My sweet baby boy, the firstborn who changed my world forever, turned 9 this May without my permission. He officially started into the "back nine" of childhood despite the fact that I can still hold and rock him (when he lets me :)). I shudder to think how fast this second half will fly by and pray that it is as sweet and special as the first.
So, how do I describe you now, Gehr? In many ways, you are so similar to how you've always been. You're super laid back and easy-going, getting along with everyone and having fun in any situation. You've been blessed with great friends and so many fun opportunites and outings. You are smart and careful and conscientious and compliant. I'm constantly grateful to watch you love and care for your sisters and how sweet you are to any younger kids we're around. You are gifted at math and have an incredible memory, but still favor history, geography and art in school. You continue to follow in your daddy's footsteps with natural athletic ability and a great love for anything and everything to do with sports. You still love animals and any kind of picture encyclopedia...and you continually bless my heart with how you know and love the Word more than I knew was possible at your age.
You've also grown a lot this year. I almost feel like I have another adult in the house sometimes with the ways that you help with chores and the girls and talk with me about life like you're big. You have moments of teenager-y laziness trying to peek through, but listen and heed mama and daddy's warnings about letting it take hold. You are sensitive and don't share too many details unless it's something important...and I can already see that you have your daddy's gift of seeing the best in people and situations. Your love of reading has grown and it makes my heart sing...and you have continued to grow into a great little artist. This year, you went through the Bible Skills program for the first time and blew us all away with how much you memorized with hardly any practice. You enjoyed football, tennis, baseball, swim team, Latin and art classes. And you've started weekly Saturday morning guy times with Daddy to talk about all-things-life to help lay the foundation for your transition to manhood.
I feel so blessed to be your mama and just really love being around you. It makes me look forward to the coming years, even if I do want them to come slowly. Thank you for letting me over-protect and ask a million questions and take endless pictures of you...you are so patient with me :). I love you so much, buddy.
Old enough now to know that we always take birthday-eve pics...we did one earlier in the afternoon and then right before bed like normal. Last pics of him as an 8-year-old...
His version of selfies with Mama ;)
Waking up 9! It was a super fun treat to have live-in friends that week to celebrate with us first thing :)
We didn't have a ton of birthday plans for that day, but were so thankful for sweet Rucker boys who brought balloons and an awesome football book to Gehr at tennis...
We finished they day like we started it, around the table with the Links...just at their kitchen table instead of ours while we unpacked boxes :)
And then, sweetness fell asleep with his Rucker-gift. It was a good day :))
A couple of days later, Gehr went putt-putting to celebrate in a low-key way with Luke and the Rucker boys. They are such cuties...
And afterward met up with us girls for dinner.
All in all, fun and laid back and sweet. Just like you :) Happy 9th birthday, Gehrig Owen! Every year with you is a gift that we cherish. We love you!!
