Happy Birthday E!

This guy is 12 today.  He weighs 109 pounds and is 5'2" and in a few days he starts 7th grade.

He is sweet, has an adorable smile, he is fearless, adventurous, out-going, and just a really fun kid to be with.  

He has aged more in this past year than seems possible.

I hope I never forget the days when he sensed I was stressing out a little and he would look at me with those giant big brown eyes and ask what he could do to help me.  He has done everything I asked and more.  I could not possibly be more proud of how he has helped me and handled this deployment.  His helpfulness, obedience and generally mild temperament made my life so much easier.

This kid misses his dad desperately.

As we traveled this summer I found him regularly aligning himself with father figures, desperate for the attention that he misses from his dad.  Just the other day I overheard him telling his cousin how he missed snuggling with his dad and talking to him about "guy stuff".  

As I look over at him and no longer have to bend down to look into his eyes, I know my sweet baby E is growing up.

I'm so thankful for him, for his heart, his personality, and his love of being with his family.  Playing games together, watching movies as a family, family meals and bedtime prayers are all still so very important to him.  As I watch with pride as he grows into this great young man, I also cling to him so tightly not wanting to let him go!

Eli Eli Oh.