Ten

Aidan is ten.  He's been 10 since December, but I've just now taken the time to process it.

Aidan in Arkansas this fall

Aidan, the day I brought him home from the hospital  

I can hardly believe it.  I've been really emotional about ten.  This ten years has sped by at an unbelievable pace.  And if the next ten go by just as fast, well, he'll be a man before I know it.  And, that makes me get a little choked up. 





I remember when I was pregnant with Aidan, wondering what it would be like to be a mom...I had no idea how wonderful it would be.  And now, I've had ten years of wonderful.  I am so lucky.  Words escape me when I try to describe the ways he has blessed my life.  Like most things in life that are amazing, kids don't make sense on paper.  They cost a lot of money, they destroy all of your nice things, they never let you sleep, they take up all your time, but you love every minute of it. 


How do I describe Aidan?  He is my only son.  I've discovered, through him, that there is so much more to boys than I thought.  He is this sweet mix of rough and rowdy and loud and gentle and nurturing.  One minute he is running through the house with a cap gun, yelling and shooting everything in sight, and the very next minute, he is holding his baby sister and telling her how sweet she is, and that she is the cutest baby he's ever seen.  He finds potty and booty humor endlessly funny.  One minute he is driving Ella crazy and the next he is being unbelievably sweet to her.  Like, when he offers her his jacket when it's cold outside, or helps her clean up her toys, or tries to teach her to read.  He is developing this wonderful sense of humor that I just love.

He loves to play with Legos, and he is crazy about video games.  He loves to be outside.  He likes to shoot his bb gun, and he is a good shot.  He loves to throw a football or baseball, and to run...he's always running. He could play hide and go seek or tag all day, every day if we would let him.  He loves riding his bike, or scooter or his green machine...he's been fascinated by anything with wheels since he was little bitty.  He has this faith that catches me by surprise sometimes.  He doesn't talk about it much, but whenever he's worried he will grab Ella by the hand, kneel with her by the couch and pray.  I love that she sees him doing this...she looks up to him so much.  He's good at math and reading.  He loves science.  Even at 10, he still adores his mommy.  :)  He looks up to his daddy and his pawpaw; he says he wants to be a good man like they are.  I would say, he's well on his way.

Aidan at 15 mos. old

Even though 10 is hard on me, this year has been really rewarding.  Over this last year, I've seen a lot of the teaching and training that Mark and I have done really start to sink in.  I hate that he's not my baby anymore, but I am so excited to know the young man he is becoming.  He is compassionate, funny, a good friend, and so very smart.  God has blessed him in big ways.  I cannot wait to see what God has in store for his life.  Even if that means he has to grow up....

Aidan in Telluride