Nine

Nine is waking us up with “Good morning, it’s my birthday!” and telling us “This is going to be the best day ever.”

It’s reading up a storm, even if you much prefer math.

It’s loving your cat.

It’s all knobby knees and super skinny everything, though it’s also telling us how much you’re growing.

Nine is kicking soccer balls, dribbling basketballs, and advancing to the next belt in karate.

It’s having the best laugh in the world.

It’s Legos, Angry Birds, Minecraft, and Star Wars.

It’s “I don’t want to talk about it” when something is wrong but still wanting a giant hug.

It’s making us all laugh, even if your lines are from videos you’ve watched: they’re still used at the exact right time to crack us all up.

Nine is pizza, peanut butter, and grilled cheese.

It’s wishing to be older but not really wanting to do all the big kid things you’d have to do if you were.

It’s snuggling up with your mom and high-fiving your dad.

It’s lots of video games.

It’s caring about how others feel and sometimes getting hurt when others don’t care back.

It’s loving your brothers, even when you fight.

Nine is sometimes being nervous to try new things.

And it’s other times going into something new with no fear at all.

It’s having more strength to deal with the rough stuff than most adults I know.

It’s wanting to be a part of the group…

And it’s preferring to do your own thing.

It’s love and energy and excitement and the sweetest heart around.

Happy 9th, sweet boy. xo