Tuesday, February 24, 2015

A Dozen

Twelve. A dozen years. The last year before the teens. 

Today Joey turned twelve years old. 

My first born. The one who made me a mama. 

I watch his baby videos and I'm in awe at how much of Joey was there right from day one. Same huge eyes, round face, sweet cheeks. Same silly sense of humor. Same analytical mind, always watching, observing, figuring out. Same hambone who knows how to capture attention. Same clown. Same snuggler. My same affectionate Joey. 

He is twelve. But he still wants to sit with me. He still wants to ask my advice. He still tells me personal info and lets me in to his deepest secrets. He still trusts me. He still plays with his siblings. He still loves being a kid. He still asks for my help. He still has no problem being exactly who he is. 

I hope that never changes. 

Since Joey's birthday fell on a Tuesday and he also had his last basketball game of the season the same night, I knew we wouldn't have much time to celebrate. Instead we took the past weekend to allow Joey to pick his birthday activity. 

The kids had off of school on Friday, and Todd was gone for the weekend, so I took them to a nearby indoor bounce house. It was more to get them out of the house and let them get their energy out than to celebrate Joey's birthday. The kids had a blast bouncing and jumping and sliding and playing for four hours and by the time we got home they were worn out. Job done.
Joey's real birthday treat came on Saturday. I took the kids to the EAA Museum in Oshkosh. We haven't been there for a while and the kids had a blast. All afternoon they conducted experiments and flew plane simulations and sat in cockpits and looked at war planes. Joey was in heaven. It was a good birthday treat.
Today was Joey's actual birthday and of course there were presents (mostly LEGOS), dinner at the restaurant of his choice after his basketball game, and brownies and ice cream for dessert. It was a good birthday.
Now everyone is off to bed and I sit and watch more baby videos of Joey, completely confused as to how we went from 0 to 12 so quickly. 
Happy Birthday my dear Joseph. Thank you for making me a mama. Thank you for making me laugh. Thank you for your snuggles and affection. Thank you for being you and sharing yourself with me. I am so proud to be your mom. I love you.

9 comments:

Bijoux said...

Kat, kudos to you for making birthdays so special with four kids. I only had three and it wore me out every year!

I'm digging the brownies instead of a cake!

Hilary said...

You make such beautiful memories for your kidlets. I can't believe your boy is on the threshold of his teen years. When we first started visiting one another via our blogs, my younger boy was in his last year of being a teenager. You're going to have SO many teens at once.. yikes. I can't wait to read all about it. I know your boys will continue to grow in such sweet ways. Good job. And Happy Birthday, Joey!

Mom24 said...

Happy Birthday Joey! I agree Kat, you do a great job of making things special. They're lucky to have you. I can not believe how much Joey is looking like you!

Kat said...

Bijoux- Yes! I love that he prefers brownies over cake. What is better than brownies and ice cream? Nothing!
Hilary- Seriously. WHERE did the time go? I can't even believe it.
Mom24- You are the first person to ever say that Joey looks like me. I'll take it! ;)

db said...

Time goes so fast sometimes, huh? My oldest turns 18 this year. Doesn't seem right somehow! Happy Birthday Joey!

Riahli said...

Awwwww, this made me tear up! 12? Seriously? Looks like he had a lot of fun! :)

Anonymous said...

I have a 12 year old. Glorious age. Happy birthday to yours and enjoy the year ahead!

Wisconsin Girl said...

Sweet post to your first born! Sounds like you made it a special birthday for him and that you are doing well with enjoying each moment! We just took the kids to the EAA last week when they had a day off school. Fun!

Unknown said...

Looks like he had a ton of birthday fun! 12 is a little hard to wrap your head around, I'm sure. Only one year away from being a teenager!!

Words To Live By

Be grateful for each new day.
A new day that you have never lived before.
Twenty-four new, fresh, unexplored hours to use usefully and profitably.
We can squander, neglect, or use them.
Life will be richer or poorer by the way we use today.
Finish every day and be done with it.
You have done what you could;
some blunders and absurdities crept in;
forget them as soon as you can.
Tomorrow is a new day.
You shall begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be
encumbered with your old nonsense.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson