Happy Birthday LC!

This past Saturday, we celebrated Larger Child's EIGHTH birthday! EIGHT! I remember hearing people tell me the day I met him, holding his tiny hands in my hospital bed, to really cherish every moment because they fly by so fast. I thought it was corny and a little cliché', and I remember thinking at the time that if it was anything like the nine months that proceeded his arrival, they were all a bunch of liars. That time crawled by slower than molasses.  Now, eight years later, I know, without a shadow of a doubt, those parents were telling the God's honest truth. I cannot BELIEVE eight years have gone by since the moment I held that beautiful (all be it beat up and bruised) baby in my arms and began that wonderful/wacky/exhausting/exhilarating/indescribable adventure of motherhood. Eight years of laughs, tears, lessons, learning, and love.

As he is getting older, and growing in to the person he will be, leaving the world of babyhood and toddler hood where more often than not a child is mimicking what they see, trying on new identities to see what fits... and heading in to adolescence where the truths are formed, where the identity is solidified, it is becoming more and more clear that our LC will not fit in to any sort of mold or label of what an eight year old boy is "suppose to" be... and I am learning more and more that I would never want to try and make him.  The boy he is and the man he will be will far exceed any expectation or plan that I have for him, I know, IF I let him go and let him be and become who he is meant to. Not try and make him in to what I think he should.

I often say that Larger Child is special. I know that all parents say that about their children, and I am sure they are all right to some degree.  But LC... he IS special. I have never met a child like him before, and I often hear people who cross his path say the same. He is smart, funny, charming, handsome, quick, and witty.  He is also creative, empathetic, mature, individualistic.  But, with all those traits come some really fantastic ones to, like competitive, stubborn, and hypersensitive.  It is the MIX of these things that creates the magic in him though.  The combination of traits that make him this boy that captivates those around him.

It is that magic I am sure that caused nearly twice the turnout for his birthday party than we expected! But, boy did that kid have a good time! (and Mom and Dad survived with the help of some good friends and wonderful parents.)

LC and some of his crew

They moved in herds through the evening. Almost like a school of fish!

some more of the crew

all EIGHTEEN of the kids in attendance

 

Little Bro and Nana

this expression is pretty much how ALL us parents felt

our friends Barry, Kasey, and the super climber Owen.  The Woody's have hardly missed a single bday of LC's since year one.

cousin Collin showing some superior trampoline skills

Grandpa Carl and SC

SC getting his bounce on too!



Mama and a couple of her besties who kept her grounded through the night.

 

And this was the party, as a family we celebrated the boy with a surprise room bomb, and his gift an aquarium with the new addition to the family, Gary, LC's new fish friend.

Gotta say, decorating his room was super super fun! I love making a fuss for the kids birthdays. There is just something about going all out to show those boys how special I think they are.  BUT, my favorite moment of the whole day came at bedtime.  When I was tucking him in that night, we were saying our prayers together, and it was my turn to lead the prayer.  I was talking with God and thanking Him for putting LC in my life.  I was thanking Him for the eight incredible years I have been blessed with so far, and expressing my gratitude for His gift of motherhood to me. I was also asking that He help LC to know and understand just how loved and cherished his is by his parents, and to know to his core just how precious he is.  After the amens, hugs, and kisses.  He wouldn't let go of my hand. I looked down at him and he was crying. I said, "Oh, honey, I didn't mean to make you cry."  He turned to me, sniffled, and said, "Mom, these aren't sad tears. I love you." I hugged him tight, kissed him on the forehead and told him I loved him too. 

In that moment, right then and there, I knew just how special he truly is, and just how blessed I am to be his mom. Happy Birthday LC! You are one of a kind! and I love you more than bacon!