He's SEVEN! A Year in Review

What a year it has been.  Today my boy is seven.  Let's take a minute and let that sink in.  SEVEN.

Guys, he is such a kid.  I know that sounds weird, because of course he's a kid.  But I have spent so many years in a haze of babies and toddlers that a real kid is new territory to me.

Gabe has always been quiet and shy, and that still holds true at times.  But he has come out of his shell so much in the past year.  School has done him so many favors!  At a recent conference with his teacher, she mentioned that he is so social.  J and I just shared a shocked look- you could have knocked us over with a feather.  Never in a million years would we have expected to hear this from a teacher.

Aside from being social, Gabe has really honed in on some of his interests this year.  He started the year off being obsessed with art.  He loves to draw, paint, and sculpt.  He has quite a collection of original canvases.  He is never more excited than when he gets to work on a cool project in art class at school.  He has taken several after school drawing and painting classes.  He loves to create.

He also LOVES music.  We gave him an old, first generation original iPod (thanks, Mimi!).  He's obsessed with it.  If he's in his room (which he is frequently, because, big kid), he is playing his music through a speaker.  If he's in the car, he's listening to his music on his headphones.  He can't get enough.  And he likes really cool music.  He's a fan of Foo Fighters, AC/DC, Boston, Def Leppard, The Who, and lots of others.  He wants to learn how to play (he's going to DIE when he opens the guitar from his grandparents tonight!).  The boy loves rock.

He's decided to give soccer a try.  He is definitely not the most coordinated kid on the block, but he really seems to think soccer is fun.  He plays on the playground at school and kicks the ball around the yard at home.  I'm so excited to watch him play this season, and hope that it continues to bring him joy.

He also loves sharks, Minecraft, building with Legos, playing Rock Band (on the X-Box or pretending to rock out in his room), swimming, hoarding everything (he's a bit sentimental), doing tricks on his scooter, and pretending to race obstacle courses à la American Ninja Warrior.  

Gabe is such a unique soul.  He is sensitive, smart, kind, and handsome.  He is as empathetic as they come.  I know I'm 100% biased, but all of these things are so, so true.  As much as I hate to see my babies growing up, I feel like it's a real privilege to be watching this boy develop into such an amazing human being.

Gabriel, my first born, I love you more than you'll ever know.  I hope seven is your happiest year yet.

Classic Honey Badger

One of those milestones in kids lives is the first loose tooth.  I feel like most kids- especially those with older siblings- get super excited at the first sign of a wiggly tooth.  They are constantly putting their fingers in their mouths, pushing and pulling on the tooth, checking to see if maybe it moves a little bit more today than it did yesterday.  Basically, counting the days until the Tooth Fairy arrives.

Not my kid.

The other day, Margot said, with her deadpan, expressionless voice: "I used to have this tooth I could chew with, but now, it's gonna fall out."

I was so excited!  I assumed that she had just realized she has a loose tooth.  I asked her to show me.

Guys, it was barely hanging on by a thread.  That tooth had to have been loose for weeks.  She never thought it was worth mentioning!

I told her that the tooth was certainly going to fall out that day, and after thinking about it for a minute, also told her that she should be sure to tell me when that happened.

I was totally surprised when she went to bed that night, teeth still intact.

The next morning, I greeted the kids at the breakfast table.  I made the coffee, packed the lunches, and went about my morning business.  About a half hour later, Margot says "Mom!  Look what I found on the table!"

The tooth, of course.

I asked "Did your tooth just fall out?!?"

Margot says "No, it fell out in my bed."

She explained to me that she was pushing it around with her tongue, and it just fell out onto her bed.  And she brought it downstairs with her. 

And she didn't think that was immediately worth mentioning.

Honey badger just don't give a shit.

  

She's Three!

**Better late than never.  My sweet child, please don't take my tardiness as I sign that I love you any less than your siblings, whose birthday posts have been on time.  Just take it as a sign that you three munchkins keep Mama super busy.**

 Oh, Miss Charlotte.  How can it be possible that three whole years have passed since you came into our lives?  It seems like only yesterday we brought you home from the hospital, a tiny little smooshy bundle of snuggle.

My how you have grown over the past year.  You have developed such a personality!  I think you may be a bit like your mama.  You are social!  You have never met a stranger.  You'll play with any kid, anywhere.  You smile and wave at everyone as we walk by.  And if someone wants to pick you up and hold you, they are immediately your best friend. 

You are so affectionate, especially with your parents.  I always hoped I'd have a baby that just wanted to snuggle her mama, and you are that baby!  You are constantly climbing into bed with me, giving hugs and kisses, and saying "I love you, Mama."  You are so anxious to greet me in the morning, in fact, that a couple of weeks ago, you came into my room in the morning.  When I told you that I was still sleeping, you whispered "That's okay, I still coming up."

You adore your siblings.  I love to hear your laughs when you are playing with them.  They have taught you how to use your imagination, and you create characters and use little voices.  You can whinny like a horse while you gallop around the house better than any 3-year old I've ever met.  Whatever Gabe and Margot are doing, you want to do.  They are teaching you all about independence.  One of your most repeated phrases these days is "I just doing it myself."

You are so girly.  The first thing you do in the morning is put on your "princess" shoes.  Pink, sparkly high heels that you run around in (ummm...like mother, like daughter).  You'd prefer to wear a floral dress or better yet, a tutu each day.  You like to have a bow in your hair, or maybe a braid like Elsa.  You were thrilled to receive a little purse for your birthday.      

You are growing up into a little person, but you still say words like skideddi and reindadeer.  And yes, my heart will break when you stop these adorable mispronunciations.  Just like it breaks every day when you tell me "I'm not a baby anymore, I a tobbler."

WHY MUST YOU INSIST ON GROWING UP?

My baby, you were the PERFECT addition to our family, and you really do complete us.  I love you with every bit of my heart.  I know you must grow up, but I'm begging you- please keep snuggling your Mama forever and ever.