twelve

a dozen years?

Wow.

When did that happen and where have I been?

You have gone from being our first born to towering over your Momma

in the blink of an eye.

Happy 12th birthday to Dylan!

Thank you for being so sweet, sensitive and tender hearted.

You always know when I need an extra hug or a sweet smile.

When you smile really big your eyebrows dance

and your sky blue eyes melt my heart.

You still love all things super hero.

Currently you are obsessed with Batman

Kinda like when you were four years old.

You love the Joker, specifically.

That's your costume plans for this Halloween in fact.

You really are in between right now.

Sometimes you want to make believe

And in the next moment you are having a pre-teen fit.

When you are way too cool for your "old" parents.

You love to eat.

My daily challenge is to keep you from starving to death.

I must be doing a pretty OK job as you weight more than me now.

Your feet are huge- only one size smaller than Daddy's!

It seems like just yesterday you started your first day of school.

You have grown up so fast. You were the happiest of babies.

and you have always been a sweet big brother.

Wanting to play with Karsen from Day 1. Teaching her big brother things

like how to share her swing. :) You two have always gotten along so well.

Thank you for not torturing your sister. And teaching her how to be sweet instead.

You have always had a mind of your own

and you truly do march to the beat of your own drum.

(For example: You decided to "Change things up this year"

and paid the $5.00 fee to change the background of your school picture

to green. WOW. Yes, you said you had a surprise for me

and I truly was surprised. P.S. Don't ever do that again.

Thanks.

Love, Mom)

Dylan, Aug 2011
7th grade

Dear Dylan

I hope you always know that the day you were born

was one the happiest days of my life.

Thank you for being you! Thank you for being original,

and full of life. You taught me so much about love and life

as a young mother. Along the way, we both kinda grew up together. 

Happy Birthday, Dylan!

We love you!