Me and this boy made it to 8. 8 whole years of boy energy. 8 years of growing and learning and wreaking havoc. 8 years of tormenting his brothers (especially Chris). 8 years of having Dad wrapped around his little finger. 8 years of knowing exactly how to turn on the cute.
I’m glad we’ve made it this far, but I’m also writing this knowing we’ll have some challenges ahead. 2nd grade has been a challenge for all of us. I’ve tried to stay optimistic that brighter days are ahead but I’m whole heartedly looking forward to the end of this particular school year. Loud classrooms and sitting in desks isn’t for everyone.
What’s great about Andrew? He’s super hands on. If you want a kid to built a box fort (or IKEA furniture) Andrew is your man. Want to know where we keep our hammer, screw drivers, tape, (or pretty much anything in our house?)–again, ask Andrew. I swear that kid might have a photographic memory sometimes. Voted most likely to help in the yard or garden? Andrew hands down. He’s a snuggler of cats and prefers a minimum of 3 hugs before bedtime. He’ll be down to make s’mores any place, any time but also won’t turn down an entire container of cherry tomatoes. He’s old enough to be independent but young enough to still drag around his car blankie and hold my hand. 8 might be my favorite age!
This year came with a couple big kid milestones for Andrew. This winter he learned to ski! Turns out Andrew is a bit of a speed demon on the mountain. He’s much less cautious than his two older brothers and proclaims things like “I’m going to do jumps”. His preferred method of getting down the mountain is the straightest line possible no matter the speed. He will give Jason a run for his money in the coming years.
This Spring Andrew got an expander as he prepares for round 1 of braces. We’ve been through this rodeo with both of his brothers so hopefully it will be uneventful for Andrew as well. I will miss the official end of little kid gap-tooth smiles in the Baxter household but seeing Andrew is big kid braces will be a trip!
Cheers to Andrew on his 8th Birthday! I love all the things that make him unique and keep me on my toes as his mom. Happy Birthday Buddy!
