8!

Dear Carter,

How on earth do I have an eight year old? In my mind, you are about four! But when I look at all you are doing and how smart you are and the conversations we have, I am quickly reminded that you are NOT a baby anymore. 

You just started second grade a couple weeks ago, and you are absolutely loving it. You have never been one to love to get up and go to school, but this year, you are the first one out the door. You have the best group of little buddies and Mrs. Turner as your teacher, so it only makes sense that you are loving it. 

Speaking of buddies, you've got more than I do! Cooper, David, Henry, Ben, Ethan, Whit, all the Turners and Graebers, and of course your beloved cousins who you count as your very best friends. You spent most of your summer with David who lives across the lake. You two are nothing but giggles and fishing and video games, and junk food together. I love your little friendships.

Some things you love right now are Ole Miss football, riding your bike, basketball, flag football, minecraft, anything Lego, making clubhouses....oh the clubhouses!, creating all sorts of things out of cardboard boxes, Harry Potter, all holidays...my festive child, steak, mac n cheese, all things sugar and junk food, BB and Pawpaw's house, the beach, any time whatsoever with cousins, and the list goes on. 

As far as at home, you and Coop are best friends/worst enemies. I have never seen two siblings closer, but goodness gracious you two beat each other to death! Just yesterday, you were horsing around together, and Coop ended up with stitches in his lip. Boys! 

You and Emerson are buds too. Every now and then you will go in her room with her and help her set up a clubhouse or jump on the trampoline with her, and boy does she eat it up when you give her attention. 

I'm loving the conversations we have as you get older. You aren't one to offer information about your day, but if I get you talking with a few questions, we are quick to solve the world's the problems together :) I love that you will still ask me anything. 

I've really seen you grow so much this year in confidence. Age has been such a great thing for you. You have branched out and tackled things I never would have guessed. You are very quickly becoming a leader. And oh my are you competitive! You love to win....especially races. Lol! We race in the backyard, you are only about six months from being able to beat me. You better believe I'm holding on as long as possible though! I've still got it. Ha!!!!

Most importantly, I'm praying that you continue to grow in your faith and character and love for the Lord. Your sincere prayers and childlike faith amaze me. You truly believe in Jesus and that He died for you and that he's with you. You are quick to remind us that God created everything, and He's in control of everything, and that He's the most important thing in life. I need those reminders! So thank you :) I love your commentaries at our dinner table devotions. I hope and pray you continue to think through your faith and own as your own as you grow up. Every night I pray over you "Help Carter to grow to love you and know you and worship you all the days of his life." I believe God is doing that in you.

I couldn't possibly love you more, Buddy. You are gift, my first born, my baby boy. I am crazy about you. Happy birthday.

Love,

Mama

Oh Coo Coo

Where do I start with you, my crazy Coop? First of all, happy birthday! Oh my how we love you. For six years you have been a bright light in our home. You are just so full of personality...a 40 pound ball of personality. If I could count the number of times you have made me burst out laughing, I would be convinced it was more than that number. The second you walk out of your room in the morning, I start giggling. You are simply a joy giver. And it's not just me. You keep your siblings in stitches, your teachers absolutely adore you, every mom in the city of Oxford wants you to be their child's best friend. You are just so fun and kind and a fantastic little boy....so easy to love.

So let's talk about your year...you fell in love with swimming last year...such a fish!!, you started kindergarten and learned to read like a machine, you put together hundreds of lego sets, had many many playdates with friends, wore way too much Nike and Under Armour, ate too many Chickfila chicken biscuits to count, (let's not even talk about how much candy you ate), played baseball, basketball and soccer, and jumped countless hours on the trampoline.

You love to write notes, play with your best buds Carter and Emerson, eat at concession stands, drink Fanta, pick out your own clothes, be different from everyone, ride your electric scooter, wrap up in a blanket with Molly, go to BB and Pawpaws, spend time with all your many many cousins, and the list goes on.

You are such a firecracker! You want things YOUR way. You are soooo much better at not having it your way, but my oh my do you ever want it your way. The main way this comes out is in your style. You want your clothes to be of a certain brand, feel, color, etc...oh my I tried to take you shoe shopping the other day. We won't even go there. LOL! You are growing your hair out "long and cool" and you are very proud of it. I'm laughing just typing this. I love your opinionated little self.

God wired you so uniquely, and I'm loving watching it unfold. He wired you to be the silliest little boy there is, but He also wired you to be thoughtful and generous. You tried to spend your birthday money on Carter and Emerson. What other six year old would do that? You send all your friends with a parting gift from our house, and I treasure my sweet notes I get several times a week. You make me Easter presents, Valentine's presents, and just every day presents. You pick me flowers and find me cool rocks. You are always thinking of ways to make others smile. I was laughing while I was typing and now I have a lump in my throat.

I love how your knowledge of Jesus has grown this year. You always pray for Grammie and that Pop is having a good time in heaven, and you always thank God for the Bible. I love that so much. I pray that you continue to grow in your childlike faith, and that you grow leaps and bounds in your love for Jesus this next year.

I absolutely adore you, sweet boy. You are such a joy, and I am so privileged to get to be your mama. Happy 6th Birthday!

Love,

Mama