Ayden's 6th Birthday

Dear Ayden,

Today you are six years old! I cannot believe it! It seems like just yesterday Daddy and I were bringing you home from the hospital. You are growing up so fast. But, you promised me that you would always be my little boy, no matter how old you are, so I am going to hold you to it.

This has been a big year for you because you started Kindergarten. I am amazed everyday at how well you are learning. Your reading just blows me away!! When Mama was teaching, I didn't even introduce these same concepts until the second half of first grade, but here you are, already reading like a champ just halfway through Kindergarten!! You sometimes say that you don't like school and don't want to go, but when you come home you are always excited and say that you had a good day. Mrs. Tracy is such a sweet teacher and has done such a wonderful job with your class this year.

You also learned this year that you were going to be a big brother...again. Surprise!! At first, you weren't all that excited about it. But, then, you said you guessed it would be okay to have another baby at our house...but you sure hoped it was a sister this time. I was holding my breath when it was time to hear the big news, but now we know that a sweet little sister is on her way. I can't wait for her to meet you. You are the BEST biggest brother. You take such good care of your little brothers and you always look out for them and try to teach them by setting a good example. I know you will be the same way with your sister. She, and Landon and Camden, are lucky to have you.

You are still so tenderhearted. You've gotten big enough that you really don't get into trouble very often...but when you do, its usually for having an attitude with Mama and Daddy. You are always so brokenhearted to be in trouble that I usually feel guilty for even getting on to you. Just know that Daddy and I are working to train you up in the way you should go. You also tell me about things that make you sad, like when a friend has to leave school because they are sick, and especially how it makes you sad that Grammy and Poppy and all of our family in Missouri is so far away.

You are also so funny. You have always kept us entertained, even from the time you were a baby. I remember when you were just a month or so old, Grammy said that she couldn't even remember what we used to do for entertainment before you came along. You get the fun-loving side of your personality from Daddy. You act just like him (and that's a good thing!!). Although Daddy and I do NOT think we need to start the whole boyfriend/girlfriend thing anytime soon, you have definitely been exposed to it some this year in school. A few months ago, you told me that so and so thought you should marry a certain girl from your class. I tried to play it cool and not totally freak out and give you the whole, "you-will-NOT-have-a-girlfriend-for-at least-the-next-27-years" talk. So, I just casually said, "Well, it will probably still be a long time before you want to get married. But, when the time comes, you just need to find a girl that loves Jesus and loves you." And, that was that. Then, the next week after I picked you up from school, that same girl came up again in our conversation, and you said "Mama, when we are on the playground I keep asking her if she loves Jesus, and she just runs away from me!!" I have laughed at that so many times!

Recently, you have started shortening words... Camden is "Cams" and Landon "Lands". You like to snuggle under the "covs" with me and your "Dads" and sometimes even like to call "Grams" on the phone. Your Daddy and I have gotten quite a kick out of your new language!

You love to play with your Legos that you got for Christmas and you are in kid-love with The Avengers. Honestly, I had no idea that so many different superheroes even existed, but you know every single one under the sun (and above and beyond that, too) and what their power is. Mr. Rusty has loaded you up with some sweet Avengers posters for your bedroom that are the envy of most of the other boys (even Daddy!). You are very creative in the way that you play, and you also like to draw. Daddy says you just may grow up to be a movie director because you show us a piece of paper with what looks like random drawings and scribbles, but then you proceed to tell us exactly what is going on, with exact detail. Scribbles become bombs blowing up, people in the air are being flown away by the heroes, random lines are spiderwebs shooting or laser eyes firing...Its crazy because you always know every little detail about what and why you draw.

You are sometimes critical of yourself. I think its called being a perfectionist, and, unfortunately, I think you get that from your Mama. Daddy and I have tried to let you know that we are always proud of you when you try your hardest, even if that means something isn't perfect. You are the exact way that God made you, and we wouldn't have it any other way!!

I love you so very much, big boy!! I am so proud of you and that little man that you are becoming. It thrills me to hear you talk about Jesus, and I pray for the day that you understand about the sacrifice of His life on the cross in order to pay for our sins and allow us eternal life with Him in heaven. I can't wait to see all of the things you will do for the Lord in your life and the ways you will serve Him.

You are precious to me.
There is no one like you.
You are the perfect fit for our family.
I love you to the moon and back times infinity.

Love,
Mama