Dear Alex,
Today is your fourth birthday, although in keeping with how you express yourself these days, I should probably say that TODAY! IS! YOUR! FOURTH! BIRTHDAY! – because there’s not a doubt in my mind that today is going to be a day filled with CAPITAL LETTERS and EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!, and your daddy and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
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This last year has been my absolute favorite with you so far, mainly because you are such great company. There’s absolutely no place that I could go that wouldn’t be made more fun by having you along for the ride, unless of course that place is the library, in which case I would cry “UNCLE†before we ever stepped in the front doors. You’re not so strong with the quiet at this point in your life, but that’s okay because Mama understands that it’s extraordinarily difficult to convey your near-constant capital-letter excitement for OH LOOK, MAMA! SHELVES! when you’re limited to mere whispers. Â
Besides, it’s not like the library is going anywhere, so we’ll head back when you’re about seven and see if we can make it more than fifteen minutes in the Young Readers section without disturbing a majority of the reading patrons. Let’s make it a date, ‘kay?
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Your wide open enthusiasm and love for people is a constant source of wonder for your daddy and me, and sometimes when you’re introducing yourself to the check-out girl at Walmart or the bag boy at Publix or the person who changes our oil at the ExpressLube, your daddy and I will look at each other, grin, and delight in the realization that your extroversion is so innate that there’s no way we could’ve taught it to you. It’s who you are through and through, and even though I’ve winced a time or nine when you’ve said, “Hi, I’m Alex. I’m three. This is my friend Mama†and then ANNOUNCED MY AGE TO A LARGE LINE OF GROCERY SHOPPERS, I wouldn’t dream of correcting you, mainly because I have big plans to teach you that my actual age is twenty six and then let you proclaim it to the masses. Â
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Lately at bedtime you’ve decided that you like for your daddy to tuck you in and say prayers with you, and after he leaves your room you call for me to come snuggle with you. You will not go to sleep until you have had “snuggle time†with both of us, and I treasure it like crazy because I know that one day you will be thirteen and prefer that we respect your six-foot radius of Personal Space while you’re busy trying to pretend that we don’t exist. Â
(Also: when you are thirteen you will read this post and roll your eyes. And then I will chase you and catch you and give you one hundred kisses. You might as well make your peace with that now.)
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You like to talk when we have our snuggle time, and you often announce, as you smush up next to me and put your head on my shoulder, that it’s time for some questions. For five or ten minutes you’ll ask me about what our plans are for the next day or how far away heaven is or whether or not God made pajamas. Inevitably in those moments I’ll be overcome with emotion, and I’ll look you straight in the eyes and tell you how much I love you, how blessed I am to be your mama. Then, in the quiet of darkness, you’ll look right back at me and say, “AWWWW, SHUCKS, MAMA! I LOVE YOU, TOO!â€Â
And somehow, it’s just as it should be that your words shock the quiet of our time together every night, because that’s exactly what your arrival four years ago did for your daddy and me. You have caused us to sit up and open our eyes and take in the world from a completely different perspective, one that is infinitely richer and deeper and better simply because you’re here to share life with us.
I will never get over that as long as I live.
I love you so much,
Mama
Happy! Birthday! to! Alex!
And you said that so well, BooMama. Like a mother who really loves her boy… just the way it should be.
With tears in my eyes…Happy Birthday, Alex!
That is sweet! Happy Birthday Alex! Today is my little cousins 18th birthday! And Saturday is my nieces 5th birthday-it seems like yesterday I was rocking them to sleep and now, they are too big to rock!
Ahhh, happy birthing day, Boomama! Isn’t motherhood just the BEST! THING! EVER!? ;)
Happy! Birthday! Alex!
What a lovely gift for Alex to treasure one day. Happy Birthday dear Alex.
Happy Birthday to your little man. What a sweet expression of your love for him!
Alex is one lucky little boy. Oops. BIG boy now that he is 4! HAPPY! BIRTHDAY! ALEX!
If I said this didn’t leave me with a little mascara running down my cheeks, I’d be lying.
Happy Birthday Sweet Alex! May you have a day filled with all good things and making new friends!
Happy Birthday Alex!!
Happy Birthday Alex!! God bless you and keep you safe always.
BooMama, your sweet words for your big boy made me cry and think about my one and only sweet 27 year old so far away today.
Thanks for the sweet reminder.
Happy bday Alex!!!!
Oh, that made me tear up, Boomama. I know Alex will love reading that when he is older (older than 13, of course!).
Happy Birthday to your sweet little boy!
Kelli
That was beautiful!I love how he introduces both of you! Too die for cute!
And your ‘big plan’ is too funny. : )
I’m sure he’ll love this post when he’s 13 even though he might not let on. I just lived through my first 13 yr. old and they really can be sweet and as fun as a 4 yr. old. (those moments you hear about aren’t constant. Thank you Jesus!)
Well, there goes the mascara. I really should just wait to put my makeup on until AFTER I read your blog. If I’m not crying here, I’m laughing so hard the tears flow. : )
BooMama, you are such an amazing mama. No wonder you and your husband have such a sweet, sweet boy. This post is the best thing about blogging. Alex will have this to treasure all his life(and you will have it to look back on in the years to come to remind you of these sweet years.)
And if you’re reading this someday, Alex, when you’re like, 13: Happy! Birthday! Dude! (and go and give your mama a “wicked fierce” – or whatever it is kids are saying by then! – hug and kiss because you can tell she really! loves! you!)
My boy is 14 and I wish for you the sweetness in Alex that I have in my Zach. He is all boy, yet he makes breakfast and lunch for his daddy and I every morning for the grand sum of $2/meal. And I’m talking scrambled eggs and bacon! So that we won’t spend so much on fast food and will have more money for family night. He still loves to snuggle and thinks I’m cool. I’d fear for his social life, but he’s doin’ just fine, thank you very much for asking. God is good!
WOW!! FOUR! YEARS! OLD! HAPPY! BIRTHDAY! ALEX!!!! I want him to know that I’m as excited as he is for it to be his birthday! Have fun celebrating!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ALEX!!! LOVE YOU, BOOMAMA!!!
JENNIFER
Happy Birthday Alex!!!! He is precious! And, as always… a great post! He is lucky to have you for a mama!
Boomama…you rock.
Happy birthday to both of you…
Beautiful!
HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ALEX!
Happy Birthday to your sweet little boy!! What a blessed little man he is to have a mother who adores him so! That was beautiful. Little boys are special!
What a beautiful post.
Happy Birthday Alex!! Hope it’s absolutely wonderful!
Happy birthday Boo. I love you too.
tt
FOUR! YEARS! OLD! WOW! ALEX!
That’s great. Give it all you got today, you sweet thing!
And remember- Mama is 2-6. Not that other number you hear her mutter now and then. 2-6.
Happy Birthday to your sweet boy! You always say things in such an original yet perfect way, you really have a way with words. I know what you mean about the library!! My boy has a hard time with the quiet part too. I often think in Caps where my boy is concerned now, thanks to your posts!!
Happy birthday to Alex, and congratulations to you.
Mike
http://somethingaboutparenting.typepad.com/
Happy birthday to your precious, precious boy. I am saving this post somewhere for my husband to read because it is just so heartfelt.
I love your boy’s INNATE ENTHUSIASM – he gets that from his mama!
So sweet. They just rip your heart wide open and you are never ever the same, thank God!
wisners sending lots of capital letters your way from texas!
Happy Birthday to Alex! That made me tear up. You can’t find anything sweeter than a little boy and his mama. I wouldn’t trade mine for the world.
Honestly. He has got the most amazing eyes. I think I’ve said that a time or ten.
Happy Birthday, Alex!
Happy birthday to Alex!
with tears in my eyes, my oldest turns 4 next week! So yeah I understand every single thing you wrote :-)
Happy Big 4 to you both! Alex is precious as son’s are. My big ole boy turned 16 and he still gives his mama those cheek kisses because I insist on it. I call him my big ole bubba. He went from a tiny little skinny boy and is now 6″2 and we bought him a 14 and a half shoe last week!!!! He will always be my little darlin because Son’s are just special.
Happy big 4 Alex you have a special mama and Daddy.
Dear Alex,
I loved being 4! You will, too.
It is such a gift to be your aunt and godmother.
I LOVE YOU!
Happy Birthday, Alex!
Kissy from Prissy and a high five from Mac!
HAPPY!!!!BIRTHDAY!!!!ALEX!!!! I HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT!!!!! DAY!!!!!
Beautiful post! I dread having to write my lil pumkins next ones, I’m gonna be a mess. I used to hand write them but now that I have a blog its going to make it so much easier.
Happy Birthday Alex! Being 4 is awesome!
And BooMama, if you loved 3, you’re going to absolutely adore 4. It’s a wonderful year.
Oh, gosh, that was good! It made ME want to be Alex’s mama!!
Happy Four to you both–you’re going to LOVE this year :)
This is the sweetest thing ever! I’m crying right now as my ten yr. old boy is nearing that “six foot radius distance” thing with me when his friends are around. I think you have a precious little guy there! Happy Birthday Alex.
Oh, I SO want to make him a birthday cake!!! If you lived a bit closer, I’d do it in a heartbeat!
I have loved each year of each of my 4 kids lives the best. When people ask which is my favorite age? I always say…THIS one!
Congratulations on the 4th anniversary of becoming a mother!
*SNIFF* This was beautiful.
Happy Birthday, Alex! I wonder where he got got to be so loving and expressive?!? Such a beautiful child—-inside and out! I have two sons who are ages 25 and 15. My lovely daughter is 23. I used to feel guilty about such a huge age difference between my youngest and the 2 older kids. It was very hard on him when his big brother went away to college. Remember the commercial, years ago, about the older brother calling home while away in college just to talk to his younger brother?? That happened many times here at our house. My daughter is married and our son is getting married on 07-07-07. I am SO GRATEFUL to have our 15 yr. old still at home! I MISS my kids terribly. Four years old IS a wonderful age. There will be some years when Alex won’t want Mama’s hugs and kisses. But, that will pass and he might be like my first born: 6’6″ and not at all hesitant to tell his mom funny stories that puts her in hysterics, request his favorite foods before he comes home for a weekend, and lean way down to and kiss her good-bye on the cheek when he needs to leave. I think that you should celebrate being 4 every day!
Alex may roll his eyes when he first reads this but later on in life, this is something he will cherish.
I cherish the snuggle time with our boys too – and they too want to snuggle with BOTH their Mommy and Daddy!
Ohhhh, does he really say ‘Awww Shucks’, ’cause that has got to be theeee cutest thing to come out of a 4 year olds mouth.
What a sweetheart, Happy Birthday big guy!
Wow. My son is a few weeks away from his first birthday and I’m sobbing reading your beautiful post. I’m so glad I have these years to look forward to.
Happy Birthday Alex!
What an adorable little boy! I think it must be hilarious to hear him say “Aww Shucks!”..lol
Wow, that was a teary post! Happy birthday Alex! Hope it was the best day ever!!
God is good, isn’t HE? Happy Birthday, Alex!!!
I. HOPE. HE. HAD. THE. BEST. BIRTHDAY. EVER.
And that he is tucked snuggly in his bed after the rituals of the night. What a blessing.
Mama’s letters to their babies never fail to get me tearing up. That was very sweet! And, a VERY! HAPPY! BIRTHDAY! TO! ALEX! :)
Okay Miss BooMama, I have been lurking here for the past couple of months and I finally had to post a comment. I LOVE YOUR WRITING!!! YOU ARE GIFTED!!I spent most of my Christmas holiday reading your blog from beginning to end (my family was not impressed as I forgot to feed them on occasion being so engrossed in your daily adventures — Mama and her special moment in the van had me in hysterics just to name one. Oh and the sweet stories of you and your friends). But today, boy oh boy did you get me with your tenderness and eloquence. That little boy is one lucky child to have you as his mama.
“…You will not go to sleep until you have had “snuggle time†with both of us, and I treasure it like crazy because I know that one day you will be thirteen and prefer that we respect your six-foot radius of Personal Space while you’re busy trying to pretend that we don’t exist…”
Thank you for posting this; I SO need to remember it with my just-turned-three-year-old. Most nights all I want to do is finish his routine so I can have some “me” time. Hmmm, maybe I need to remember that one day I’ll have too much of that…
Happy Birthday Alex! And what a tearjerker of a tribute. So sweet – and funny!
Happy Birthday, Alex! What a cutie! You made me weepy this morning!
Happy Birthday to your son.
Oh, Happy Birthday Alex!!! This is so beautiful! I hope he’s having the best birthday EVER!!! :)
Happy Birthday Alex! I bet 4 will be even more fun than 3 and you are lucky to have such a wonderful and talented mom.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALEX!! My own exclamation filled, high volumed little 3 year old is about to be four VERY! SOON! and we’ve been counting the days on the calender (literally) and let me tell you that there is ONLY NINE MORE DAYS! and let me also tell you how disappointing it is that OH, MAN, IT’S NOT HERE YET! Alex reminds me of my little Drama Queen in so many ways. HAPPY! BIRTHDAY! TO! HIM! =)
Ok, I have to take up some space on this one. During my praise and worship time this morning, I was jamming to some Kim Hill and let the CD play. It had been a while since I’d played it and forgot this jewel of a song was at the end. I type it now for your enjoyment and tears:
I love you up to the moon
And I love you big as the sky
I love to watch you when you sleep
I love to hold you when you cry
One day when you’re older
And taller than me
I’ll say I watched you grow
Like a beautiful tree
I love you up to the moon
And I love you big as the sky
You’ll always be my little man
I love you the best that a mama can
And one day if you rise up
And call me blessed
I’ll say it was a joy
To give you my best
‘Cause I love you up the moon
I love you as big as the sky
I love you up to the moon
I love you up to the moon.
My little man just turned 13 last month. He’s already as tall as me, and better than I’ll ever be. Thank God for little boys!
Alex, I hope you had a Great Birtday!
I love that even on YOUR birthday, your Mama and Daddy know THEY have been given the best gift of all–YOU :)
Happy Birthday Alex!!
I’ve probably said this before, but THIS post is now officially the sweetest I’ve ever read.
I didn’t realize that Alex was born on my sister’s birthday. How cool.
Happy Birthday to Alex, and Happy Mommiversary to you!
How precious!! Happy Birthday Alex! We! SHARE! THE! SAME! BIRTHDAY! :) Yay!!
How is it that you found your way into my heart and said exactly what I feel when I look at my little one who will be 3 in a week? Thanks so much for sharing that with us.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE MAN!
I love it when this side of Boomama shows up at your blog. You’re hysterical, but my heart gets tugged by that mama-soft side of you. As the mother of one boy, who is 6’3″, 200 lbs and still my little boy, this warmed my heart. HB to Alex! xoxoxox
Oh that was so, so sweet BooMama! Alex sounds like an absolutely delightful child. I hope he had a great birthday!
Tearing up…Happy Birthday Alex!
“My friend, Mama.” Would that all my children would learn this introduction and never forget it, no matter how old and cool they get.
Happy, albiet late, birthday wishes to Alex.
~TaunaLen