12 years ....

Bub is 12. So hard to believe that 12 years ago my baby boy entered the world. What an amazing moment. It was 12 years ago, Thanksgiving Day, Bub was born at 4:02 pm after a very short labor.

I was in complete awe of this newborn baby boy placed in my arms. It was a love I never felt, never knew possible.

Watching him go from newborn to toddler to schoolboy to now, a middle schooling 12 year old is kind of surreal. He has developed into his own person, an individual with thoughts, plans, interests, styles and understandings of his own. He knows what he likes .... he knows right from wrong. He's comfortable making his own decisions, not going with the popular choice just because its popular, or doing something just because his friends are doing it. Sports, music, and reading top his list. He's a social butterfly .... he's a loner. Bub is very comfortable and confident with groups of friends. In fact, he's a goofball. But at the same time, he is just as content at home in his robe, a hot mug of tea, reading his latest comic book (or graphic novel, as I have been corrected). His is such a neat person and I know God has great plans for his life.

For 12 years now I have been mom, comforter, nurturer, teacher. But I can truly say that its Bub that taught me.

We celebrated with a quiet day at home. Bub's choice. Then dinner at his favorite 50's burger place. Burgers, fries and milkshakes. And a gift of 4 tickets to a big college football game known as the Civil War. He was thrilled. It was a day (the next day) of football, a long drive, huge stadium, 80,000 fans, hot dogs and peanuts. And no rain! The perfect football atmosphere. And a perfect day of Bub, mom, dad and grandpa. We had a blast!

(yes, he chose the barbie)

Happy 12th birthday Bub.