Aidan at 7: A Snapshot

Aidan,

Being 7 is tough. Being 7 with a bunch of challenges thrown in your way can be even tougher. You've got to contend with sensory processing disorder, mixed expressive responsive language disorder, and occupational or speech therapy 2 - 3 times a week. Your brain is just very special and works differently than others, and sometimes makes it difficult to figure out what people are saying and why they're saying it.  And yet, you persevere. You always have been a strong, resilient, amazing boy, and you're growing more and more each day. You have progressed so much in the past few years, and you are a testament to what one can do with enough will power. 

You. Are. Amazing. 

Nature Boy/Whisperer

You persevere with a smile on your face. You're quick to be sympathetic to others, you truly, deeply care about a lot of people and are passionate about your interests. 

Determined. You sewed this Baby Groot all by yourself!

It gives us great joy to just soak you in and watch you grow into yourself and be just a boy, as you begin to triumph over the hand that was dealt to you. 

Spooky and Loving

You love animals. You are almost a bug and critter whisperer with the way you can easily catch and pick up critters that would slip away from others.

You are a lover. You love your sister. Your Mama. Even old stinky me.

You are a dreamer- you get lost in books, and legos, and mazes, and find-its, and stories, and movies.

Proud

You are a story-teller- you love to tell stories to anyone who will listen and you exude creativity.

You love music and have quite a singing voice and a helluva lot of dance moves.

Sweet

You are strong. You are growing. You are amazing. And we love you. To the moon and back. And we are so proud of you.

Big Brother

 

Helper

"I'm a Spy" 

Sewing

Fearless

Method Actor

Two-fer

Before dinner: How's that tooth Aidan?

Aidan: Pretty loose!

Mid-dinner...Mid-Hamburger, you nonchalantly said "I loosed it."

We looked at you. 

You slowly smiled and showed us your tooth in your hand.

"I almost swallowed it but I spit it out!"

Your sister pulled you over to see:

"There's some blood!"

Your Mommy helped you out with that one. Not the mustard though.

And then you let me see it!

We kept it in a little ketchup container for the rest of the meal.

You are now a TWO-Fer!

Look at that smile!

The tooth fairy came for your tooth that night. And, as you discovered in the morning, she'd left you a shiny gold coin! Way cooler than the five dollar bill she left you for your first tooth, apparently!

You were so kind that you gave your sister the tooth fairy pillow with your name and tooth-loss dates on it.

But you kept the coin.

You already have two adult teeth coming in their place.

You are growing up before our eyes, my sweet boy. And although you are the one losing your teeth, if you grow up to fast, your mom and I may be the ones to lose 'it.'

Seventh Wonders- Birthday Parties for Aidan

I still can't get over it...my boy...our boy...is SEVEN! He is tall, and lean. Sweet and sensitive. He loves legos and his sister and cheese pizza...and 'cockroach pizza' (artichokes). He is a born story teller and can get lost in his imagination on the way to get his socks. He loves bugs, and snakes, and worms and digging in the dirt. He loves playing angry birds, and super mario, and plants vs. zombies on his ipad. He loves to dance and sing. He loves music and movies and can hear and watch his favorites over and over again. He's learning how to read books- and loves flipping through comic books and 'captain underpants' and can explore find-and-seek books for hours on end. He love hugs. He loves to wear silky soft clothes. He is "good at numbers" and growing.

every. 

single. 

day.

And, Aidan, so many people in your life gathered in and around your birthday to celebrate you from head to toe, in all of your seven years on this planet!

First, we had your birthday party at Swim Class! It was an intimate affair, as the flu knocked out several of your friends from coming. But no never mind- you had a blast! Karaoke machine and disco ball on top of swimming and a Mario and Luigi cake with a bunch of buddies! Awesome!

You got some awesome presents - including Legos!

Then dinner and the big hat along with birthday singing with your family at Mariano's (the bear restaurant!)

The next morning was spent with the new Legos and testing the rocket launcher at the playground!

Then gifts and Benihana with Mimi and Pops!

And then your final- tear, choking up, sniff sniff- Celebration of Life at White Rock Montessori! We celebrate your birth, your years on the earth. May you find peace where you are. 

I was tearing up. Can't lie. I can't believe this is your last year in PS...and look how proud you . As you should be!

On your actual birthday, we celebrated at home and sang to you. And held you tight. And ate ice cream. And cuddled.

Then we celebrated with Yaya, Baba, Uncle Joe, and Aunt Sham! And had a dance party to the new music CD Yaya got you: the Trolls soundtrack!

It has dawned on me that so many people love you, but that no one will ever love you like I love you. I'm your Daddy, and you're my son, and I'm so happy to be on this journey with you, and will be on it with you for as long as you want me by your side. But, even when you're embarrassed of me... know that I am on your side and I will ALWAYS love you.

You make our love lights shine bright, my son. And you are a shining light in the universe. May your creativity and spirit and happiness soar!




School friends may come and go, but family is forever. And we all love you so, so much. And are so proud of how much you've grown in your 7 years here. Here's to another amazing 7 years!