To Josiah, On Your Ninth Birthday
Dear Josiah,
Nine years ago at 5:42 in the morning, you came into my life. I will never forget the feeling of your warm, squashy little body the first time the doctor laid you on my chest and my first sight of your face, squinting in the sudden bright light. I only got to hold you for a moment and then they whisked you off for testing and poking and prodding and baths and diapering and various other indignities. I don't recall if you were outraged or calm during these things...I was a little busy recovering from this momentous event.
You are my first and will always hold a very special place in my heart. Annika is my only baby girl. William is my baby. You are the first. Everything I learned, I learned through you and you have made it all so easy. You were such an easy baby, an easy toddler, an easy preschooler. You totally tricked me into thinking I could have another baby before your second birthday...so next time Annika is driving you crazy--hey, it's your own fault. If you had had colic and acid reflux and never took naps, I may not have been so eager to have another baby.
I think back to your phases, the things you loved. The Thomas phase, which seemed to last forever, all through Japan, into Newport and part of Stuttgart were littered with tracks and trains. The alphabet. The states, state flags, dates of statehood. Chicka-Chicka Boom Boom. Countries. Super Mario Brothers. Now it's Pokémon. You have some new friends in our new neighborhood that like Pokémon as well--you all get together and battle with your cards. You get so intense about it and you know every single little factoid about every single Pokémon character. I love to listen to you expounding upon the different capabilities of this or that Pokémon.
I wonder what will come next?
This has been such a great year for you, school-wise. You have always done really well in school in terms of grades and test-taking and such, but for some reason, your social life didn't really take off until this year. I remember second grade at Butts Road Elementary, you would always talk about how you had no one to play with at recess and how you would walk around alone or sit and talk to Mrs. Cowling, your teacher (who loved you and was the first teacher to ever acknowledge the fact that you are gifted).
This year, you have a bevy of friends, invitations to parties and playdates and sleepovers. Larchmont has been good to you. It has been such a blessing to watch you navigate your way in this new world of friendships and camaraderie. You played basketball this year. You are taking swimming lessons and loving them. You have been riding your bike all around our new neighborhood, testing out some new boundaries--physically and emotionally.
You are growing taller and tanner. Your voice is less squeaky and adult teeth have come in lovely and straight (thank you Lord!). It's interesting to watch you grow--you periodically get a little stouter and then you shoot up another 2-3" and are like a string bean again! I think you are devastatingly handsome, but I may be a little biased...and I love your dimples when you do smile.
You are a blessing unto our lives Josiah. Every single day, even the hard ones, when you or I or both of us have been less than stellar. I wouldn't trade you for the world.
Happy Birthday (not so) Tiny Tiger!
Love,
Mama
