the little things: September 2013

Dear Kyle,

Today is your 7th birthday! I remember the day you were born so vividly. 7 years ago today, I was running very late to my 37 week doctor appointment. So I valet parked at the hospital and RAN my big pregnant belly all the way to the doctor's office. Doctor took a quick look and within 5 minutes I was sitting in a wheelchair being taken up to the Operating Room for an emergency c-section. Instead of being head down, which is how baby’s typically stay in their mommy’s tummy, you were standing up in my tummy. When they finally placed you in my arms I cried tears of joy.

You entered this world defying convention and you continue to do things your own way. You are a kid who thinks outside the box and blazes your own trail. I am always amazed by your ability to see patterns, make up theories and hypotheses. You are very smart and creative. You love to do projects that involve drawing/painting, building, cooking, and experimenting.

You just joined the cub scouts and have already had what was probably your dream day. You and Daddy went to a place where you built a boat and sailed it, shot a bow and arrows, and then cooked a yummy dessert filled with chocolate (your fave). Yup, I think you are really going to enjoy being a Boy Scout.

We just had your progress review with your teacher, Mrs. Murrell. She said you have already read all the books she has in the class for reading time, so she had to go check some out from the library. She is teaching you to put post it notes in the books you read whenever you find something you connect with or want to learn more about. As a result, after reading a book about wolves, you asked to share with the class an amazing discovery you made while reading. Since she is such an awesome teacher, she let you give an impromptu presentation on the overhead projector about how to communicate with wolves. You are also making PowerPoint presentations IN FIRST GRADE! And now one of your classroom jobs is “PowerPoint Expert” so you are in charge of helping other kids who want to make a PowerPoint. The other day Mrs. Murrell had you take your latest PowerPoint presentation to all of the 1^st and 2^nd grade classes. You have no problems speaking in front of large groups.

In Sunday School, your class (which is 1^st – 5^th grade), sometimes plays a bible trivia game. Your leaders say your Bible knowledge surpasses just about everybody. That makes me so proud.

Sometimes you blow me away...I just don't how you come up with the stuff you say and do. You and I were recently playing doctor. I was pretending to have a broken leg and to be in a lot of pain. You put a cast on my "broken" leg and then said "I will be right back. " I thought you had to go to the bathroom but you quickly returned to put something in my hand. It was a seashell. Still in full character as the doctor, you gave it to me and said to think happy thoughts.

Not only are you smart and creative but you are kind and loving, too. Right before school is out each day, Annabelle and I wait under the shade of a tree in front of the school. When the doors fling open she starts looking for you. Everyday, you greet each other with a sweet hug and big smiles as your friends run past. I stand back watching proudly as I hear other moms say, "aww" and "that's so sweet!" I am also blessed to receive little unexpected love notes from you every now and then. They hang in my office for me to look at everyday!

You are not one to follow along and do something just because everyone else is doing it. You are not one to copy another kids drawing, or go the same old way just because that's the way everyone before you went. This sometimes gets you in trouble, but it is also the reason you are destined for greatness. It’s like your version of the Force. If you respect the rules and your leaders and use it for good, you’ll accomplish great things. Your teacher handed out a piece of paper to the class and said to see how many triangles you could draw on it. All the kids in the class drew little triangles all over the page. Some tried making tiny triangles to fit more. She showed me your paper at the conference. You had drawn horizontal lines all across the page about a ½” apart and then between each pair of lines, you drew a zigzag all the way across, repeating to fill the whole page with small triangles. She told me she was going to use it in a presentation she was about to give to other teachers using it as an example of extraordinary/out-of-the-box thinking.

You are an amazing kid and I brag about you all the time. Your interests are wide and varied, which makes YOU very interesting…and wonderful! You don’t always follow convention but I have faith that after some experimenting you will find a path that allows you to be your creative self, follow your convictions AND respect that some conventions and rules are there to keep you safe and happy. You are such a fantastic kid and I cannot imagine my life without the fullness you add. I feel so lucky to be your mommy!

I love you more than words can express.
Love,

Mommy