June 3, 2008
eight
Henry is eight today, which I find both completely mundane and entirely shocking. When I look at his face, especially when he is sleeping, he looks exactly like the wee not-quite-five-pound baby they put in my arms after the delivery, the serious, silent, frowning little thing, with his nose in the air and his eyes scrunched shut.
In eight years, he hasn’t changed at all, except that he sleeps less and talks more. And he’s harder to hold in my lap.
I have hugged him eleven million times today, and he has allowed it, probably because he is sick but maybe because he can see that I miss the wee baby he was, and the fat toddler and the busy preschooler. Also because eight is so big and so small, all at once. Eight is also half way to a driver’s license, as Henry reminded me (although I may have said something like over my dead body, which is entirely possible because he is young and I am old).
Happy birthday, Henry, my baby. I love you (but I still don’t want you driving).
Posted by Susan @ 9:07 pm • Henry&Charlie
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June 3rd, 2008 at 9:19 pm, All Adither Says:
HBD, Henry! Don’t let yourself think about what else he could be halfway to. I know I don’t with my kids.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:28 pm, daysgoby Says:
Happy Birthday, Henry!!
Aw, Susan. How many times are you going to sneak into his room tonight and peek at him?
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:40 pm, Jenn @ Juggling Life Says:
It doesn’t matter what you do–they just keep growing up.
Happy Bday to both mom and son.
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:00 pm, Yvie Says:
Before we know it, they’re 18 and in college. I’m always in awe whenever I see my boy moving about the house. I can’t believe how much he’ve grown!
What would I be thinking when my son turns eight?
Congratulations Mommy, you’ve raised a fine boy!
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:00 pm, She Likes Purple Says:
Happy birthday, Henry!
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:11 pm, Sue Says:
Happy Birthday, Henry!! Slow down a little, wouldja?
June 4th, 2008 at 12:24 am, Stephanie Says:
Happy Birthday, indeed! To Henry, and to you Susan, for being his mommy!
So the sneaking in and looking at them while they sleep doesn’t stop when they aren’t babies anymore, eh?
Good to know.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:26 am, blackbird Says:
Happy Birthday, Henry!
(a day late!)
June 4th, 2008 at 7:52 am, Velma Says:
I treasure those stolen glimpses of the baby face on my sleeping eight year old, too. It’s going fast, isn’t it? Happy Birthday, Henry!
June 4th, 2008 at 8:13 am, gorillabuns Says:
Happy Birthday Henry!
June 4th, 2008 at 11:59 am, Angella Says:
Happy Birthday!
June 4th, 2008 at 3:31 pm, Lori Says:
I adore the personal posts moms write for their kids on birthdays! They are too sweet for words and show a lot about the mother-child relationship. Congrats on your teenager minus five years!
June 5th, 2008 at 7:03 am, Katy (formerly June C.) Says:
I can’t believe he’s EIGHT!!!!! I still remember you posting pictures of when he was turning five??? Or six maybe??? It’s so weird (in a good way) to watch your kids grow, even though we’ve never met! That sounds stalker-ish, but you know me better than that!!!!!
June 5th, 2008 at 2:51 pm, katrin Says:
I watched my 6 ft 1 inch 14-year-old graduate from Middle School today and kept thinking about how we used to call him Mr. Chuckles. And the incredible fact that this beast emerged from my teeny little va-jay-jay. Incredible but true.
Everyone says it goes fast and it does. God do we ever have to SLOW DOWN so we can make sure to enjoy as much of it as we can. Before we know it, we will be old and gray, and they will be gone making babies of their own!
Katrin
co-author, Mothers Need Time Outs, Too
www.momstimeouts.com
June 5th, 2008 at 7:24 pm, HeatherK Says:
Sick on his birthday? He gets a do-over, right? Happy 8th!! You’re even more adorable upside down!