I know that as parents—especially first time parents—we feel the pressure to make baby books. To document every little “first” our babies experience. And then feel sad because of how fast it’s all going. And then repeat. It’s a fun cycle!

{I did it, too. But, to be honest, I never actually put together those baby books—but I HAVE the books, and all the things that ONE DAY I SWEAR TO GOD I’ll get around to actually putting together. But, in the meantime, I have this blog and these birthday posts as my “baby books.”}

We spend so much time documenting and focusing on all the firsts that happen in the first year or two of our babies’ lives that those become the big milestones for many years. Until you hit the big kid firsts. And I have to be honest—the big kid firsts are a mixed bag. It’s so much pride. Like more pride than I can articulate. I will NEVER be able to describe the feelings I had when B got his first hit in Little League.

But oftentimes with these new “firsts” there is a different kind of sadness because unlike when your baby was 9 months and you would lament how fast time was going (and it was, trust me, I get it), you still had a small child that depended on you. When you have an 7 or 8, almost 9 year old (or older which I just CAN’T IMAGINE) suddenly the firsts that they are experiencing can mean the end of other things. And that can be a little emotional.

Sometimes those “lasts” don’t even become obvious until well after the time has passed. Like the last time I was able to pick them up. I don’t remember the last time I carried the kids around. It just stopped one day. Or when they stopped ordering off the kids menu, which, let’s be honest, for B that was several years ago. And then there are other times that it’s the first of one thing and that means the end of something else. For example, the first time my daughter showered on her own was also the end of me helping her bathe. I’m not being ridiculous here, it’s a legit moment that you realize WOW they can actually TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES???

My post last year for B was all about what a huge year age 6 was for him—so many firsts. And that hasn’t slowed down for him. But it’s also made me aware of the end of some things.

This past year he finished Kindergarten and moved on to 1st grade. He finished his first Little League season and solidified his favorite two sports to play: baseball and basketball. He adapted to change much more quickly than I anticipated and found his place in environments I was nervous about for him. It was a year of him growing up in more ways than one.

It was also the year he discovered his love of stories. Both reading—and making them up. Every morning he starts his day with about a half hour in his bed, talking. Sometimes he’ll be playing with his superhero dolls and making up scenarios, sometimes he’ll just be “announcing” a pretend game of baseball, basketball, or football. Regardless of what he’s doing, he starts talking—and doesn’t stop.

And his reading. He has discovered his love of reading on his own and being read to, preferably by his sister, which basically melts my heart. And the craziest thing happened: I saw him reading more on his own and I got sad.

I’m the biggest reader. I love books. My dream was always to have children who would love to read as much as I did. I can’t describe the joy I felt the first time I saw E sprawled out reading a book and every time I listen to her talk passionately about something she’s reading.

But there was something about seeing B curled up with a book that just about broke my heart while also causing it to burst with joy. In other words…it was painful?

B, even though he is only 11 months younger than his sister, is (and will always be) my baby. And it was one of those moments where it became vividly clear just how old both kids are getting.

Seeing him read on his own made me realize that he was experiencing things without me. Up until recently, I was a part of everything he did. A lot of that changed once he started kindergarten, but not everything. I knew the shows that he watched, we read together, we would bring him to activities and watch him, etc. We were there, sharing those moments. But now he is experiencing more and more on his own.

It’s ridiculous that seeing a child read can bring up so many emotions but it did. Suddenly we’re not experiencing a make-believe world together, he’s discovering it on his own. And that hit me in the heart. We still read together and I’ll probably always force my kids to read with me (sorry not sorry) but seeing this beginning of independence has been a little hard to process. Where did my baby go?

I’ll get through this and probably have another mini(?) breakdown when the kids become preteens. And then teens. And then drive. And then go to college…OMG IN 10 YEARS E WILL BE FINISHING HER FIRST YEAR OF COLLEGE WHAT RABBIT HOLE DID I GO DOWN???

Moving on…it wouldn’t be a birthday post with out some quotes from the year. Here are some of B’s best one (or two) liners. Of course I need to start with a recent quote to show his recent love for reading.

Saturday mornings are cartoon time. The Saturday morning after a school book fair B gets up and asks, “Is it ok if I read instead of watch a cartoon?” 

Did he think I was going to say no?

B has always had a funny way of putting things.

When arm wrestling B said, “Why are you so undefeatable??!” 

And…

“Maybe next weekend we can make blueberry muffins? All we need is blueberries & muffin ingredients.”

That’s it!

I mean, so cute and funny!

A bunk bed is referred to as an air mattress since one mattress is…in the air.

And just the casual way he says the most random things.

He went through a phase where he said “Boo-hiss” casually before anything he didn’t like as in “boo hiss Ravens” or “boo hiss more snow.”

His ability to be profound and think of a good joke AT THE SAME TIME

E: What is tall when new & short when old?

B: The giving tree. 

He’s definitely a jokester.

B moved a heavy(-ish) bag & I asked when he got so strong. His response: “I learned that at school. Win-win.”

He is seriously so quick-witted!

Brandon decided he doesn’t like the nickname Brando. I try to respect that, but sometimes I forget. Recently I called him Brando and he said, “Stop calling me that! It’s expensive.”

“Wait, what? Expensive?”

“Yeah it costs money to call me that. You have to pay me.”

Even during the times he doesn’t realize how funny he is.

During a storm, B asked, “Can you turn up my sound machine so I can’t hear the rain?” 

The setting on his sound machine is rain. 

Every Monday he shares in his class so on the weekend he tends to talk a lot about what he’s going to share. The year started with “big” things but as the year has gone on we have conversations like this.

B: For sharing on Monday I’m going to tell my class that 37 is my favorite number. 

Me: Why? Is it?

B: Because I love 3 and 7 and when you put them together you get 37. 

His mispronunciations or misunderstanding of words will never not amuse me.

B: Why don’t we have school on Friday?

Me: I’m not sure. 

B: I think it’s because teachers are doing consequences. 

Me: Consequences...you mean conferences?

B: Yes. 

Seriously, I’ll never grow tired of these.

B: Tomorrow is a special day on the calendar. It says “vegetable day.”

Me: Veterans Day?

B: Sure.

Never.

Chitter chat (instead of chit chat) as in “You guys always chitter chat so much!”

I just love these.

Little golf = mini golf

And this oldie from my childhood years that he heard and made his own.

Finders keepers, losers sweepers. 

It’s always fun to explain what something is and have him not believe me.

B: What’s an autograph?

I explain. 

B: I think it’s actually when you draw a picture for someone. 

Whatever you want, B.

His food comments are always amusing.

B: Can we get another hot dish pizza?

Me: Do you mean deep dish? 

B: Yeah, that. 

Other mispronunciations of food:

Sizzling water = fizzy water OR pop

Oreo Fry = Onion ring

He never quits eating. I’m not kidding.

When telling us he wanted more dinner (after already eating a lot) he said, “For real! I want more. Don’t judge.”

He knows his momma.

B made me turn on hockey and then promptly left the room. I gave it a few minutes and then I yelled to him that I was turning the channel. He responded, “Ok, just turn on your fixer upper show, I know.” 

But sometimes he doesn’t like his momma.

After he got up from a timeout, B said: Mom, I’m really mad at someone. 

Me: Who?

B: You. 

Feeling was mutual I might add.

B’s way of giving the best compliments.

B: “Auntie Lynn, who made this food?” 

L: “Tyllie made it!”

B: ”Oh yeah, she makes great popcorn, too!!” 

His obsession with sports.

B made a list of his favorite nouns at school. One category was favorite animals. He picked dogs (obvious reasons), bears, & lions. He said he picked bears & lions because they played on Thanksgiving. Obviously. 

More sports obsession.

Once the kids decided they did not want to play Candyland together but instead decided to take turns playing on their own & watching each other. And then B started narrating the experience as though it was a sporting event on tv. 

How he refers to some coaches.

An assistant coach in football is a sidekick coach. You know because superheroes always have sidekicks.

More port terminology.

Tie breaker games = overtime in football.

Empire = Umpire in baseball.

Stitching ball = a baseball.

His love of sports even entered his education world—his Imagination Fair project this year was on a topic close to his heart.

A couple of…fun…comments during the movie Solo.

During a part where a woman was doing something dangerous B said, “Wow, that’s so scary, mommy you should do that! It’s dangerous.”

Me: “Awww you think I could do that?”

B: “Yeah, but not daddy. It’s too dangerous and I need him around to watch the Gophers with me. So you should try.”

Moral of story: I’m expendable. 

And…

When Lando was negotiating his “take” in a job and they say 25% B said, “I would do that. 25 cents? I’ll make that someday.”

His amazing ability to suddenly be sweet and calming?

B was in a bad mood all day. On our way to grandma’s house we hit a lot of traffic. 

Me: Ugh! I don’t know why there’s so much traffic. It’s so annoying!

B, calmly: Don’t worry mommy. Don’t be annoyed. Just be happy that we’re almost to grandma’s and then you and daddy get to go to the fair! Think about that!

He truly does know his momma.

He really is so sweet.

We drove to a beach in Milwaukee and had to take two cars. We let the kids decide who they want to drive with—Grammy & Grandpa or mommy & daddy. Both say Grammy & Grandpa. B then says, “well, I’ll go with mommy & daddy, I don’t want them to be lonely.”

He also has the most amazing memory and makes the most…interesting…connections.

B: Daddy is wearing his Coach Mike shirt!

Me: What? What do you mean?

B: Daddy wore that shirt when he went out for a beer with Coach Mike. 

{He then later just started referring to as that shirt as his “beer shirt.”}

It’s his anxiety so at the time it’s not super funny but after it passes we can laugh about things like this.

After B had to get a finger prick at the doctor he was convinced he had no more blood in his finger and kept asking if it would be ok. “I think my blood is gone”

But I also LOVE the way he processes and works through his anxiety.

At one point he was basically playing group therapy with his legos and dolls. Each doll would raise a concern or problem and the rest would offer suggestions. 

And the way he really just boils things down to the point.

Marc was explaining about ants last summer & how we were on “crumb patrol” to try to get rid of them. B, very seriously, said, “oh & if they don’t go away we move?”

Finally, a little video that shows just how sweet little B is. All he wanted for Christmas was an American Boy Doll. And he got it…and would not stop loving on him.

And now his annual birthday survey. Not too many surprises but it’s fun to see how some things have changed over the years. And how others have not. Like his uncanny ability to pick a song I hate each year as his “favorite.” And how each year he says how much he loves pizza and movie nights. But don’t we all?

• Age: 8

• Favorite Color: Red

• Best Friend: Evan, Luke, Gary and Bennett

• Favorite Snack/Treat: Chips

• What do you want to be when you grow up: Police Officer or Basketball Player

• Favorite Song: Saturday Night by Panic! at the Disco (sigh…)

• Favorite TV Show: Gigantosaurus

• Favorite Movie: Solo 

• Favorite thing to do with family: Movie Nights

• Favorite Book: Dog Man

• Favorite food for breakfast: Cinnamon Toast Crunch

• Favorite food for lunch: Eggs

• Favorite food for dinner: Pizza

• Most important thing learned so far: Math—adding doubles 

• Favorite Toy: LEGOs

• Are you afraid of anything: Bees

• Favorite thing to do outside: Play baseball and basketball and ride bike.

• Favorite place to visit: Florida and Milwaukee

• Mom's favorite thing to do with you: Listening to you play—the stories you imagine are so creative!

• Dad's favorite thing to do with you: Playing catch

• What is one thing you want for your birthday: Joker, Lex Luther LEGO set 

• How are you celebrating your birthday this year: Birthday party at the batting cages with friends.

Happy birthday my little big man. I’m so proud of you and even though you might see some tears in my eyes I swear it’s 85% because of how proud I am and 15% because of how insanely fast time flies.

I love you, my little ham.