Happy Birthday Big Nine

So Big Dog,  you've turned nine.  Each year I am once again surprised how quickly the birthday comes up again and each year I look at you with pride in what a great kid I'm raising.  You are sweet and smart, kind and funny.  I couldn't be more proud.

In the past year you've continued to become a big kid, less dependent on us for security, more comfortable in your own skin.  You have surrounded yourself with a nice group of friends and I'm proud that they are really nice kids that seem to build each other up.  Your closest friend has a big influence on you and you talk about him so much it is like he is another member of our family.  At the same time, you have maintained a closeness with your best buddy from kindergarten that makes me smile since this is a time where boys often stop being close friends with girls.

At times you struggle with big emotions, frustration and a temper that is more than a little familiar to me.  We have started down the path of the battles of the wills at times too.  I though I had a few more years before I dealt with this on a regular basis, but the teenager in you seems to be peeking through more and more.

This year you've continued with your Bey Blade obsession and we've added Skylanders to the mix.  Both of these are very social for you, Bey Blades with your friends at school and Sklyanders with your brother.  Legos are still a lot of fun, but you tend more toward the kits than freely building.

At school you still love math and you tend toward reading non-fiction more than stories that interest your peers.  You have a great teacher again this year and he thinks the world of you.  You still look forward to school, though recently stomach aches in the mornings make me wonder if this is likely to change over the course of the year.

While you've played soccer this year both at camp and in the youth league, you seem to be tiring of it.  I wonder if you'll play again next year or what new interest will fill you time.  You still love to play but getting you to games or practice is becoming more of a challenge as you have other things you'd like to have fill your time.


Big Dog, you are amazing.  I see so much of myself in you and at the same time you are completely your own person.  I still remember the tiny newborn you were when I first held you in my arms and I can't believe that was a full 9 years ago.  I look forward to seeing what each new year brings.  I love you more than I could ever have imagined.