Even though I was fully aware, could feel the days creeping closer and closer, knew in my heart that there was no getting around today, it still took me by surprise. He is in the double digits now guys. Holy Toledo somebody hold me or pour me a Scotch pretty please. The realization that his baby years were quietly tucked away while we slept is unfathomable to me.
He has grown a lot in the past two years both physically and emotionally, especially during the past seven months. Of my two monkeys, he has had the most difficulty feeling comfortable in his own skin. M2 likes tackling obstacles by himself, making sure that you are far enough away not to intervene yet not completely out of sight. Last fall it took him and me both by surprise to realize that he was not as self-assured as we assumed. Now though he has come into his own.
Rather than dwelling wistfully today on the fact that my baby boy is growing up, my heart his full of joy for him and the grand adventures that await him. To celebrate his Tenth Birthday I thought that I would share ten aspects about M2 that I find adorable, quirky and heartwarming.
1.) He is a photo-taking nut! He takes more pictures than I do. Yet he does not, I repeat does not like the camera in his face all the time. Sometimes okay, but if you take too many he’ll call you a bad name…Paparazzi.
2.) He loves that his hair is darker than the rest of ours.
3.) Unbeknownst to him he is a budding jock. I have a feeling that middle school is when his competitive nature, which he inherited from his dad, will seriously begin to kick in.
4.) He is the other health nut in the family. He will choose a salad over sweets 9 times out of 10. Not to mention that with a serious gaze rivaling that of his dear old dad he will sternly reprimand you for not eating breakfast, “You know that if you don’t eat breakfast your muscles will turn into FAT!” My response is to flap my chicken arms, which elicits the best bored/frustrated look ever.
5.) He can’t stand to have his feathers ruffled. After seven months of me being back home and all up in his grill, he has resigned himself to the fact that there’s just no getting away from dear old mom’s mischievous nature.
6.) Which brings me to his laugh. No words can truly describe it. It is somewhere between Tinkerbells chimes and the joy you feel eating ice cream on a hot summer day…magical.
7.) My little Pigpen he hates to shower, appalling I know but true. Fortunately bribes still work.
8.) What is his sun and moon? They would be his dad and his big brother. If he could spend the rest of his life sandwiched between them if he would.
9.) He just loves animals. If he doesn’t wind up being a veterinarian I will truly be surprised. The amount of research that boy does looking up animals is starting to cut into my computer time.
10.) He doesn’t realize it but he has all of us wrapped around his little finger.
Happy Double Digits Big Boy!! We love you, adore you and hope that all of your dreams come true.
Love,
Mom, Dad and Big Brother
Hi there guys I'm Shari, but y'all can call me Red.
Southern nut. Perpetual optimist. Food adventurer. Creative dabbler. Lovin' an impromptu surf life with my darlin' & two groms. We're so glad you stopped by! 
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I just want to wish you both a Happy Birthday. I’m betting you remember the day he was born better than he does. :)
What a sweetie! Now I’m sad that mine is big too, I wish they were little longer, preferably for me if they’d stay 3 a few years :)
Happy Birthday Gabe! #10… how the years have flown. I watched you come into this world and took care of you during your first few years. I loved every minute of it. I guess you had to grow up to love animals since I kept a Zoo of them. haha I love you, “Mom-Mom”