Happy Birthday, Little Middle!

Dear Little Middle,

March 25, 2004 was a Thursday. It was a beautiful, sunny spring day. Signs of new life--promises of bright new beginnings--were all around me. That day started like any other day, but by the time the sun set on that Thursday evening, I had a new beginning of my very own: I had you in my arms.

I have, for the most part, adored The Year You Were Seven. The difference I see in you from your last birthday to this one is extraordinary! You have done quite a bit of growing this year, small sir. If we still kept up with that growth chart the way I did when you boys were little, I wouldn't be surprised to see that you've added a good three or four inches. And I won't even talk about your shoe size here...

Your body isn't the only part of you that has grown. The most important decision you will ever make happened this year. Just a couple of months ago, you realized that you needed Jesus, and you invited Him to be your Savior. What a sweet moment that was! I will forever count myself privileged to have been by your side when you prayed that life-changing prayer. The enthusiasm you showed in the days following your decision were life-altering for me. There's no way you could have known it, but your spark touched a place deep inside of me that was hurting and dark. You see, I was close to your same age when I chose Jesus. I've loved Him for as long as I can remember, but I don't always understand Him...especially lately. Your fresh faith reminded me that my own faith doesn't have to be complicated, and that love is enough.

Many family members came to our church to see you and Goliath be baptized together. Precious, precious day that I will treasure in my heart for the rest of my days. You were so careful going down the steps into the water because you had been warned that it could be slippery. Goliath was practically on his way to heaven before you got into the baptistery!

And speaking of your big brother...While we enjoyed your birthday muffins this morning, we were laughing about how the novelty of you wore off on Goliath after just a couple of weeks. At age 2, he quickly moved from being proud of his little brother to trying to get rid of you by dragging your infant seat out into the front yard. Hmmmm....it's funny how some things don't change much. You're growing up and your relationships with your brothers are sometimes tumultuous, and sometimes hilarious. You are the only one in this household who has to master the arts of being both a little and a big brother, and you know what? No one else could be better suited for it. It's tough at times, but you're doing a great job.

Another thing I've loved watching this year is how you've developed your friendships. I worried so much that our move to our new house (and subsequently, your new school) would adversely affect your friendships. Silly me. You've managed to make new friends and keep up with your old ones. You told me recently, "Mom, there are two popular kids in my class." I asked you who they were, and you said, "Well, one is definitely me. The other one is just some girl." Then I had the audacity to ask you how you knew that you are popular at school. You replied with exasperation, "Because kids fight to sit next to me at lunch." Duh.

Funny thing is, I believe you.

You still love Legos. Your new goal is to build something awesome enough to get you recognized in the Lego magazine. The Lego city that you built won't fit into your Lego closet (you're the only kid I know who has a whole closet dedicated to Legos, by the way), so it remains in the game room. I just vacuum around it.

You like video games when the mood strikes you. You LOVE to ride your bike and you are getting quite good at skateboarding. You want to be outside as much as possible. You eat Toaster Strudels for breakfast every day. I let you not because I'm a good mom, but just because they make you so happy.

Do you want to know what my favorite part of the day is? It's when I tuck you in to bed at night. You might be growing up, but every single night you still raise up your hands to me and simply say, "Hug." Those hugs mean the world to me, Little Middle. You might not fit in my arms quite like you did on our first night together, but there will always be plenty of room for you in my arms and in my heart.

Your hugs and your smile are the light of my life. Happy Birthday, sweet boy.

Love,

Mom

Good News!

"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9

Tonight I held Little Middle's hand and listened with a full heart as he asked Jesus to be the Savior of his life. Welcome to the forever family, precious boy. Jesus and Mommy love you very, very much.

Trusting Jesus

I received this message from Little Middle's Sunday School teacher:

"...I asked the class to draw a picture of a time they had to trust Jesus. I was touched when he shared that he had to trust Jesus when you were diagnosed with cancer for the 2nd time. He's a precious boy!"

This is the picture that my Little Middle drew:

"For you are my hope; O Lord God, you are my trust from my youth and the source of my confidence. " Psalm 71:5

Happy Birthday, Little Middle!

Dear Little Middle,

Today you turned 7 years old. Seven! Tonight, even as I write this, you and several of your friends are running like wild men through our house. They've been invited to your birthday party--your first sleepover! (You made sure that I knew that girls have slumber parties, but boys have sleepovers. Big difference.) Daddy and I are exhausted, but every balloon, pizza slice, and drained juice box is absolutely worth it for the big smile that you are wearing on your face.

I wonder how many more birthdays you will celebrate before I stop calling you my "little" middle? I would guess a lifetime's worth, but you're not so little anymore, are you? I became more aware of it over the last few months when people started commenting that you look so tall...and then you outgrew all of your pants to prove it. Your long legs and big feet are constant reminders that you are well on your way to dwarfing me!

First grade has been an adventure, hasn't it? God was good and blessed you with another fabulous teacher this year. Lucky for us, she is a sports fan. That has motivated you to enjoy the classroom and put forth a good effort at school. Otherwise, your grades might reflect your overall learning philosophy: If it's something that interests you, it's worth learning. Otherwise, you don't waste time on it. Same with reading. Every time we go to the library, you make a beeline for the animal non-fiction section. You know exactly which shelves house the books about snakes, lizards, crocodiles, and other creepy crawlies. Those books are pretty much the only ones you want to read...and I suspect that it's just as much for the pictures as anything else!

In spite of your limited repertoire, you've become a good reader this year. You read all of your own birthday cards today. What fun! I still remember when you first read Dr. Seuss to me. You've come a long way since then!

Aside from icky animals, your other two affections are still Star Wars and Legos. I cleaned out your closet earlier this week, and I could not believe how many teeny tiny Lego pieces I picked up! They were everywhere. Your creativity is astonishing, though. You will easily sit for an hour or more at a time while you are building something. I often find you sitting on your closet floor, surrounded by the small, colorful blocks.

I tried to steer you away from a Star Wars-themed birthday party this year, but I failed miserably. This is your third one in a row. I guess nothing comes close to the awesomeness that happened long long ago in a galaxy far far away.

Over the last few months the dynamics of your relationships with Goliath and Baby have begun to change. You and Baby still are (and always will be, I think) the best of friends. But as friends sometimes do, you get on each other's nerves. I see your desire to be included in more "big boy" stuff--namely, whatever your big brother has going on. Many afternoons, I am walking a fine line between giving you the independence you need and giving him the privacy he needs. Hang in there, buddy. Your time is coming. It won't be long before you will come and go with your friends and ride your bike around the neighborhood minus a parent. Trust me on this.

Our family dynamics have changed some over the past year, too. The Year You Were Six will forever be marked as the Year of the Sickness. How I hope and pray you don't remember it when you're all grown up! I have spent a lot of time feeling guilty over my perceived failures as your mother--like when I had to stop volunteering at your school, when I couldn't go on your field trip, and when I had to trust someone else to take care of you because I wasn't able to. But then I step back and take a good look at you. I realize that there are some things that life--cancer included--can not change: it can't change the fact that God created you to be exactly what He wants you to be. And He made you for me. No one else could be your mother. God picked ME. And you know what, Little Middle? I think I am the luckiest mom in the whole wide world.

You make me so happy, my sweet 7-year-old. And no matter how big you get, you will always be my Little Middle.

Love,

Mom

NCBE: First Day of School

First Day of School!

Little Middle is going to first grade.

Goliath is going to third grade.

Little Middle is proud of his new backpack!

Brothers and best buddies.

Ready to go into his classroom--too big for Mom to go with him.

This little guy also told us that he didn't need us to go with him to his classroom.

"I can do it all by myself, Mom."

I couldn't bear to let him go alone...maybe when he goes to high school.

The cowboys had a great first day! They both like their teachers and have lots of friends in their classes. Baby loved his first day, too, because he got the Wii all to himself!

Welcome back, School Year. I have missed you.

NCBE: Little Middle Laughs

Little Middle is one of the funniest kids I know!

"Did I just die and go to 'busgetti' and meatball heaven?"--while enjoying a dinner prepared by Chef Daddy

"On our next vacation, I think we should go to Lost Vegas."--while driving through the airport

"Mommy, can you please come fix the light bulb in my closet? I think it needs new batteries."--while looking for his Star Wars guys

Opposites

Tonight during dinner Little Middle and I were playing the Opposites Game. It's a favorite around here: I say "up," he says "down." I say "white," he says "black." You get the picture.

After a few rounds, I asked him, "How are you and me opposites of each other?"

He said, "Well, you're big and I'm little." Right.

"You're a girl and I'm a boy." Uh huh.

"You're a grown-up and I'm a kid." Yes!

"I have hair and you don't." Ouch.

All the bravery and good humor in the world can't change the truth. And sometimes, the truth really hurts.

Deep Thinker

"Mommy, I bet it is very quiet in Sign Language Land."--Little Middle

Kindergarten Graduate

My Little Middle graduated from kindergarten yesterday. Where did the year go? It seems like I just left him sitting at his little table on the first day of school, seeming very small and looking very much like he still needed me. Now he is a much taller, much more independent first grader!

Little Middle and his friends wowed their audience by demonstrating some of what they have learned this year. They said the pledges to the American and Texas flags, sang a string of songs, and showed off some awesome dance moves.

Then it was time for awards. As it should be when you are six years old, every friend got an award. But my kindergarten kid got THE award. At least, that's my humble opinion! I confess that my eyes filled with tears and my heart swelled with pride as I watched him accept his award for being the "Kindest Student." Mrs. W said that Little Middle is always the one who has a kind word to say or a helping hand to lend to anyone who needs one. It won't matter later on if he is the best artist or the quickest math whiz, but it will always matter how he treats people. This is a lesson he has learned well.

Daddy was unable to attend the graduation because of work, but Poppy was in town helping hold down the fort, and we were so glad he could come!

We finished the day with some celebration swimming in the backyard and a yummy dinner out at Freddy's. One more school day, and we will welcome summer!

Happy boys...proud mom.

Camp Momanmee 2010

This weekend I got to take Little Middle to Camp Momanmee at our church! This special event for Pre-K and Kindergarten boys and their moms is something we look forward to all year long. On Friday afternoon, Little Middle got home from school at 3:15. At 3:17, he said, "Mom, is it time to go to church yet?" I had a tough time keeping him distracted for the rest of the afternoon--I finally gave up and we arrived 20 minutes before camp was supposed to start!

Ready to go!

Enjoying a hot dog dinner with his good pal Cody

This year's Camp Momanmee had a "critter" theme. If there was ever a little boy who loved all creatures great and small, it is my Little Middle! He was especially excited about seeing CritterMan and all of his unique (and icky) animals.

Excited friends waiting for CritterMan!

Rose the Tarantula

Did you know that if a girl tarantula gets mad at a boy tarantula then she will rip his head off with her fangs and eat him? Yikes.

Legs the legless lizard

"Kubwa Mududu"--Swahili for "big bug"

This Madagascar hissing cockroach was indeed a kubwa mududu. Little Middle was thrilled when CritterMan asked him to help out with the giant bug. Me--not so much.

Little Middle was not afraid to pet this huge skink...

or this enormous python!

He asked me in the sweetest voice if I would pretty please touch the snake, too. Only a mother's love could oblige a request like that! Shudder.

After CritterMan left with his pets, we had plenty of other fun things to do.

We hunted for bugs,

made smores,

jumped in the bounce house,

went for a walk in the dark with our flashlights,

and watched a late-night movie.

Finally asleep!

I had a spectacular time with my boy, and I know we will both hold on to the memories we made together for a long, long time. Hooray for being a boy mom!

Happy Birthday, Little Middle!

Dear Little Middle,

You are six years old today! I feel like I say it every year, but really...where is the time going? Easter is just around the corner, and I was remembering today that when you were a tiny infant, we had this silly little footie pajama outfit that I put you in on Easter Sunday. It had ducks on the feet part. I clearly remember you laying in your crib and kicking those little duck heads all around. It wasn't the greatest outfit I have ever dressed you in, but you were sweet enough then to be adorable in duck footies. You've shown me that some of the most important things in life don't change.

This has been a big year for you! One of the biggest things that has happened is that you started school. You were pretty nervous about going, but your great personality and sweet spirit have made it easy for you to fit in and make friends. It was just a few months ago that you read the first pages of a book--Green Eggs and Ham!!--and now there's not much you can't read! You like math, and every time your class starts a new unit in social studies, you scour your bedroom looking for an acceptable toy or book to share with your friends. God was listening when I asked Him for the perfect kindergarten teacher for you. Mrs. W has become my friend, too, and we have a great time together talking about how wonderful you are! The two of you share a birthday--what a fun day it was today at kindergarten!

Another big thing that has happened this year is that you have become quite the little athlete. You are really into karate and soccer. I almost could not bear your cuteness the first time I saw you in your karate uniform! You have surprised us with your affection for this sport, which involves quite a bit of one-on-one with the instructor. You never seem intimidated or shy in class, and even less during tournaments! You have brought home two first-place trophies and one second-place trophy, all of which you display proudly in your room.

You, my son, have turned me into the stereotypical "soccer mom." I carry lawn chairs in the back of my SUV, kick soccer balls with you in the backyard, and spend my spring Saturday mornings cheering for you from the sidelines. You love the game, and you are good at it. Daddy and I are so proud of you!

You can be silly, and you make us laugh a lot. Some of my favorite quotes are credited to you! You recently said to your little brother, "Baby, you are a tumbleweed," and told me that you wanted to change your middle name to Cheese Sauce. I don't know where you come up with this stuff, but I love it!

You are still a big fan of Star Wars and Legos. You love to be outside, and you only wear shoes if we specifically tell you to put them on. You like to be comfortable--you love your "soft" pants and shorts, and I don't think you could ever have too many pairs of pajamas! You like video games, bike rides, and going to church. You adore cheese pizza and "special" beds on the floor.

A few weeks ago we had a family meeting. Daddy and I had the hard job of telling you and your brothers that my cancer had come back. You were sad--not so much because you understand all that cancer really means, but because you love me and you don't want me to be sick. Since then, I've had surgery and have been resting a lot at home. Just the other day, you came in and asked if you could lie down with me. It was cold outside, and it felt good to cuddle with you. After you were all situated under the covers, you snuggled up to me, and ever so softly began to sing the old Beatles hit "One Is the Loneliest Number."

Precious little boy, there are a lot of things in this life that I'm just not certain about. But here are a few things I know for sure: I am never lonely when I am with you. You, sweet boy, fill my heart with love and joy. Getting to be your mom is one of the greatest privileges of my life. You are important to our family, and you are cemented in my heart. You and your brothers are the reasons I will fight as hard as I can, because I don't want to miss one minute of YOU.

Happy Birthday, Little Middle. Your mommy loves you.

Love,

Mommy

Wordless Wednesday

Back to School

I welcomed the first day of school with a mix of relief (it's FINALLY here!) and sadness. Today I sent two of my babies off to school...Goliath to second grade and Little Middle to kindergarten.

They were SO excited!

Ready for 2nd grade

Ready for kindergarten

Showing off their new backpacks

Sweet brothers

The first day of school is always a family affair...everyone was up early, dressed, and ready to go in plenty of time! We took Little Middle to his classroom first. He had no trouble opening up his locker, hanging up his cowboy backpack, and finding his seat. He got right to work, pausing only for a quick photo op with his new teacher.

We left Little Middle happily gluing Cheerios at his desk and walked Goliath to his classroom. He is an old pro at school by now, and settled quickly in his desk and got busy! I suspect that it may not be as cool to have your parents linger in your classroom when you're in 2nd grade...so I took one picture of my first-born and made my exit:

Both boys had a fantastic first day! I asked God to pave the way for my boys today and to make school a fun, exciting place where they want to be. He must have heard my prayer, because when I asked Little Middle this afternoon if he liked kindergarten well enough to go back tomorrow, he answered, "I think I do!"

Camp Momanmee 2009

This weekend Little Middle and I went to Camp Momanmee at our church. "Camp" is especially for Pre-K/Kindergarten boys and their moms. We were both really excited about the pirate theme, and we started getting ready early!

Is it time to go yet?

Even Abby got in the spirit...

I couldn't take the begging anymore, so we left our house 20 minutes earlier than we needed to and took the long, scenic route to church.

Ahoy, mateys!

First Mate Susan and Captain Sherry with Cardboard Captive Brian, just before Little Middle pelted him with cannonballs.

Walking the plank

Arrrggghhh...treasure chest!

Enjoying a pirate story in the Crow's Nest



Bingo, the Pirate Parrot, entertained us with "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."

Little Middle and J-man

Pirate Moms

We had so much fun just being together...my little pirate is growing up SO fast!