Dear Son #3,
Seven. Years. Old. I feel like it was just yesterday we had to get your brothers up in the middle of the night so that we could welcome you and your very large head into the world. Over the previous nine months, everyone thought you were a girl to a point where I was convinced you were too. We were all very wrong. And I confess that at that moment I felt a very brief flicker of gender disappointment, but it passed almost instantly as we welcomed you into our already crazy family. And boy, are you ever a boy. As if you needed to make it abundantly clear you were not the girl everyone was expecting. Out of all three of you, it is safe to say that you are the most:
Fearless.
Outdoorsy.
Tough.
Terrifying.
Unpredictable.
FEARLESS
Don’t get me wrong. All of you exhibited some form of fearlessness at one stage, the difference being that your brothers developed some sense of fear as they got older, you have not. This winter you snowmobiled. And I mean REALLY snowmobiled. You found the throttle which, of course, encouraged your thrill for speed then add that with your inability to feel the cold and it was a scary thing. Needless to say, there was lots of conversations and constant supervisionāwe’re taking baby steps to the Snowmobile Derby thank you very much.
Now fearlessness can come in all forms but for you it seems to be revolved around speed. Great. Therefore helmets are an absolute (In fact, I’m thinking of just putting you in one all the time). This winter you tobogganed down a hill that no one else had any interest in travelling down because they still liked all of their limbs. When I say tobogganed, I mean flying down at warp speed, flipping off, landing in a snow bank, then giving a reassuring “thumbs up” at us from the bottom of hill. Continuously until we made you come inside.
At least you wear clothes snowmobiling and tobogganing…
OUTDOORSY
Like both myself and Daddy, you are seriously outdoorsy. Which is not a bad thing because with the inhuman amount of energy you seemed to be blessed with, outdoors really helps when it comes to bedtime. It could be blinding snowstorms, pouring rain or scorching heat (and that’s just in May!), and you’re game on to explore whatever nature has to offer.
Recently our property flooded big time. The snow melted, the rain came and the river came out of the river. This was a stressful time for Daddy as he worked day and night trying to keep the water from coming into the house. This was a stressful time for Mommy as she worked day and night trying to keep you boys from drowning in the Oh-So-Tempting-Puddles (actual small ponds that were 8ft deep) in our front yard. Within a span of 24 hours I think I dried out your boots at least 14 times and I have no idea how many socks, pairs of pants and mitts we went through. Either way, your love for the outdoors warms my heart and works my washing machine.
TOUGH
Tough has always been an understatement with you. I don’t know if it’s to do with being the youngest (probably), having to prove yourself to your brothers (not necessary) or just the way God made you (definitely) but you are one tough little dude. Just as I was writing this you walked headfirst into a wall, rubbed your head, said “ow”, then carried on with your business. Between rug burns, wasp stings, skinned and reskinned knees, face plants, and toe stubbings, when you actually do cry, I know it hurt.
Recently you lost your front tooth. It took a while, it pained me to watch you every day wiggle the living daylights out of it. Pulling and twisting a tooth that was clearly not quite ready to come out.
“I have an idea!” you announced to me after another cringeworthy session of tooth torture. “Tie a string to my tooth then attach that to the toaster and throw it off the banister, down the stairs”.
That was a hard no for me and thankfully a couple of days later it came out.
But now the other one’s loose. Here we go again.
TERRIFYING
Sometimes, and I mean this in the most endearing way possible, you are simply terrifying. And honestly I mean that with such love. You are never afraid to show any emotion you may be feeling at that moment. And nine times out of ten, it is usually a loud emotion. We know when you’re feeling displeased. We know when you’re tired or hungry (hangry). We know when you’re excited. We know when you feel like you can let loose. And I think the neighbours usually know too.
UNPREDICTABLE
One of the best (and sometimes exhausting) things about you, is your unpredictability. I can safely say it keeps life both interesting and entertaining. While you may be tough and fearless, you’re also very snuggly and lovable. You give the best “beautiful huggies” out of anyone I know and love to snuggle up with me and a book. You’re creative, too smart for your own good, and you’re negotiating skills are off the charts. You are kind and respectful and show incredible leadership potential (which is probably why you and your oldest brother don’t get along). I also have no concerns about your speech and vocabulary as it is near impossible to play the “quiet game” with you.
Alexander, you were not the girl I thought I wanted and I am so relieved. Thank you for bringing joy, laughter, challenges, excitement and small heart attacks into our lives for the last seven years. Keep being crazy, keep being loud, keep being adventurous, and keep being curious.
Above all, keep being you.
Happy birthday baby boy.
Love Mommy
XOX
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