You came in the bonus room for a second time, rubbing your eyes and complaining that you just couldn’t fall asleep. I walked you back to your room and crawled into bed with you. You scooted all the way over to make room for me. I snuggled up against your warm little body and felt you instantly relax.
The room was quiet except for the “whrrring” of the fan. I stroked your hair and lightly traced your cheeks and ears with my finger. You grabbed my hand and placed it on your chest, with your fingers weaved between mine.
I felt every breath, every heart beat.
Bum, bum.
In, out.
Pretty soon you were asleep, but I stayed just a little longer. I watched you, memories flooding my mind, of you learning to walk, trying to talk and sing, of you dancing.
How are you seven? How is it possible that seven years have passed since I first become a mother?
I tell you often that no matter how old you are, you will always be my baby. Always. That’s a fact.
You’ve become such a little man. You spend your Sundays watching football; it doesn’t even matter which team is on. You love basketball and baseball and are always up for throwing a ball around with your dad. You still love Disney Infinity and the fact that 3.0 is Star Wars makes you very, very happy.
This summer we read the first Harry Potter and you LOVED it. I was reading it for the first time too and am so happy that we got to experience it together. Book 2 starts this weekend!
I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am that you like reading. I know it doesn’t click with everyone, but it did for me and it seems to have for you too! You come home and grab a book. You wake up in the morning (and if I tell you there is no Stampy) and grab a book then too. You are in for a lifetime of adventures, son. No matter where you are in life, you will always find a home in the pages of a book.
You have such a sweet, sweet soul. You don’t love signs of affection, but you still let your sister, friends and family know they are cared for. You tell jokes and aim to make people laugh. Your giggle is still my most favorite sound in all the world.
Seven seems like such a BIG age. I can’t quite wrap my head around it, but I do know one thing. It’s going to be amazing. I can’t wait to see what it has in store for you.
I love you so very much, my Wonderbug. Happy, happy birthday!
Love,
Mama
I really love your writing. I can relate to this so much! I tell my oldest that she’s our first baby and always will be.
This made me tear up. I used to write a letter to my girls on their birthday. I need to go back and re-read those now that they are almost teens.
XO
I love that you wrote such a touching letter to your son! When mine turned 7 this year I had a hard time (he’s my BABY!) but I basically just tossed some presents and cake at him and wished him luck. LOL I need to document more like you do. Loved this!
This is SUCH a sweet memento. Happy, happy birthday!!! Seven is magic!! Enjoy!
I have a (just about) 7 year old boy and our guys sound like they’d be friends 🙂 My son will not read any fiction though, and if I read one more book on the Titanic, I might go crazy. Happiest of birthdays to your little big guy!!!
Aw-so sweet! Happy birthday to him! My now 18 year old is my ‘baby’, too. 😉
So sweet! And man 7 seems so…SEVEN! Where did the time go!?