Read a Book ... Reach a Milestone

My son is five years old. He loves Hot Wheels and Power Rangers. He loves to figure things out, like puzzles and words. He loves having stories read to him.

Last night, for the first time, my boy read his own book. All by himself.

I was absolutely blown away. I knew he could pick up individual words, or a quick sentence here and there. But an entire book? I know I surely couldn't read by the age of five, not like that. Granted, it wasn't a very difficult book, as far as books go. But it was a book that was new to him, a first for him. Here's what he read:

The Friendly Snowman
by Sharon Gordon

Last night, it snowed.
The wind blew.
The snow fell.
Today, we will make a snowman.
What does a snowman need?
A snowman needs a body.
We will make his big, round body. [He got hung up on "round"]
A snowman needs arms.
We will make his big, fat arms.
A snowman needs a head.
We will make his big, round head.
What else does a snowman need? [He got hung up on "else"]
A snowman needs two eyes.
He needs two ears.
He needs a nose.
And he needs a mouth.
What else does a snowman need?
He needs a jacket.
A snowman needs a warm jacket.
He needs a scarf.
A snowman needs a warm scarf.
He needs a hat.
A snowman needs a big, floppy hat.
He needs a pipe.
A snowman needs a big, fat pipe.
What else does he need?
He needs a friend.
We will make the snowman a friend!

Little by little my baby boy is fading away and in his place is a big, bright boy who amazes me each day, as new milestones are reached and new feats accomplished. You should have seen his smile when he finished with "The End."

I am grateful.
The end.