Seventeen

Braeden's birthday is tomorrow. This week he's been asking me if I'm going to write a blog post with seventeen things about him.  (Word to the wise:  writing blog posts about your children possibly encourages their native narcissism.)

I told Braeden that seventeen was too many.  There weren't that many nice things I could say about him.  He just smiled at me.  He and I both know that isn't true.  Like I told his drama teacher earlier this school year, I am a card carrying member of the Braeden fan club.

Here are seventeen things I love about my boy:

1) He's a drop everything and help me kind of kid--and he can reach the high up places.

2) He is funny.  So funny.

3) He knows who he is and who he isn't and he's OK with that.

4) He knows who I am and who I am not and he's OK with that.

5) He's a spectacular big brother.  These kids don't know how lucky they are.

6) He is kind to people.

7) I trust him enough to take his life and Emma's life and the life of a little white car into his hands every day and that makes my life a lot easier.

8) If I have a question about history, he'll explain it all to me without giving me too many boring details.  If he doesn't know the answer, he'll say, "That's a really good question, I'll have to ask Mr. Parker."  I wonder how his history teacher likes having a student that into history?

9) He tries to do what's right.

10) He loves little children.

11) He likes to learn new things.

12) Sometimes when he walks past me, he puts his arm around my shoulder and bends over and kisses my forehead.  I think I used to do the same thing to him when he was shorter.

13) He is entertaining and makes everything more fun.

14) He laughs at himself and doesn't take himself too seriously.

15) He is fiercely loyal to people he loves.

16) He is sentimental.

17) He admires all the right people for all the right reasons.

I am lucky Braeden is my boy.  He will be an adult sooner than I want him to be.  I haven't had long enough with him.  When I finally do have to send him out in the world, it will be me giving one of my prize possessions up for the greater good.

You're welcome, world.