Seven

Dear Scamp,

The irony is totally not lost on me that I have waited until over a MONTH after your birthday to post this. However, I think this debt will be totally repaid in full when you grow up and have a family of your own, and the trips to visit us will space out further and further. Isn't that nice of me to pre-plan?

You are now seven. Seven years you have made each day just that much more enriching, and on a few I may have ended them with vodka from the TOP SHELF. Don't worry, though, both of us had sweet dreams that night. I'm kidding, of course. You are the light of my life, the light of your father's life. You laugh and play and engage us with your awesome storytelling; with a few fart jokes mixed in.

Okay, a LOT of fart jokes mixed in. Can you and your brother talk of nothing else but farts? Sheesh! I am SO looking forward to the day when those jokes are a little less funny, but by then you will be a teenager, and not speaking to either your father or I. On second thought....maybe I can put up with a few more fart jokes. For now. Maybe.

I am constantly amazed with your capacity to love, and be loved and you are my snuggler. There is no doubt you are my child, and anyone who needs proof of that need look no further than your unabashed love for tea. Sweetened (by mom) and NO lemon. That part might be a sacrilege, but we have time to discuss that and fix it. And trust me, we will.

I think many times a day how lucky I am to have such wonderful boys at different ends of the spectrum of life. I think you are here to help your brother navigate through all the things that seem to come so easy to you. I think the two of you have a lot to learn from each other, and I enjoy watching you guys try not to kill each other daily. So if you wonder why mom is making popcorn and she hasn't told you that it is for you, that would be why. The next show should be starting in 3...2...1... :)

So, my chatterbox, Happy Birthday, a month later. When you grow up and have kids of your own, remind them of those "month-long" celebrations we had growing up, okay?

It makes Gramma and Grampa look better. And cooler. And everything we will not be in a few short years to you.

Don't believe me? Go ask your brother. He'll tell you.

Love,

Mom