister-in-law, Anna, wrote a book called Reaching for Grace and part of the book revolves around a hurricane hitting a coastal town. She asked for name suggestions for the hurricane and I said it really should be Flynn. He is the disaster loving kid! She agreed, so Hurricane Flynn is in the book! I sent Anna this picture later on and said, "Look! He is the storm!" ;) 

Flynn is my most active kid! He loves alllll the activities. Swimming is probably number 1 since he never wants to get out of the pool. He also loves to jump on the trampoline (especially if I get on to double jump him), swinging, sliding, climbing, running, playing in sand, dancing, doing puzzles, playing the kindle and imagining with Alexandria.

Flynn loves to browse Netflix! His favorite shows change often. His very favorite thing to watch is siren head on YouTube, which I don't allow very often at all. He also like to watch videos about natural disasters and marble runs. Other favorite shows are Ryan's world, Blippi, Gabby's dollhouse, Blues Clues, AFV, Bluey, Creature Cases and True (the mount huff and puff episode).

Flynn's favorite place to go is not hard to figure out. He asks all year when we are going back to Camp Tejas! <3 Second is also very clear. He adores the beach and asks when we can go often, even in the middle of winter. Other favorite places are Marmee and Pappaw's house, home, <3 the library, any friend's house (because of new to him toys), the park, Cidercade, Open Gym, the grocery store and the interactive zoo and aquarium. He loves to go almost anywhere!

Finish

Flynn is a challenge, but definitely the good kind of challenge in my opinion. He humbles me, keeps me on my toes, challenges my self-control and patience, makes me laugh out loud constantly, creates fun in every day, helps me understand neurodivergent mind, develops my problem solving and pushes me outside my comfort zone daily. There's no threat of stagnancy with Flynn around. He is my always moving, always talking, mostly loud, silly, bold, funny, crazy boy. With Flynn there are only two modes. On or off. He is 100% or nothing. He gives his all in everything he does. Which means he is very invested and very upset when he does not achieve his goal. It can lead to monumental meltdowns. We are doing our best to work through them. His natural speaking volume is on high. I often have to tell him I'm right in front of him and he doesn't have to yell. I honestly think he has no idea of how loud he's talking until I bring it to his attention. He is the best sleeper in the family. He will say, "I'm ready to go to bed" almost every night at bedtime. When no one else will admit their tiredness, Flynn will. He sleeps through almost everything, even falling out of his bed. Haha! I don't think I could handle two Flynns in my house, ;) but man, am I glad God gave me one. Life is always an adventure with Flynn and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Happy 5th Birthday Flynn Flynn!! We love you so much!

John 8:31-32

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”