Today you are eight years old. Eight? How is that possible? It seems like just yesterday when I held you for the 1st time and studied your tiny little fingers and toes. If I close my eyes long enough I can still see your tiny rosebud mouth and your cute little button nose, I can feel the soft fuzz of your newborn head and I can still hear that precious newborn cry.
My 1st born. The beginning of my mothering journey. Right before my eyes flashed hopes and dreams for you. I was going to be the perfect mother. The one that did everything right and knew all the answers. I quickly learned that there is no such thing as a perfect mother. That although I do my best, I fail often. I have learned that being a mother is humbeling. That sometimes the best laid plans go to the wayside and in the end, all that really matters is all the little moments. The moments of laughter, smiles and shared memories.
I look at you in awe. I am just in much as love with you now as I was then. I have watched you learn to roll over, to crawl, to walk, to ride your bike. Just today I watched as you buzzed by me on your rip stick, I thought to myself " How can eight years feel like 8 weeks?"
You are the oldest of four. This means that you have three siblings that adore you and look up to you. It means that you have a 2 year old brother that wants to be just like you. It means you have a 5 year old sister that wants to be involved in your social life and thinks your friends should be her friends as well. It means you have a baby sister that laughs in delight when you sit down to play with her.
At times you find this big brother role flattering. You will take your time as your brother & sister try to play basketball with you and ride their bikes as fast as you. And you display patience as you show your siblings how to play a wii game with you or build a castle out of legos. Yet, there are times when your tag a longs become annoying and slow you down, times when they dump out your toys, make a mess in your room or destroy that castle that only moments before were helping you build.
It also means that you get to do things 1st. That each new stage is uncharted waters in this parenting journey of mine. I have so enjoyed watching and experiencing all those first moments with you. Moments that will forever be special to me because as a Mom, I experienced them 1st with you.
I am so proud of the person you are and are still becoming. Your kindness and compassion is amazing, the way you take time to play with your younger siblings is heartwarming and your caring heart makes me smile daily. I am so blessed that God choose me to be your mom.
Tonight we celebrated your birthday with good friends and the very much requested dirt cake. It was a fun evening. Although we are far away from family, we have been blessed with wonderful friends.
This year I watched you fall in love with a puppy and grieve as you said good-bye to her. It was heartbreaking. I cried more tears for your grieve than I did for my own. Today I watched as you danced around the house waiting patiently for Dad to come home with your new dog. Although I know that no dog will ever replace Kalae, I have big hopes that Cooper with be loved as much by you as Kalae was.
Happy 8th Birthday Broedy!
Love,
Mommy
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