8 years

I really can't believe that my son is 8 years old today. Really? I know I say this like every year but this year it's just a little harder to swallow for some reason! I can remember in detail like it was yesterday the day he was born. I can remember specific conversations word for word. I can play it in my head like a movie. It's really very crazy to me. 8?! I wish time would slow down. That means I have been out of High School for 8 years! I had him 2 months before graduation! Yeah pretty crazy that my H.S. reunion is like 2 short years away. Oy!

But back to my son...

I guess all I want to do is remember him the way he is RIGHT this second. Because if 8 years went this fast then 8 more can fly by in the blink of an eye.

{Diego}

Diego is the oldest of 4 and the only boy. And he lives this role. He is a leader. He is a take charge type of person. He is very orginized and responsible. He loves to be this way. He helps me with the girls, he gets on their cases when they aren't listening, he tries to make everyone around him lives easier. If I am cooking he helps, he cleans the table, he feeds his baby sister, he sits the girls down and helps serve them. And he does all this without asking. He is the most helpful, compassionate, caring, and mature child I have ever known.

He lives to please others, to serve others and to make my life as easy as possible. He does this not for rewards, or praise, just purely because he genuinely wants to see everyone around him happy. I don't know how many times in a day he will ask me, "Mom what can I do to help you?" "Let me help you!" He takes on so much responsibility on himself that I have to stop him many many times and tell him, "Diego you are not the parent, I am... so please just be a kid!" If we are at dinner he will make sure the girls and I all have what we need before he will even sit down. I had to ask him to sit and eat a few times and he still gets up to serve juice, get napkins, push Arielle's chair in, or make sure I have a drink too. And sometimes as I go to sit down I will say, "Oh I forgot the cheese (insert anything I forgot here)!" And he will automatically jump up and grab it before I have a chance to. He cleans up the girls plates, he gets his and Alayna's stuff ready for school the next day. I mean I can go on and on about how amazing this kid is.

They say a Mom has a special relationship with her son. That boys love their Mamas in a unique way... a love that's hard to describe. I know exactly what they mean. He will make a woman very happy someday. He has the upmost respect for women. He tells me everyday that he loves me. Without fail. He tells me everyday how much he appreciates what I do for him and the girls. It's not always in the same way but it can be a hug he gives me out of the blue and says Thank You Mom. Sometimes when I am working on bow orders he will come over and ask me to take a break... he will then voluntarily give me a massage or rub my feet. Yes. He does this all on his own. At various times thoughout the day he will check in on me to make sure I am not hungry, thirsty, or need anything. It's wonderful to know that my son, merely a little boy, can appreciate me for who I am... the good and the bad.

I still to this day don't know what I did to get so lucky?! If you know Diego personally you know exactly what I am talking about... I am sure anyone can vouch for me on that! I am so glad I get to be a part of this little boys life... Diego will do great things I just know it. He is the most humble and caring person. And his determination to be a GOOD person, a genuinely GOOD person, is incredible. He has told me many many times he wants to eventually help as many people in the future. What he will do is unknown but this boy has it in him to succeed in anything he chooses.

Diego,
Mommy still can't believe you're 8! Please don't grow up too fast.
I want to hold on a little longer to the boy who isn't afraid to kiss his Mom in front of his friends.
The boy who shows me off to the world like I am a prized possesion.
The boy who isn't afraid to stand up to people at school who mess with his sisters, who isn't afraid to stand up for other kids who are being bullied, and who isn't afraid to defend himself against teachers and principals who question why he got into an altercation with another little boy who was bullying.
You my dear have a kind heart.
A selfless heart.
A heart of gold.
I appreciate you everyday of my life. You make me prouder than you can ever imagine.
Thank you for being you... amazing you.
Love, Mom