Goose, you are seven.  I still can’t believe it.  In the blink of an eye this year has passed.  And I fear with each year to come, I will feel the same.  I have a little boy who is starting second grade way too soon for me.  But how you’ve grown this year.

Physically, you’re a bit taller.  You’re much faster than before.  I think you finally figured out how to run without looking like a cross country skier.  Your biggest change is in the loss of four teeth.  While some of your friends have lost 8 teeth, you are taking your sweet time.  And that’s fine by me.  You were so excited about losing your first tooth last August.  You followed that by losing your second tooth at the pool.  We never found that tooth.  Then you waited until June to loose two more.

Your biggest love has become sports.  I hear balls bouncing nonstop in this house.  And it’s always you.  During football season, you pass the ball and make plays while watching games.  You can name more quarterbacks in the NFL than some grown men.  You know who played in the National Championship Game, and what the score was.  You are an encyclopedia.  People say that about your father.  Your swim coach will sit and have serious discussions with you about sports.  Sometimes you two spend more time talking sports than swimming.

Your passion for sports is not just football, you might love basketball even more.  Every day you are outside practicing your shots.  Or practicing your Nerf game.  You pretend certain teams are playing.  UT always wins.  Butler always wins.  Sometimes the games are close, it depends on your mood.

March Madness…what a year this was.  Your team made it to the Final Four again and it was such a thrill to take you to the games.  I can still see your face as the teams were announced.  You were beyond excited.  And that passion for sports is why you will go with us to TX/OU and a National Championship Game sooner than most children.

Your favorite author is still Tomie De Paola.  And you have your favorite books from him.  In fact, you are now pickier about your books, which is a good thing.  You know immediately if you like a book or not.  You are anxiously waiting for the newest Magic Tree House book.  While waiting we’ve found new authors to enjoy. The saddest part of you being in school is missing out on key reading time with you.  A lot of people just don’t get it, but the reality is that you are tired when you come home from school, you want to play and rest, then it’s time for dinner and then it’s the mad scramble for bedtime.  I miss our times of reading forty-five minutes at bedtime.  But when we do have the chance to read, I swell with joy. When I catch you reading on the couch, I smile.  When you sneak a book and a flashlight into bed, I turn the other way.  That love for reading, it’s still there, it just had to make room for some of your new loves.

As one of five kids, you are great at being a brother.  I give you a hard time because sometimes you are really nasty to the BH, but I have to praise the good times too.  You and BH have been best buddies all summer long.  You get up wanting to watch cartoons and when I say no, you guys come up with the best games.  Your new passion is to line up all your match box cars, Toy Story people, big cars and trucks, robots and so on.  You guys can do this for hours on end.  You have given up time at the YAK to help No David adjust to the gym and for that I am so grateful.  You and your big brother crack me up.  When we all drive together, I glance back and there you are listening to something together.  Whether it’s talking about cars or making videos, you two have fun.  And sweet Baby Z…you are truly the sweetest boy to new babies.  You are one of those who just love babies.  And the fact that you expect more kids, well, even better as far as I’m concerned.

I read somewhere that you aren’t supposed to tell children they are smart.  I don’t follow that advice.  Goose, you are brilliant as far as I’m concerned.  You continue to excel in academics.  There are times when you just decide not to finish work or read the questions, but I know what you are capable of and it makes me so proud.  Do I wish you would finish your work all the time?  Yes.  It would make this mom much less crazy if you did.

One of the best things I do with you is walk you into school each day.  While all the other kids get dropped off at the curb, you still ask me to walk you into school.  And since we are always there at the last second (sorry about that, but at least it’s not late) I get to walk you to the classroom.  I asked you if you wanted to try and get there earlier to sit in the cafeteria with the other kids, and you said no because you like your time with me.

Do you know that each day that I drop you off at school, I pray that God watches over you?  We usually say a Hail Mary together while walking (or running) in the morning.  I beg Mary to pray for us, to watch over you as I walk back to the car.  That walk back to the car is the saddest part of my day.  There are still days when I feel physically ill that I have to leave you with someone else.   And here is the thing, after two years in school, I’m still not sure we’re doing the right thing for your education.  I wish I felt ease, for your sake, but I don’t.

For all the changes in this past year, you are still my little boy.  The one after my heart.  And though you are getting older, you still requested a Snoopy cake for your birthday.  My heart melted just to hear that request because that means there is still a part of you that is young enough to want it.  And though I promised to live in the “now”, it breaks my heart a little to watch time pass so quickly.  I am so proud of the boy you are.  The one who loves his little sister, who snuggles with Snoopy, who loves playing with his brothers and who loves his mom and dad.  I love you so much, my dear son.  Happy Birthday to you.  I pray that this year is full of love, joy and new adventures for you.  God bless you always!