You are 8 years old today! I know it seems to you like it has taken forever to turn 8, but for me the time has flown. You had a very busy year being 7 years old, so here's some of your highlights!
Last year on your birthday, you were in DeKalb with Grandma, Poppy Loe, and your cousins. This picture was taken at the Mexican food place in DeKalb on your birthday. I love your face in this pic!
You lost both of your front teeth just before Christmas, and no, it is not ALL you wanted for Christmas, but you sure did look cute with your missing teeth!
During Christmas last year, we went snow skiing for your first time. You took a half day of ski school our first day and then decided you no longer needed to be there. So I checked you out and took you up the mountain with me. Poppy Loe had to ski backwards to get you down the first trip up and you almost gave up after your first day, but you decided to keep trying and it paid off because after that, you OWNED that mountain! You were such a champ out there. You skied right beside me with no fear at all. It is one of my favorite memories of you being 7. You were singing and laughing all the way down the mountain, and when you would see someone fall down, you'd ski around them and say "ain't nobody got time for that!" and keep on going. I loved every minute of it.
The fall of last year was the most difficult time you have had in your little life. You struggled so much in the first half of first grade. Learning to read was difficult for you, so you and I decided together that what we needed to do was to READ, and read a LOT. We worked together to come up with goals, rewards, and set a timeline. We made a 200 book chart and had rewards after every 50 books. You and I had a standing date at Books-million every Sunday afternoon for a few months. We would go in and pick out 5-10 books and then you would read to me curled up in a Books-a-million chair. You got so excited with every 10 books read so you could color in that block on our chart. You learned to love to read, and it was a special time for us every time we sat down to read together, even if we were in the car. You were so proud of yourself when you reached your 200 book goal, and school got easier for you during this time. I am so proud of you for wanting it so much for yourself and for the fact that you felt the urgency to need to become a better reader in order to make it through school. You have always been wise beyond your years.
Austin, you are one of my very favorite people in the world. You have such a kind heart and I can't wait to see what God is going to use you for.
You love people and care so deeply for those that you love. You still haven't outgrown how much you love me. In the evenings, you still crawl up in my lap and put your arms around my neck and say "I just love you so much" and it's just the sweetest thing.
You absolutely melt my heart. Happy 8th birthday my sweet little boy...I'll love you forever!
Love,
Mom
