say it ain’t so . . .

My “baby” is NINE today.  I don’t even feel qualified to have a nine-year-old!  Am I even old enough to have a nine-year-old – or am I just in denial that I’m actually in my 30s now?!  It’s true, though.

Nine years ago today I called in and told my boss that I didn’t feel well and that I wouldn’t be coming in to work.  He had been so gracious to me already, letting me work half-days for a few weeks.  I got a shower and fell asleep on the couch.  I had no idea how precious those couple of hours of sleep would be to me.  I called Brad around noon and asked him if he could come home early.  When he got home, I decided to call my doctor because I just didn’t feel right.  She had us come in and sent us straight to the hospital.  It was about 3 PM.  Brad drove in the emergency lane with the hazard lights on, and I kept telling him to stop – that it was embarrassing!  I think he was more nervous than I was!  The labor and delivery went well, and at 11:02 PM, we finally got to meet the precious little boy that God had blessed us with.  I will never, ever forget seeing him for the first time.  I was exhausted, relieved, and overcome with all kinds of emotion.  Our families drove up that night to be with us, and it was incredible to have them in the room right after he was born.  I will always be grateful for them making the trip to be with us and celebrate with us.

There’s something unique about your firstborn, and there’s a special bond that I have with Riley because for a while it was just us.  We spent our days together, and we learned together.  I am so proud of who he is.  He’s complex and that keeps me trying to figure him out.  In a lot of ways, he marches to the beat of his own drum.  He’s incredibly creative and imaginative, and I love the way he draws.  He loves to play and spends the majority of his free time outside.  It is my prayer that he will grow up with a passion for following God and loving Him with all his heart.  That he will use the gifts and talents that God’s given him to the best of his ability.  That he will find his niche and thrive in it.  I am incredibly proud to be his mom, and I love him so much it hurts sometimes.  He just might be the best surprise we’ve ever gotten!  Happy birthday, Riley.  I love you to the moon and back!

[picture captions]:
first pair of funky converse that he picked out (loved that he wanted something different!) . . .
his 8th birthday party (I will always love this picture – many battles have been fought in our backyard!) . . .
Cole took this picture of Riley & me at Radnor Lake.  I like it even though he cut our feet off! . . .
crazy brothers in downtown Nashville . . .
Mama loves her boy. . .
Summer fun with good friends.  (Riley’s friend, Seb, moved back to Australia last year.  I was so sad for him.  They were best buddies.) . . .
Brothers stick together . . .
They don’t come much more handsome than that!