You're Nine!

Dear Tyler,

You're nine today. I was thinking back over these past nine years this morning.

How still and silent you were when you were born. Three of the scariest minutes of my life. How mad you were at birth. Everyone laughed at how furrowed your brow was. You are the only newborn I have seen who looked ticked-off. I can't really blame you after the way your birth went.

How eager you were to move. Walking by nine months. Climbing ladders before you were two. I'll never forget turning around to find you half way to the roof and all the entire roofing crew yelling at me in Spanish.

Your eagerness to talk and take part in adult conversations.  You still crack me up with the adult words you use. The other day you used "per se" appropriately in a sentence. Currently "vaguely" is your favorite response to someone asking about a distant memory.

I'll never forget the hurt the first time other kids picked on you. Walking out of Sunday school and trying so hard to keep a brave face on. And having to sit on my hands as you and daddy worked through it the way "men" deal with these things.


Your pride as you learned to read and discovered how much you truly loved it.

The first time you asked if you could ride your bike down our front steps. And watching you do it.

So much has changed. You rarely want help bandaging your scrapes or solving problems. You are a do-it-yourselfer - just like your daddy. You have a confidence that sometime gets you in trouble, but will carry you a long way. You are a hard worker. You don't shy away from things because they are hard, you try harder to reach the goals you set for yourself. You no longer want to be watched, but want to be the "helper" at church functions.

You are so quickly becoming a young man, one that I'm blessed to call my son. I watch as you stand up for the underdog. I've watched as you've had the opportunity to do wrong, but chosen right. And I am blessed. I pray each day that you grow in knowledge of God and in wisdom. That you will know His plan for your life and walk daily in it. I love you sweet, sweet boy. Happy Birthday. Love,

Mom