Seven

Oh, my beautiful Noah!  

Welcome to the world of SEVEN! 

What a great time you had today on your birthday!  I am so pleased with what a star you felt like from start to finish!  All week held eager anticipation as you counted down to your day.  And so today you awoke to a couple birthday surprises first thing in the morning.  In the night while you slept, Daddy had loaded your shelf with a collection of Lego Bionicles to greet you when you opened your eyes and I covered your door with a curtain of balloons. :)

You were surprised by both but ready for the action because you always hit the ground running every morning. You left me with this parting smile before you bounded out the door for your ride to school.

I am sure your day dragged on slowly as you and your buds all waited to come home together and play at our house.  I passed the hours today looking at your baby and toddler pics (again)

and remembering how I passed this same day seven years ago. This got me thinking of Tania, so I texted her to say so.  She called right away and we chatted a little on the phone.  We made a plan for you to call her later on in the day.

At pick up, I don't know what filled the car more - you, Claire, Owen, Ian, and Jacob - or all your laughter and shouted conversation and jokes!  Such joy. Loud joy. :)  So you.  My joy of a boy.

There was much Lego play and back-yard play and opening of presents crammed into just a couple hours. That Legohead cake was devoured and was an amusing half-eaten sight.  Your birthday gifts included an Ewok Lego set, bongos, a Hot Wheels set, some Wii games, Monopoly Junior, two RC trucks, a bubble gun, a knight's dress-up armor and shield, and some birthday cash.  By the time we got everyone safely out the door, we had to hurry you into your tball uniform and hustle you to the field for a fantastic game where your team slaughtered your opponents 16-2.  Not only did you get to play pitcher again, but you made your first double play!

I am sure you can't remember how everyone in the stands cheered and remarked on your effort and skill, but I sure do.  You impressed everyone there!  I lost count of how many batters and runners you tagged out ... one even while you played outfield. Your Daddy and I are having such fun watching your skill develop!

On the way to the game, you did indeed get to talk to Tania a little on the phone as well as Memaw and Papa John on the way home.  Ever a boy, you didn't have much to say, but we let you do those conversations all by yourself, which is a new thing for you.  You and Tania agreed to talk again tomorrow maybe on a three-way call with her mother (your abuela), too.  We treated you and Anna to slushies on the way home and you got to bed waay past your bedtime, but man, it was a great day!  Seven came in with all manner of activity, memory, fun, milestones, and joy.  Your birthday did not disappoint and there's even more fun to come this weekend when you get to enjoy your first trip to Circus World.

Noah Brown, I love you to pieces and am having the time of my life watching you grow up.  You are such a gift, little boy.  There just aren't words to say well enough how much our hearts swell with love and pride over you.  Happy Birthday!! As always - here are some particularly "you" details to mark this time in your life.

NOAH at SEVEN:  

• Your best subject at school is spelling.  Your retain your list words with almost no effort.
• You are a good little reader and I have no worries about teaching you at home next year.
• You are always hungry lately, but at least you are a great eater - never picky.
• You are still so little for your age and I secretly love it.  You are adorable!!!
• You are 45 inches tall and 47 pounds. Up 4 inches and 5 pounds from last year!

• You are finally out of 4T/5T clothes and into boys XS/S in size 5/6.
• You are still in Toddler size shoes - 10.5 to exact.
• Your best bud by far is still Owen, which is so interesting because you are opposites.

• You spend almost all of your free time with Daddy when he is home. He is your REAL best friend.
• You opt to spend quiet time in your room after school even on days you don't have to.
• This is what your room looks like lately.

• You are into Legos and Wii games, of course, but you are also into your RC helicopter and trucks, Nerf guns, beat boxing, sound effects, and baseball.

• You have taken up drawing a bunch now, too, as well as drumming during your bedtime praise songs.
• You finally mastered staying dry all night, every night, with no accidents at all about 6 months ago. Phew!
• You have yet to lose your first tooth.  It will be such a big deal when it happens though! Til then, we get to enjoy what Aunt Emily calls your perfect little chicklet teeth.
• You play so well with your sister.  She adores you.  You are a great big brother - helpful, playful, funny.

• Like I already said, you are showing yourself to be a talented little baller, so in the fall we anticipate letting you move up to coach-pitch play. :)  As weird as it may seem, you hit even better that way than you do off the tee. 
• As an almost 7 yr old, you finally got to see Star Wars Episode III last weekend.  You were spellbound! Truth be told, I think you are still a little disturbed to have witnessed Anakin finally cross over to the dark side. :S

• You are kind to people, helpful with babies, self-controlled, still a little timid in nature, learning to listen to the Holy Spirit, obedient toward authority, unselfish, funny, and easy going.  People love you!  
• I think the only thing you ever have to be disciplined for anymore is dishonesty every once in awhile. Other than that, your only vice is messing with Anna and enjoying her upset. 
• I can also see how much you've grown this year in terms of speech - many of your mispronunciations have fallen away thanks to your time with your Speech teacher, Mrs. Pruitt.
• You have been getting allergy shots for 4 years now and I can't believe it's been that long.  You also started going to a chiropractor about once a month since last fall and combined with your shots, you hardly deal with any of your usual allergy symptoms. This is a wonderful change!
• As for your peanut-allergy, this past year has been without incident - more proof that you are growing up.  I can't remember the last time you forgot to check ingredients before eating something. 

Fun quotes from you of late:

• I said, "I like the way you solved that problem!" and you answered, "Us engineers do that sometimes."
• One day we dragged you and Anna on a marathon of furniture store shopping.  At one stop, you prayed aloud from the backseat that all the stores would be closed. Your daddy was highly amused ... and sympathetic. :}
• During one of your engineer units at school, you woke up one morning saying, "I dreamed like an engineer last night. I dreamed of ways that I could heat up a Kit Kat and cool off a Kit Kat."  
• When Daddy asked you and Anna to pray with your eyes open one night, you protested that God would not hear you that way.  Daddy assured you God hears you no matter what.  You, not quite convinced, asked if it would be ok if you just squinted instead. :}

You are too easy on us, Noah.  A blessing from sun up to sun down.  I can't sing your praises enough, so I am happy to indulge a little here on the blog on another of your birthdays.  You are the best and we think you are so special.  We just know the Lord has good things in store for you and we count ourselves lucky to be a part of your days.  

Love you, baby boy!!  Go, Big 7!!
Mommy