8-Year-Old Love Letter

My sweet Wessy bug, 

It's great to be eight! You have a remarkable memory and we call upon it often when details from the past are required. You continue to excel academically and it was recommended that you test for the highly capable program. Daddy and I laugh when you turn your #tooeasy addition homework into multiplication. You are an exceptionally lucky kid and always seem to win games/raffles. You hit the jackpot on ticket games every time and chance typically lands on your side. You've recently started learning football statistics and the names/cities of the NFL teams. You love watching the Seahawks play and have strong feelings about Russel Wilson's time with the Broncos. 

Your favorite meal remains chicken and rice, but mostly rice. When you find a new food that you enjoy there is a lot of enthusiasm. You love doing legos and playing school. You like to write stories and make them into books. My recent favorite was one about owls where you used as many owl puns as you could think of, including Owl-bucks for coffee and Owl-cohol for the grown-ups. You played a season of soccer this fall, loved the games, never wanted to attend practice. You are taking piano lessons and have a natural affinity for music. You loved basketball last year but got upset when you learned that I'd signed you up again (though I'm pretty sure you consented to registering). We'll see how the season shakes out. You're a strong swimmer and made strides skiing this season. You love to make people laugh. 

You've had unfortunate luck with the friends you've made at school the past few years. After kindergarten one of your closet friends moved states and the other moved schools. The same thing happened in first grade. I was a bit nervous for you going into second but you've established a new crew and blossomed socially. Your first grade teacher described you as quiet, while your second grade teacher mentioned you're chatty to the point of getting off task. At recess you alternative between playing football with the fourth graders and hanging out with your classmates. 

Eight is an emotional time and you have lots of big feelings. Sharing how you feel is difficult for you, storming off to your room and pouting are plentiful. You and Hazel love playing together. You spend lots of time with Owen and Christopher, even though you get thrown around more often than either of us would like. 

At some point Owen moved from the bunk bed you two shared to sleeping in his old room. It became clear that you guys needed space from each other at bedtime. After a few days you started sleeping on the floor in Owen's new room, which persisted for months. You both enjoy the control of having your own rooms but crave the security of having each other nearby. We finally moved a second bed into Owen's room and you guys are content. Every night you ask me what you should think about to help you get to sleep and if I can check on you before I go to bed. 

Year seven was ripe with learning and adventure. You light up my life and are such an important part of our family. I love you deeply and treasure every year we get to spend together. I am so proud of you and ever grateful that you're mine. I love you with all that I have and all that I am. 

Happy Birthday, my sweet boy. 

xoxo,

Your Loving Mama