My big, sweet, wonderful Travis, you are SEVEN! The old saying "time flies when you're having fun" has never meant more to me then it does now when I look at what a big boy you've become. All of my "firsts" as a Mommy have been experienced with you, and I think I've learned more from you in this past year then perhaps all the others thus far. This has been a year of big changes for you and it's so exciting to see glimpses of the man you'll be one day.
I think if I tried to begin listing all the things you've discovered, accomplished and learned in this past year this would be a very long birthday letter. I'm not sure if the jump from six to seven is typically so full of change as yours has been, but you are clearly making the transition from little boy to young man. And I've got to tell you, it's a little bittersweet for your mama! Mostly sweet, of course, but when your daddy and I remember one of the precious things you did as a toddler I get all nostalgic for that sweet little guy that you were. Even just this morning as we were all watching the cardinal out the back windows I remembered how your two-year old self used to stand at our back door in Tallahassee and call out for the cardinal, "Red bird, red bird, where AH-wa!" As we always do when I tell you stories from your babyhood, we laughed at the memory (but you didn't notice my eyes filling with tears!).
I think I first started seeing the change in you right around your sixth birthday. We were anxiously awaiting the arrival of baby #4 and you were so, so precious in the way that you took care of me, your tired mama. Every grocery trip would begin with you reminding me to get cereal and bread as those were the staples behind the two meals you could easily prepare for the others by yourself. And you did! On mornings when I was not feeling my best I would come down to find the three of you already sitting at the bar with cereal and milk eating your breakfast. You melted my heart with all the ways that you insisted on taking care of me both before and after Benjamin's arrival. It has also been precious to watch you with our baby now that you are old enough to begin to realize how sweet and wonderful and precious they are. When Caroline was born you were still just a baby yourself, and though you loved her, of course, you were not able to enjoy her as you have enjoyed Benjamin. Daddy and I have truly loved watching you love him. You told me recently that you want to be the oldest of 12 and, while I'm not quite sure that I can make that wish come true for you, I do so love the fact that you see all of your siblings and any future babies as sweet blessings.
You have also completely exploded in your reading. While you've been able to read for a while now, you've never enjoyed it as you began to this year. You are absolutely flying through books-wonderful, classic books-and loving every minute of it. We've read some great books together and I love the inside jokes that we've taken away from those stories. It's such fun to share those "friends" with you. I also love talking about the books that you're reading and listening to you explain the stories to me. You first set of books that you read alone (which we had already read together last year) was the Little House on the Prairie series. I won't even attempt to list all the you've read since then. Lets just say you're keeping me on my toes when it comes to keeping you stocked with good books to read. You love adventure and devoured your Davy Crockett biography. But your love for literature hasn't stopped with just reading books. Oh, no. You also began writing books this year, as well! Your first was a trilogy; a story about a dragon named Sirus and his family. That led to learning about book publishing, which led to us buying a book-binding kit, which led to a set of leather bound books written by you. They are a treasure to your daddy and me. You've written a few other books since then (birthday gifts for Maw Maw and Sam), using the computer on your own.
Some other notable events have included riding your bike without training wheels, shoes that "tie", starting Little League baseball (Go, Tigers!), sending emails (I love the surprises in my inbox!), hiking through various acreage with daddy trying to find "the one" for us to live on, and generally just being a fun kid to have around. I am so thankful for the friendship between you and Sam and for your fierce (though sometimes a little too fierce!) protectiveness of Caroline. You are such a great big brother.
Travis, you are so much fun to have around - I simply can't imagine sending you off to school each day and not knowing you as well as I do. And even though daddy isn't here all day, I think he knows you better than he would if you were gone at school trough all of the tales we have to tell him every night. Our home would be so dull without you here all day and Sam would surely miss the adventures the two of you have outside! It would be such a shame for him to have to choose between pirates, Davey Crockett, cowboys, Marines, Indians, and then try to play without you!
I think the most challenging thing for me in this year is that we've had to begin to make the transition from training a little child to teaching and directing a young man. We started noticing your desire to spread your wings a bit and it's been tough for me to remember that it's a good thing for you to do. As much as you are growing and changing, daddy and I have to as well! We've never parented a "big kid" before and are learning what that looks like right along side of you. We want to honor you and respect that young man that you are growing into, while keeping in mind that you still need so much guidance and direction. You are so receptive and eager to please when you feel like we're remembering your desire to be "big". It's a tough balance for daddy and me to find - thank you for your patience!
Travis, we really are so excited to be entering into a different stage with you. Seeing a glimpse into the young man that you're becoming makes daddy and me look forward to the coming years and all of the new things that we will get to experience with you. Our prayers for you right now are that your heart will remain soft and teachable. That we would be mindful to be gentle with you in your weaknesses, always willing and able to sympathize. That we would be able to easily discern your strengths and encourage you towards your natural bents. That we would know how far to push and challenge you and when to back off. That you would continue to grow in wisdom and understanding and that your heart would continue to be shaped and softened by our Lord. We love you so very much, T-man. Happy seventh birthday, Davy Crockett!
I think if I tried to begin listing all the things you've discovered, accomplished and learned in this past year this would be a very long birthday letter. I'm not sure if the jump from six to seven is typically so full of change as yours has been, but you are clearly making the transition from little boy to young man. And I've got to tell you, it's a little bittersweet for your mama! Mostly sweet, of course, but when your daddy and I remember one of the precious things you did as a toddler I get all nostalgic for that sweet little guy that you were. Even just this morning as we were all watching the cardinal out the back windows I remembered how your two-year old self used to stand at our back door in Tallahassee and call out for the cardinal, "Red bird, red bird, where AH-wa!" As we always do when I tell you stories from your babyhood, we laughed at the memory (but you didn't notice my eyes filling with tears!).
I think I first started seeing the change in you right around your sixth birthday. We were anxiously awaiting the arrival of baby #4 and you were so, so precious in the way that you took care of me, your tired mama. Every grocery trip would begin with you reminding me to get cereal and bread as those were the staples behind the two meals you could easily prepare for the others by yourself. And you did! On mornings when I was not feeling my best I would come down to find the three of you already sitting at the bar with cereal and milk eating your breakfast. You melted my heart with all the ways that you insisted on taking care of me both before and after Benjamin's arrival. It has also been precious to watch you with our baby now that you are old enough to begin to realize how sweet and wonderful and precious they are. When Caroline was born you were still just a baby yourself, and though you loved her, of course, you were not able to enjoy her as you have enjoyed Benjamin. Daddy and I have truly loved watching you love him. You told me recently that you want to be the oldest of 12 and, while I'm not quite sure that I can make that wish come true for you, I do so love the fact that you see all of your siblings and any future babies as sweet blessings.
You have also completely exploded in your reading. While you've been able to read for a while now, you've never enjoyed it as you began to this year. You are absolutely flying through books-wonderful, classic books-and loving every minute of it. We've read some great books together and I love the inside jokes that we've taken away from those stories. It's such fun to share those "friends" with you. I also love talking about the books that you're reading and listening to you explain the stories to me. You first set of books that you read alone (which we had already read together last year) was the Little House on the Prairie series. I won't even attempt to list all the you've read since then. Lets just say you're keeping me on my toes when it comes to keeping you stocked with good books to read. You love adventure and devoured your Davy Crockett biography. But your love for literature hasn't stopped with just reading books. Oh, no. You also began writing books this year, as well! Your first was a trilogy; a story about a dragon named Sirus and his family. That led to learning about book publishing, which led to us buying a book-binding kit, which led to a set of leather bound books written by you. They are a treasure to your daddy and me. You've written a few other books since then (birthday gifts for Maw Maw and Sam), using the computer on your own.
Some other notable events have included riding your bike without training wheels, shoes that "tie", starting Little League baseball (Go, Tigers!), sending emails (I love the surprises in my inbox!), hiking through various acreage with daddy trying to find "the one" for us to live on, and generally just being a fun kid to have around. I am so thankful for the friendship between you and Sam and for your fierce (though sometimes a little too fierce!) protectiveness of Caroline. You are such a great big brother.
Travis, you are so much fun to have around - I simply can't imagine sending you off to school each day and not knowing you as well as I do. And even though daddy isn't here all day, I think he knows you better than he would if you were gone at school trough all of the tales we have to tell him every night. Our home would be so dull without you here all day and Sam would surely miss the adventures the two of you have outside! It would be such a shame for him to have to choose between pirates, Davey Crockett, cowboys, Marines, Indians, and then try to play without you!
I think the most challenging thing for me in this year is that we've had to begin to make the transition from training a little child to teaching and directing a young man. We started noticing your desire to spread your wings a bit and it's been tough for me to remember that it's a good thing for you to do. As much as you are growing and changing, daddy and I have to as well! We've never parented a "big kid" before and are learning what that looks like right along side of you. We want to honor you and respect that young man that you are growing into, while keeping in mind that you still need so much guidance and direction. You are so receptive and eager to please when you feel like we're remembering your desire to be "big". It's a tough balance for daddy and me to find - thank you for your patience!
Travis, we really are so excited to be entering into a different stage with you. Seeing a glimpse into the young man that you're becoming makes daddy and me look forward to the coming years and all of the new things that we will get to experience with you. Our prayers for you right now are that your heart will remain soft and teachable. That we would be mindful to be gentle with you in your weaknesses, always willing and able to sympathize. That we would be able to easily discern your strengths and encourage you towards your natural bents. That we would know how far to push and challenge you and when to back off. That you would continue to grow in wisdom and understanding and that your heart would continue to be shaped and softened by our Lord. We love you so very much, T-man. Happy seventh birthday, Davy Crockett!