Eleven

Eleven years ago today my last baby was born. I didn't know at the time he'd be my last, but it's become clear that he is.

Gator is a lot of things:

• a great snuggler in the mornings
• a terrific hug&kiss goodnighter before bed
• Possibly Lego Corporation's biggest fan
  
• obsessed with all-things Star Wars
• super quick to forgive others
• not super confident about himself
• mischevious
  
• funny--he seemed to be born with a remarkable sense of humor.
  
• highly creative and talented in fun, unique ways
  
• sensitive
• sometimes stubborn
  
• super observant of details
• very intelligent
• disinterested in school (to put it mildly)
• sometimes anxious
• has a seemingly unlimited appetite for electronic games (which we try constantly to keep in check)
  
• can't get enough of Night Games--especially capture the flag
• a builder of Binder Clip Warriers and stager of Paper Clip battles
  
• a maker of cool stop-motion movies
• completely content with an absurdly messy room. [sigh]
  
• a great strategist in battle scenes
  
• an avoider of bathing and changing clothes
• fair-minded
• tender-hearted (can't stand to see any living thing hurt.)
• fiercely devoted to his cousins, whom he adores
• a great reader
• a big sweet-tooth (it's genetic!)
  
• honest (one of the qualities I love most about him)
• kind-hearted.
  
• a huge fan of his "can do no wrong" dad
• a home-body
• a lover of John Williams music
• not into any kind of athletic sports
• an eschewer of fashion/shopping/clothing
  
• terrific at making lots of different sound-effects with his mouth
• an introvert
  
• a dreamer
• a great example to his big sister
  
• a believer in keeping the rules
• a truly good person
• now done with Cub Scouts
• not a fan of change
  
• newly into riding his bike
• loather of riding the bus to school
  
• a lover of adventure movies
• a highly-selective eater (is that diplomatic enough?)
• a very important person to a lot of really cool people
  
• keeper of an enormous piece of real-estate in my heart. He's the greatest son I could ask for!

I love you angel boy! Thank you for bringing such joy and happiness to my life. You teach me so much, and our family just wouldn't be as awesome without you! Happy 11th Birthday today!

Birthday celebrations begin at breakfast and last (at least) the whole day long! This year we partied a few days early since Doc's on a grueling surgery rotation and Bunch is away at camp.


His party was at Nickel Mania--a local nickel arcade.




The party crew. Dad, Uncle, sister, and all the friends we could round up on the second-to-last weekend of summer.


First game he tried out. Naturally!


Gator and his favorite guy...Daddy...hitting the speed-boat games.


My favorite picture of the day. Love my boy!


Grateful for:
1) Boys and all their boyness.
2) Childhood with all it's mystery, magic and wonder
3) Lots of time to celebrate during this last, lazy week of summer