Happy 7th Birthday Jack!!

So my baby is 7!!

Jack is so smart, and funny, and quirky, and true to himself. No one can tell Jack who he is or what he likes - he already knows. For a while last year, he thought he may have outgrown Thomas the Train - his favorite of many years! But summer break rekindled his love, and trains have taken over our house once again.

Jack has so many friends. He loves seeing familiar faces from last year and the year before, and reconnects like no time has passed. And he wants to be included in everyone else's friendships too - Maggie's friends and my friends become his friends as well in no time at all.

Jack's compassion has been known for far too long. Although it wasn't in the most recent year, he loves to recount the story of when he 'rescued the baby mice' (cracked open all the eggs in the refrigerator!).

I also love that Jack is so grateful for everything! He is constantly thanking people for things from gifts, to thoughtful words and gestures, to thanking his father and I just for feeding him - hahaha...

I'm so blessed and lucky at the caring, loving, funny boy Jack is growing into. Every day is a new adventure, and I'm so happy to be sharing it with him.

Happy Sixth Birthday to Jack

I didn't feel right closing up my day and going to bed without a special post for my son Jack. He turned six today.

He's the kid who does the right thing, for the right reason. He wore a new dinosaur shirt for the first time last week, and his comment on the way out the door was, "[Particular boy in his class] will LOVE this shirt. Dinosaurs are his favorite!" It made me so happy to be raising a boy who wants to see other people happy. Not for his own gain or benefit, but just because happy is good, right?

His excitement for life is unmatched. He practically vibrated yesterday and today for the parties he had to celebrate his birthday with his friends and family. And his sudden embarrassment when his enthusiasm got the best of him... he yelled, "I love this shit!" in the middle of opening presents with family. The next youngest family member is his ten-year-old sister, and the rest of the room was adults. He said sometimes he just couldn't help it! I said he'd learn to help it if he wanted to keep his behavior chart clean at school and keep playing his video games. He gets it.

Jack is such a snuggle-bum for mom. He tells me all day, unprompted, "I love you," or "I love you more," depending on what's going on. He loves to climb in the big bed and curl up next to me for at least a few minutes before the alarm goes off. When he gives me a big hug, all is right with the world.

He loves to tease us, and tell whoever he's talking to that they're his second-favorite. "I love you, but I love Maggie best." Or he'll tell Maggie, "I love you, but I love Addy best." And the smirk he gives tells you that many people have all his heart.

I think he loves to laugh the best, and his sister is the one who can really get him going. If any shadow of disappointment crosses his face, she is so dedicated to 'turning his frown upside down.' I'm sure life will have its challenges for him, but for now, I love that he's such a happy, smart, funny, loving boy. He has the qualities that will get him far.

And today, he celebrated a wonderful birthday <3

Happy Holidays!

Wordless Wednesday

The loves of my life...

Happy Second Birthday, Jack!

Oh, my boy. You are certainly two.

When you're happy, the whole world can't help but smile with you. When you're not happy, though..look out!

The full happy squeal lasts just a minute, then you usually look pretty content or contemplative about the world around you. I call you my grumpy old man much of the time, but I know you're keeping that smile on the inside.

Every time you climb up on me when you're supposed to be going to sleep, and I find it's just so you can give me another kiss, you melt my heart a little more.

I can't wait to hear everything you have to say, but at the same time I don't want to rush you growing up. Because you are my baby. Our family is complete.

It's hard to talk about you without mentioning your sister, since she was everything I knew about babies and toddlers until you came along. You made my previous knowledge frequently useless, but that's okay. It's an adventure I love to learn about you. And I'm pretty sure you don't mind having your sister mentioned in your birthday post, as she is definitely your favorite.

That overpowering joy that you just can't hold back? I get to see it every day when your sister walks off her school bus. You run to her, giggling and screaming her name, until you hug each other and we begin the walk home. It would only take five minutes by myself, but you have so much exploring to do every day that it takes much, much longer. But I hate to rush you when you're enjoying yourself so much.

Thank you, Jack, for choosing us as your family. I hope we always love each other as much as we do now, or even more.