Seven

It is the evening before your birthday party, Chirpee.  We have come a long way in seven years!  Can you believe it?!  Time has sure flown by me; ever feeling you slip through my hands into manhood.  This picture is of your first plane trip.  We are waiting in Winnipeg so you could meet your faraway family for the first time!  You did super on the trip - amazingly!  And I stressed about it terribly, but you proved me wrong.

What a chub you were, it made you extremely kissable.

The first winter and we hardly left the house.  Your poor mama knew so few people in Manitoba and she was experiencing her own first winter of wonder here on the prairie.  It just didn't seem right to carry on with life in the midst of such weather!  But we got used to it together.

I love to look at my newborn pictures of you.  It makes me wish I had taken about 100 more...  So precious and sweet smelling.  So cuddly and quiet.  We sure had a rough start at times, but we figured it out together.

Now look at you!  You lost two teeth in the past few weeks - your first to go!  I will always be a first time mom with you.  Each step you take is one my heart is connected to, and every age and stage is a new road for me, too.  I have never been a mom to a seven year old, but now I am.  You have only known six years, but now you are seven!

 Today, I did a lot of raising my voice (is that a nice way of saying I yelled?).  I let my stress get to me and flow out all over you and your brother.  I was giving myself a really hard time about it while I watched you and Dimple play outside in the sunshine.  You both were full of laughter and energy.  And I realize how often I fail at this job.  How much I need the Lord's help and grace.  And grace from my children.  How I need your forgiveness at times!

You blessed me when you came into the house.  I looked at you and all I saw was my failure, I apologized to you and we hugged.  You took your time with hugs and told me "It's okay, mommy".  And my heart lifted up to know you were okay.  I asked if you could forgive me and you said you could.  Oh precious words to my heart!

I am so grateful that the Lord has blessed me with the privilege of being your mother.  It is an adventure that is transforming who I am.  

This year I have seen you grow so much.  You have begun to read, write, add and subtract, understand measurements and skip count.  And more than that I see glimpses of the man you will become.  The resourceful, careful, meticulous, responsible, caring and sweet singing man the Lord has gifted you to be.

I love to hear you sing, I love to watch you grow!  Have a blessed year, my boy!