8!

Hey sweetie!  You're turning 8 tomorrow.  SO crazy.

I seriously can't even think of it- it's gone so fast.  Back when I first had you as an itty bitty baby, I had all these weird and totally made up milestones in my head.. at 4 months kids start looking like something other than a newborn,, at 3 kids stop looking like babies,  at 8 they are no longer 'little kids', and so on.  So now you're a big kid.  I mean, what's next, your teenage milestone?  Yikes!

Ok, let's stay with 8 :)

Your world still revolves around your family, snakes and transformers.  You've continued your love for everything outdoors- bugs, reptiles, all animals, camping, fishing, anything outside.  Skiing too, you're so excited to go again.

School is great, you have an AMAZING teacher that I wish I could take with us for the next 10 years- but I also think she's taught YOU how to be as great as you can be, and how to be proud of yourself, how to ask for help, and how to learn in a fun way that doesn't feel difficult.  You've also really worked hard on focusing, and getting your work done, you take pride in your work, and you get so excited when you figure things out on your own (like the other night when we were doing your homework and you blurted out the answer to a really hard/abstract math problem and you just BEAMED at me, it was adorable).

I think you'd like more friends- I swear you take after me.  You're friendly with everyone, everyone likes you well enough, thinks you're sweet and funny and all that good stuff, but you just still haven't found your core group of people.  Right now Noah is your "bff", the feeling is mutual.  You've been trying to play football with the guys, mostly to fit in- but I'm not sure it's what you really want to do.  It's so weird to me that at recess the guys and girls completely separate, and only do one thing (football!).  You play on your own a lot, which if that makes you feel good- fine, but I know deep down you love having friends.  So I hope for you, even more than the academics in school, that you find your tribe.  I know you will- but I'd like it to be sooner than later, so that you really feel part of something, and included in people's lives.

You eat great, no issues there- it seems like when I used to write these years ago I'd go on and on about new foods you were willing to eat, because it was so hard!  There's always something to work on, isn't there.  You're doing fabulous in this area.

You love playing with the neighbor kids, mostly Miles and Beckett next door, sometimes Madison and Noah down the street.  You also spend loads of time with Joaquin, Ava and Maria, and then of course Maive and Jesse.  OH... Maive is your girlfriend.  I think although we teased you in Kindergarten about Katie- Maive is actually your first "official" girlfriend.  She's adorable and funny, good choice :) .

We went on a few trips this year!  Jamaica with Oma and Opa, and a whirlwind Florida/DC trip.  So awesome, we just love traveling with you- and you love traveling so much. You even said yesterday that you'd give up your toys to go on more trips, that is HUGE coming from you haha :)  You're awesome to spend time with anywhere we go.

You sleep awesome- no issues there.  Though I'll miss it when you don't, you still prefer to sleep with me!  OH- I finally stopped rocking you to sleep this year.  It's been months now, but I seriously rocked you to sleep every single night up until then.  I had given you the choice many times- and you finally just told me you didn't want to rock anymore and we haven't looked back.  I still sit in your room with you, usually lie in bed and read to you/with you, and then go in the recliner and wait a bit for you to get sleepy.  You like me to sing You Are My Sunshine, Close to You (Carpenters) and This Little Boy of Mine.

You ride your scooter like crazy, and play on a long board- you just started skateboarding on both feet, which is terrifying.  You ride your bike a bit too, but I think mostly you ride your scooter. You LOVE to roller skate.  You're so good- and fast.  I think you think you're one of the best roller skaters (and dancers) in the world.  You don't lack confidence, that's for sure!

We're having your birthday dinner at Los Dos, you will probably get the chili rellenos.  We're having your birthday party at Xtreme Challenge Gladiator Arena, a parkour/ninja warrior type place.  Tons of your friends are coming, we got a cake with spiderman on it, and will order Pizza.  You were Spiderman for Halloween- everything Spiderman is your favorite right now!

Man, I could go on and on all day- but I have to get back to work.

You just get more and more amazing every day, my love.  You are my light

Love, Mommy

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