Eight

Sweet Little Laughter,

You're eight!  This amazes me. Every year speeds by faster then the last and this year was a blur.  It started with us looking forward and then going to Japan. Then we found ourselves with another sweet baby boy to look after.  You are an amazing big brother.  Right this minute you're doing your math work, work of a third grader.

You helped Dad cut down the Christmas tree this year.

When I think about our trip to Japan a few things stand out.  The first was how well you slept on the flight that went half way across the world.  You slept with your head in my lap for almost the whole trip.  I kept stroking your hair and thinking it was crazy that I was taking my baby on a trip like this. But then we went to the zoo and a little girl fell cutting her knee open, you watched the whole thing happen, and immediately rushed over to me quickly explaining that you needed a band-aid so you could help this hurting girl.  That's when I realized that you were growing up into a man that made me proud.  You had no fear of the language barrier or that we were in a foreign country you just wanted to make sure she was had what she needed to be okay.

Resting as we walked around Tokyo.

Now we have this baby that adores you.  He is full of joy, but for you he has his own sounds and he lights up whenever you look at him.  I'm sure it's been an adjustment going from the youngest in the house to having a baby around all the time, but you've excelled at being a big brother.  The way you play with him when it would be more fun to do something else.  The way you offer to hold the baby so I can finish a chore or run to the bathroom.  Or how disappointed you were that I wouldn't let you change his diapers.  You love him and me so well.

You're heart is beautiful.  You notice what people need and you do everything you can to give it to them.  I'm proud of you for that.  My prayer for you this year is that your heart doesn't grow tired of helping others, and that you find the right things to be passionate over and let go of the less important things.-You know like that time you refused to have an ice cream with us because I said you couldn't spend $10 on a lollipop.  That was a time when maybe it would have been better to let go of your passion.- But your love for people is amazing, never let go of that.  It's a rare gift that you have I pray you use it wisely in the years to come.

First year as a Cub Scout.

Here's an interview with your eight year old self:
What is your favorite color? Red

What is something special to you? Baby K

L: Momma can I help give the baby a bath?
Me: Sure
L: Okay I'll get in with him.
Me: You can't get in with him.
L: Okay then I'll use my hair to get him wet.
(And he dunks his head before I could stop him.)

What is your favorite word or saying? But what if...

What is your favorite thing to do? Read

I'd say you're fairly comfortable at the library-shoes off with books all around while you're imagination soars.

Who is your favorite super hero? Dad

You're favorite shield was the lid to my applesauce pan.  You have been trying to find one just like it for months.

What is your favorite book or book series? The Imagination Station series

I have a billion photos that look just like this.

What is your favorite memory from this past year? Japan.  Being with Ichan

What do you want to be when you grow up? A missionary

Love always,
Mother

Nine

To the one who birthed me into motherhood and has held my heart close for the last nine years, I adore you.  Over these last few weeks we've been on an adventure of a lifetime, discovering the land of our ancestors, the land of the rising sun.  I've marveled at how much of a man you are becoming.  You are after all half way to 18, half grown, but sometimes I forget that your hands are almost as big as mine.  On this trip you wouldn't let me forget.  You were respectful always and thought constantly about other people.  It made me smile, seeing you pay attention to the details, even in such a strange place, remembering what you've been taught.  I love that about you, how detailed you are.

You asked to go to the zoo and so we did.  It was a very fun day.

You are named Man of the Woods and live up to that name so well.  We were in Japan at the busiest time of year for them during the 'Golden Week', an entire week of holidays.  We saw the Imperial Palace, and giant statues of Buddha, we went up to the top of the tallest tower in the world, we saw kites that were the size of a standard room, but your favorite part of the whole trip was the few hours we spent at the Pacific Ocean.  It's the natural and the simple that bring you the most joy.  I hope you never grown out of that.

At the Pacific Ocean.

Over the last 12 days I got to glimpse the man you are becoming.  You walked like a man, never needing to hold my hand.  Even though the places we visited were shoulder to shoulder packed, you never needed the security of it.  You ate everything I put on your plate and asked to try what wasn't initially offered to you.  You remembered all your manners.  I realized that, in our small town, it's good to always expect you to let grown ups go first, but when in a busy train station, I needed to let you know it was okay to cut in front of them sometimes.  I'm proud of the glimpse I saw.  You're going to be a good man full of respect for others.

You are a pro with chopsticks.  Every meal we used them and you conquered them.

This coming year you are going to enter the fourth grade and I suspect will continue to do Cub Scouts.  I bet you'll keep fiddling around with your uke making music just for fun. Lego's will be your favorite past time as they have been this year.  As you're Momma I'll pray that you keep making good choices.  I'll focus on teaching you more of the why it's important to do what's right.  We'll keep plugging away at your reading skills and you'll keep blowing my mind with your math smarts.

My prayer for you this year is this: May you stay strong and learn to focus especially on the things that bore you such as school work.  May you use the knowledge you have in a wise way.  May you always put others first for the sake of love.  May you continue to be your unique self, loving life to it's fullest and constantly wanting to learn.

You are proud of this photo you took of Mount Fuji.  It's the one photo you insist everybody sees.

I love you more than life.  There are no words to tell you how proud I am of the man you are becoming. Here's an interview with your nine year old self.

What is your favorite color? Dark Blue

What is something very special to you? God

What is your favorite word or saying? "Guess what, in Minecraft..."

What is your favorite thing to do? Climb, run, and play outside.

What is your favorite memory from this past year? Japan, all of it.

What do you want to be when you grow up? I don't know

Seven

Dearest Laughter,

It's Saturday morning and you're intently watching cartoons while I quietly watch you.  In just a few days it'll be seven years since you breathed your first breath.  I'm still awed by you just like I was that night I first held your purple little body.  I counted your toes and fingers while I impatiently waited to hear your first cries.  I held my breath like you only to breathe deep as you cried for the first time.

On a date, just the two of us.

That's kind of been our story you causing me to hold my breath, to pray hard, to trust more, to love with an open hand.

You started walking at 9 months.  You broke into the cleaning supplies shortly there after to enjoy a mouthful of Comet.  You were mad at me for taking it away.  You opened the piping to the water heaters releasing a few gallons of water into the dining room.  You were the first to have x-rays confirming a broken collar bone.  More then once you dived face first into a pool just out of arms reach even though I hadn't taken my eyes off of you.  As you watched a friends fish you stuck your face into the fish bowl drinking some water.  The moment was complete when you came up dripping wet with a "Yummy!".  At two you walked right out into a river so you could fish while the rest of us set up our poles.  You fell out of every single chair you sat in until you were at least five.  You love old bottles and tiny mugs, and your ukulele. You want to travel all over Asia telling people about Jesus when you grow up. You give up your most prized possessions if you think it'll make somebody else's day.

Looking at Mr. Fish.

You live life to its fullest.
You dream big.
You love unconditionally.

This next year you'll end second grade as a seven year old and you'll do it well as school is easy for you.  Most days you do more then I ask just because it's fun.  I'm sure your dreams will only grow bigger and you'll give more gifts and "super missile kisses" then the year before.  You'll continue to keep me on my toes loving deep and living wild.

This year I pray that you continue on without any broken bones.  That you keep giving all that you have, but maybe learn not to give away what isn't yours.  That you continue to see past peoples flaws to there hearts.  That you use those "missile kisses" and gift giving tendencies to comfort others.  I pray that you keep dreaming big and that your favorite book is always your Bible.  I love that you are your own person and I pray you keep blazing your own trail.

Playing the Uke with Great grandpa Emerson.

I'm proud to be your Momma. Here's an interview with your seven year old self.

What is your favorite color?  Red
What is something special to you?  Mom

What is your favorite word or saying?  Magic missile kisses.
What is your favorite thing to do?  Sword fighting, even though I haven't done that recently.

Who is your favorite superhero?  Thor
What is your favorite book? My Bible

What is your favorite memory from this past year?  Beating Val at Monopoly. 
What do you want to be when you grow up?  I will be a missionary to share God's word.

I love you sweet boy.

Eight

I don't think it would be an exaggeration to say that I threw up a thousand times while you were growing in my belly.  I was sick for eight in a half months, that's 255 long days.  I quickly learned where every public bathroom was in the entire city of Bangor.  I always had a gallon sized zip lock baggy in my purse next to a granola bar, and gum.  I have heard it said that Momma's forget all of the unpleasantness of pregnancy the moment they first hold there baby.  Well I disagree.  I was sick for 36 out of the first 38 weeks that your tiny heart beat and sweet boy I don't want to forget any of those moments.  Every time I knelt in front of the toilet I rested in all those moments we would have together in the future.

Baby you!

From the many brothers I had in my life I knew for certain that balls, bugs, Legos, fishing, rocks, nerf guns, and forts would be in my future.  I knew that noise, dirt, broken bones, and inexpiable smells would become apart of my daily life.  While it was reassuring to know what to expect from a boy, I had no idea what to expect from you.  So every time I rushed to the bathroom I whispered a sweet thank you Lord, and then I wondered about what you would be like.  It was our time together, a time I will always cherish.

One

Then after you were born it was as if my constant stomach upset was transferred to  you.  For eight months you cried and threw up.  For six months we had no idea why.  I was sure that it was more then colic.  While I'm sorry you spent so long in pain from the milk your little body couldn't digest, I wouldn't change our time together.  We rocked and sometimes cried together I breathed long prayers about you and for you.  I dreamed of who you would one day become, what kind of personality you would have.

Almost two

Your first word was ball.
When you were six you broke your arm.
To say that you enjoy playing with Lego's would be a huge understatement.
You have always loved to fish and hike.
You climb any tree you can no matter where you are.

Three (I think)

In so many ways you are exactly who I imagined, but that's just the big picture of you.  Si guy, you are so much more then I could have ever imagined.

Four

You notice the details of peoples hearts.  I had no idea that was even possible, but some how you can see into hearts.

Five (First day of kindergarten)

School is hard for you, but words are not.  You speak in such a way that people notice you.  You speak with confidence and respect.  Not only do you have a way with words, you use them to encourage others and articulate what you see to be honorable and true even if it makes situations more difficult for yourself.

Six

My prayer for you this year is this:  May God grow you and protect you from becoming dull to the hearts of those around you.  May you always use your words to build people up and to protect them.  Lastly I hope that you learn to show yourself grace, to accept that you don't have to be perfect, because dear Man of the woods thankfully we will never be asked to be perfect, but only to do the best we can.

Seven

I love that you birthed me into Motherhood, an event that happens every single day of your life.  I love you more then you will ever be able to imagine.

Eight

Here's an interview with your eight year old self:
What's your favorite color? Green
What's something that is very special to you? Mom
What's your favorite word or saying? Fair point....Dude....So awesome... Kinda cool.

What's your favorite thing to do? That's tough.  I think it's Nerf wars.  Actually no it's hanging out with my family.
Who is your favorite super hero? Why is there this question....hmm...I don't know...Oh! Super Dadda!...(Laughing to yourself)...I just made one up because Dad is super.
What is your favorite memory of this past year?  Talking with Opal.  We talked for two hours straight!
What do you want to be when you grow up? A marine biologist.

Happy birthday!

Six

Laughter,
It's hard to believe that just six years ago I was great with child, Actually I was huge with child.  It's hard to believe that on the 17th my labor pains began.  I sent your Daddy off to a jr. high basket ball game we had promised to go see.  I played with your brother and soaked in our last moments of just him and I.  I folded laundry, and packed his bag to go to your Nana's house for a night or two.  Less then an hour after we arrived at the hospital and only after four pushes I was holding your little blue body.

I asked the nurse if it was normal for you to be blue, she said you'd be fine.  She didn't really pay attention.  I became more worried forgetting all that was around me as you became a deeper blue, not yet having started crying or breathing for that matter.  I asked the nurse again, and this time I could hear worry in her voice as she took you from me.  Turns out you just needed a little help clearing your throat and then your beautiful cries filled the room.  After that we were inseparable, seriously you cried when anybody else held you and you refused the bottle completely.

Mile stones:
~ You learned to whistle.
~ You started first grade, and you enjoy school.
~ You learned to swim.
~ You wake up before all of us every morning and use that time to pray.  A thing we never suggested, but something you did all on your own.

An interview with six year old you:
What is your favorite color?  Red
What is something special to you?  My Momma
What is your favorite word or saying?  I love my Momma!
What is your favorite thing to do?  Learning to whistle.

Who is your favorite super hero?  Captain America
What is your favorite memory from this year?  Going to Pittsburgh and playing with Opal in the park.
What do you want to be when you grow up?  I feel like God wants me to be a missionary all through Asia.

 My prayer for you this year, is that you love Jesus more in the years to come then you do right now.  I pray that you continue talk with Him often and that as you learn to read that you fall in love with reading your Bible.  I pray for good health and another year without ER visits.  I pray that you continue to warm the hearts of everybody you meet so that they can learn to love Jesus like you so naturally do.

An addition to this post:
None of us slept well this year the night before your birthday.  You woke up struggling for air, but didn't want to wake any of the rest of us so you just laid in your bed working hard to breathe until your brother woke up from the wheezing sounds coming from the bunk below.  Your Dad and I woke to you telling Man of the woods not to wake us and him telling you to stay put while he got us.  It was the worst asthma attack you have ever had.  I don't think any of us really slept deep the rest of the night.  In the morning you staggered into our room announcing that your birthday party should be canceled and so it was.  I took you to the doctor only to find you had pneumonia.  For the next two nights you and I slept in the guest room.  Even though I had two 12 hour days ahead of me at work, I stayed up late into the night listening to you breathe and feeling your heart beat against mine.  I worried for you while soaking in the your snuggles.  Everyday you teach me to let go a little bit more allowing you to grow into your own person a little bit more.  I am so grateful to be your Mom and to grow with you.  I love you. 




PS
Last year your brother was sick so we had to cancel your birthday party and this year you could barely blow out your birthday candles let alone have a party.  If next year we have to cancel we will plan a huge birthday bash in the middle of the summer and make your half birthday amazing. ;)

Seven

My dear man of the woods,

Today we share Mothers day and your birthday.  Your first birthday was the last time this happened.  The sun was shining and the day was glorious, we hiked through the woods following the river where we would stop and let you play in the puddles along the way.

This year we're having a cook out with lots of friends full of games and fun.  I can't believe how much you've grown from that day when you were barely walking to now where you literally climb the walls.  I am proud of the boy you are, and my heart overflows with love for you, my first born son.

Mile stones:
~ You broke your arm jumping off the swing in early summer.  There wasn't much playing in the water or fishing, but still it was a good summer and you had a great attitude.

~ Still by the end of the summer you were riding a bike without training wheals, flying up and down the driveway.
~ You lost your first two teeth.
~ You flew through first grade reading books like Sam I am, and Put me in the zoo.

An interview with seven year old you:
What is your favorite color?  Green
What is something that is very special to you?  God
What is your favorite word or saying?  I don't know, but I really like whistling.

What is your favorite thing to do?  Either climb walls or bike.
Who is your favorite super hero?  Forest Lord... The hero I was last year at Kids Fest.
What is your favorite memory of this past year?  Catching my big trout on my birthday last year.
When you grow up what do you want to be?  A trapper.

My prayer for you this year is this...I pray that you learn to turn your knowledge into wisdom.  That you do what is right because you want to not because it is what we ask of you.  I pray that this is a year full of health.  I pray you learn to see the Creator in all of life, and that you love Him deeply.

Every time I look at you I remember how much God loves me.  You are everything I asked for and so much more.  You are one of the greatest gifts I will ever be given.  I love you my son.

And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, for You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.

~ Psalm 9;10