Our boy is eight. And eight is looking great.

So many things about Everett have stayed the same this year:

He’s still an excellent performer of magic tricks, and he adores playing the role of emcee for his own act. “And now, the amazing, the incredible, YOUR Everett the Great!” My favorite is when he’s CONFIDENT he has mastered slight of hand, and we dare not let him know we can see his tricks.

He’s still got artistic vision for days, and he can draw something from memory I could probably only copy from example.

He still adores his pets and often delays following our requests because he’s insistent that he must kiss each beagle on the head before he could possibly consider brushing his teeth.

He continues to enjoy collecting jokes and recites them with ease. He’s forayed into writing his own, admittedly, with varying degrees of success (“What do you call a cat in a shoe? A cashew.”)

He loves nothing more than time with his family, extended family and their pets included. He recently adlib-ed an entire song about how much he adores his Nana.

He gets SO excited when his daddy comes home from work, tries to be just like him (from the way he feeds the dogs to the way he puts a pen in his shirt pocket), and tells me all the time that Keith is the smartest.

His favorite thing remains convincing his daddy to “come cuddle” at nighttime or leaping into our bed on weekend mornings, dogs in tow, for some bonus snuggles.

But SO many things about him have changed!

He stands a whole head taller than the little five-year-old boy I met years ago. I see a tiny bit of little boy left in those cheeks and that grin. I see it when he asks to be carried by his daddy. I see it when he giggles when his stuffed animals talk. But, oh, how he has grown this year!

He’s learned he’ll become a big brother when he is eight, and he is proud of that and wears his “big brother” bracelet, a gift from a thoughtful friend, frequently.

He’s described himself in hilarious terms and phrases:
“What, I’m a classic?”
“I’m a curious bird.”

When I call him the cutest little boy, he calls me the “cutest little stepmom.”

He’s grown so much in his empathy an compassion for people and animals alike. He hates to see us hurt. From Harley howling to me wincing when I prick my finger for a glucose test, he is troubled by our sorrows, however small.
He’s begun to ask us thoughtful questions, “Are you excited about the baby, too, Daddy?”

He’s always enjoyed school, but he’s woken up each day SO excited to go to Second Grade. He thinks his teachers hung the moon and genuinely enjoys his lessons.

He shows so much maturity in dealing with disappointments compared to a year ago. And he takes great pride when someone compliments his kindness or behavior.

A few of my favorite moments of Ev at 7:

Sweet Everett, you make me so proud, you’re my favorite company, and I can’t wait to see what 8 years old has in store for you! Even though there’s a baby sister growing in my tummy right now, never forget you were my first little love, or that I met you and thought, “Yes, I want this little boy in my life forever.” I love you, sweet boy! Happy Birthday!

Love,
Lindsey