Oh, Nathan.
Today you are seven. Seven! For the past thirty days or so, you have been counting down to this day. Your BIRTHDAY. Every (EVERY) day you would ask me if I knew how many days it was until your birthday and every (EVERY) day, I would throw out every number except the right one, just to tease you. It’s what we do. Then you would ask me, “Can you believe that I’m going to be SEVEN?” I would (and will) reply, No. No I can’t.
I’m pretty sure that I just had you. Not last week, no, but maybe last year? It was a rainy day and we did not know if you were a boy or a girl and I was induced and there were two pushes and then you were here. All eight pounds, five ounces of you. Long and lean, just like your Daddy. A skiff of brown hair, and a strong profile, just like your Daddy. To this day I will search your face to see if I can find any resemblance to me. I’ve yet to find one but I sure do love your Dad, so I’m not complaining.
My post to you last year kind of sums you up perfectly, still. The lisp, the hugs, the smile, how much you love to love and be loved. You will take any hug that is offered and will ask for hugs unabashedly. I never turn you down (How could I?). You give good hugs, Sir Nathan.
You have grown a lot this past year, both physically and emotionally. You’re in the sweet spot between raging preschooler and hormonal teenager and are someone that I like to hang out with. You are someone that other people, not bound by family ties, like to hang out with. You are smart and funny and clumsy (Like me!)(We found a resemblance!) and pure sunshine. Pure, unfiltered sunshine.
You have learned to read (well) and will read me books, cards, store signs, anything with words, really. You’d probably read one of my old accounting textbooks to me if I asked you to but, hey. I love you too much to subject you to that.
You love your brother and sister so much and they, you. There are days, of course, where you guys push each others’ buttons — it’s to be expected. For the most part, you flit between riding your bikes and jumping on the trampoline and swimming in the lake and playing make-believe and building Lego creations and playing the Wii and just running in the yard and, well. The fact that you are all so close in age and have each other to hang out with makes me smile.
I wish that I could freeze time right here, right now. I want to stay in this place where you brighten my every day, just by being you. I suspect that will continue to be the case until the end of my days but I just wanted to tell you that right here, right now, you are one pretty spectacular kid.
I love you MORE,
Mom
A birthday post would not be complete without sharing some of my favorite photos of you from the past seven years.
Happy Birthday to Nathan! He is such a gorgeous little guy, you are going to have a hard time keeping the girls off him in a few years! Hope he has a fabulous 7th birthday!
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It is a nice and wonderful post of having a wonderful son, who celebrate birthday. His pictures are very nice too. I like his facial expression when he was holding a football. His smiles are very cute. I guess the birthday post with pictures are certainly perfect.
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Nathan,happy birthday all the way from brunei darussalam. Angela,u have wonderful children who r growing up perfectly because of u.. i learn a lot from u; how to nvr give up and how to love ppl around me more each day.. if u’r still wondering what’s the common thing between u and nathan,it’s the smile,the positive energy the seems to be around u,the eyes and best of all, the love.
Ps: im a fan of ur blog (indirectly a fan of yours?)..but too shy to say hi..however,this is a good excuse,right?
Send hugs to u and ur family.
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He has SUCH a fantastic grin in every shot! Happy Birthday, Nathan!
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Happy birthday Nathan.
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Happy birthday Nathan! You’re definitely going to be a heart-breaker!
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Happy Birthday, Nathan!!! When your kids leave home (which won’t be for a very long time) you should totally make a photo book for them with all of these letters you’ve written to them. So special.
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Look at HIM! Happy Birthday Nathan!
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This boy is such a love and delight!
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Happy Birthday Nathan and Mommy and Daddy! Man do you ever see how grown up he is in the last two photos!
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Happy Happy Birthday Nathan!! Hope it’s a fantastic day!!
xox
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I think he looks more like you now, not so much when he was younger. It’s the eyebrows.
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Love it!
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You have a heart breaker on your hands, Angella! Happy Birthday to Nathan!!!
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(You’re two good looking people so it’s not like it’s a surprise but) Do you ever catch yourself looking at your own awesome, beautiful children and wonder HOW you created such gorgeous kids? I can’t believe my luck that I have THE most gorgeous kids EVER BORN
However, Nathan is also unbelievably handsome, ma’am.
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Happy Birthday Nathan! Yay to 7!!
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Happy Birthday Nathan. 7 is a great time to be. Love the baby pics and LOLed at the pic of you in the diaper holding the football.
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Oh, this kid. He just steals my heart time and time again.
A (one-day belated; grant deadlines are from Hades!) Happy! Day of Cake to your spunky Nathan. Please give him a big squeeze for me and remind him that Iggy and I love him to pieces.
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Wow, he’s really grown up in the last year! it’s the big boy teeth… does it every time!
Happy Birthday to him!!!
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I feel the same way when you said you want to freeze the moment. Our kids have this magic in putting a smile in our faces by just being them. It is not an effort for them, they just make us happy. My son is turning 10 this October. They just grow up so fast. Happy birthday Nathan.
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