Oldest
Birthday's bring with them all the emotions. I feel a sense of nostalgia and awe and celebration myself; I brought you into this world! Look! I've kept you alive!
Even though as years have passed, that's been less and less of a feat and his accomplishments are his own, not mine.
We got home from camping today at 10:30. He went straight to the mail box. He didn't find any mail. He looked around the house a bit. He did not complain. He didn't say a thing. I gave the littles some milk and sent them back to bed. I let him stay up and said he could play iPad if he wanted for his birthday, or he could help me make his cookie cake. He choose iPad, if he could still lick the spoon.
On your birthday? Of course!
I knew he had been looking for cards or presents. He didn't find any. Because I hid them. He did say, "Uncle Brian will come over," but he was very upbeat about it. And when I gave him the spoon of cookie dough to lick, conspiratorially telling him, "and this time you don't have to share with your siblings," he said ... this is the best birthday ever!
And I had such pride in that moment because he was grateful for what his birthday afforded him and wasn't going to ask for any more. So a few hours later when we were talking about baseball practice, I said well after baseball practice we can go check out whats in the closet. Maybe you should go take a peak. And he did and he got a big smile.
M: "you thought you weren't getting any presents, didn't you?"
G: "well you did say Main Event was my present."
M: "I did. And I'm so proud of you."
I mean I can't really even explain to him but it made me so happy. I love his grateful heart. Now I'm wishing I'd gotten him a pony. (I tease).
You could blow me over with a feather. How has this child seen so many revolutions around the sun? I barely recognize him in his baby pictures. He is growing into a fine young man that I actually enjoy hanging out with. He reads books voraciously and tells me all about them.
They read James and the Giant Peach and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane at school. He loved them. We watched the movie version of the first as a family and I want to get The Tale of Despereaux for us to read as a family next. My mom got him the Boxcar children and I think he'll really enjoy those too. He's ready for a tad bit more adventure in his stories but not quite too much. Edward Tulane had some scary parts he didn't quite enjoy and James and the goat peach the parents die, he didn't like that either.
But. Such is life.
I depend on this kid so much. Too much, probably. He has a lot of responsibilities helping me with the kids and that's kind of made him bossy. Can't blame him. Half the time I do ask him to mind the littles while I load the cart or deal with something else. Or when we're at practice and he has to watch Julia.
He is a blessing to me and he is so dependable, capable, good and kind. They honored him at school for being quick to take initiative and help others. His principal, as I've said in this space before, called him a leader in the school and they expect great things from him. This kid loves expectations and rules and meeting them. He is so sharp and clever. He's also a kid and everything rhymes with toilet humor. He also takes sarcasm too far, speaks out of turn, and is starting to eye roll, overwhelmingly sigh, and complain about how much he has to do.
But mostly he is even and kind and fun. Mostly he is willing to do anything if you'll play video games or battle ship with him.
He is starting to grow up and away. At camp this weekend, I was so excited to be there just him and me. But he didn't want to be there with me. He wanted to be with his Den. And he was frustrated with my interference. Which is okay. But again, he took it too far at certain points and was rude. Which we can't have. Boundaries have to be set. Okay to want to be on your own, son. Not okay to be rude to your mother.
He doesn't want to be a mama's boy. He is daddy's boy, all the way. And I wouldn't change a thing about his personality. We love him so.
Happy Birthday, my oldest son!
Even though as years have passed, that's been less and less of a feat and his accomplishments are his own, not mine.
On your birthday? Of course!
I knew he had been looking for cards or presents. He didn't find any. Because I hid them. He did say, "Uncle Brian will come over," but he was very upbeat about it. And when I gave him the spoon of cookie dough to lick, conspiratorially telling him, "and this time you don't have to share with your siblings," he said ... this is the best birthday ever!
And I had such pride in that moment because he was grateful for what his birthday afforded him and wasn't going to ask for any more. So a few hours later when we were talking about baseball practice, I said well after baseball practice we can go check out whats in the closet. Maybe you should go take a peak. And he did and he got a big smile.
M: "you thought you weren't getting any presents, didn't you?"
G: "well you did say Main Event was my present."
M: "I did. And I'm so proud of you."
I mean I can't really even explain to him but it made me so happy. I love his grateful heart. Now I'm wishing I'd gotten him a pony. (I tease).
You could blow me over with a feather. How has this child seen so many revolutions around the sun? I barely recognize him in his baby pictures. He is growing into a fine young man that I actually enjoy hanging out with. He reads books voraciously and tells me all about them.
They read James and the Giant Peach and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane at school. He loved them. We watched the movie version of the first as a family and I want to get The Tale of Despereaux for us to read as a family next. My mom got him the Boxcar children and I think he'll really enjoy those too. He's ready for a tad bit more adventure in his stories but not quite too much. Edward Tulane had some scary parts he didn't quite enjoy and James and the goat peach the parents die, he didn't like that either.
But. Such is life.
He is a blessing to me and he is so dependable, capable, good and kind. They honored him at school for being quick to take initiative and help others. His principal, as I've said in this space before, called him a leader in the school and they expect great things from him. This kid loves expectations and rules and meeting them. He is so sharp and clever. He's also a kid and everything rhymes with toilet humor. He also takes sarcasm too far, speaks out of turn, and is starting to eye roll, overwhelmingly sigh, and complain about how much he has to do.
But mostly he is even and kind and fun. Mostly he is willing to do anything if you'll play video games or battle ship with him.
He is starting to grow up and away. At camp this weekend, I was so excited to be there just him and me. But he didn't want to be there with me. He wanted to be with his Den. And he was frustrated with my interference. Which is okay. But again, he took it too far at certain points and was rude. Which we can't have. Boundaries have to be set. Okay to want to be on your own, son. Not okay to be rude to your mother.
He doesn't want to be a mama's boy. He is daddy's boy, all the way. And I wouldn't change a thing about his personality. We love him so.
Happy Birthday, my oldest son!
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