Birthday Boy

Today is my baby's birthday. He is 8 years old.

Bittersweet when your youngest isn't so young anymore.

I miss those baby days. They went by so fast and in such a blur.

It was the height of the Iraq war and my husband was deployed all. the. time. 

I was home with three little ones while hubby was fighting a war overseas.

Needless to say, I wished away almost every single day.

Derrick is our last child. Which means he will always be the baby. 

If you know Derrick now, then you might be surprised to learn he was a quiet baby. 

I'm confident the first year he was contemplating all the hell he was about to raise.

 We really should blame ourselves for buying the walking toy. 

It was the start of some very interesting days. Ok, years, really.

 After he figured out he could move...

well, he didn't stop.

In the laundry pile, up the stairs, on the table, over the couch.

Repeat. All. Day. Long.

His first phrase was "Abba alma self".

Which translated to All By Myself.

At which point, I knew this would not be my "easy" child!

But with his energy comes a spirit like no other.
Determination, confidence, independence, initiative,
sense of humor, good natured, kind.
An awesome combination of qualities.

I know this child will be a source of many headaches.
I already pray over his teen years!
But I also suspect God has something very special planned for him.

Happy Birthday Baby Der-wick!