Celebrating Seven

Here's what I read this morning about 7-year-olds:

"Congratulations on another step down the road toward growing up. Sevens are delightful to be around. They've shed a bit more of the neediness and uncertainty of younger years, and bring enthusiasm and curiosity to everything they do. Mastering skills like reading and simple math gives your child a confidence and excitement about academics.
Sevens tend to ask lots of questions, because they're keen observers with a big need to know about everything. They thrive on order but are better able to roll with change than they used to be.
Your 7-year-old is mature enough to form his own opinions about many things. He looks to peers and other adult authority figures to inform his ideas. But his parents firmly remain the shining lights in his universe. Sevens still like to cuddle, hold hands, and show their affection in ways that typically vanish (at least in public) over the coming years."

This description of a typical 7-year-old describes our Aaron well. He's always been that way. I mean that he's a by-the-book type of guy, from reaching infant milestones til now, he just does what the developmental books say he's going to do, when they say he's going to do it. There is something comforting about that as a parent, it's "easy" to have a by-the-book child. That said, there is so much about our first-born son that a book could not have predicted or described.

Like how he captured our hearts from the moment we first met him.

How his smile could light up the rainiest of days.


That these feet would never stop once they started.

How he is just as enraptured by the beauty of nature as we are.


That there is more going on in that head of his than we will ever know, even though he has lots of words to get the thoughts out.

How fun he is to do things with and how his excitement for life and activity lifts us all up.

That he is more beautiful, sensitive and kind than we thought a boy could be.

How it is natural to him to love, care, protect and teach and that he's a better big brother than we could have dreamed of for our other two boys.


Happy Birthday, my sweet Aaron. It's a joy to parent and live life with the wonder that is you.