Happy 8th Birthday Sam! You are an awesome kid and I am so glad we get to celebrate your big day with you. You are a special guy with a lot of heart. You are tender and thoughtful. You are sweet and loyal. You have one of the best hearts I know.
A few months back, you got an invitation to a birthday party. You came in excited to show us. I was sad to have to inform you that we would be out of town on that day so you would not be able to go. Your reply, “Good ‘cause I didn’t want to go if Will and Ike were not invited.” You are just that kid who thinks of others. You are happy with others and sad with them too.
This year you finished first grade and moved onto second. You loved your teacher last year. This year, on meet the teacher night, your new teacher, Mrs. Anderson, had a fun size chocolate bar on each of the desks. You turned to me and said, “I am so lucky! I had the best teacher in all of first grade last year. This year I think I have the best teacher in second grade.”
You started piano lessons this year. At first you thought it was fun but you are a perfectionist so it quickly became a source of frustration for you. You lasted about 9 months. You tried baseball for the first time last fall. It was a real welcome to Texas. All the kids were quite familiar with the game but it was new to you. You were hard on yourself but had a great coach who encouraged you and really worked to develop your confidence. You did try to run to third after one at bat instead of first but with each game, you got better and we couldn’t have been more proud. After that one season, your team was moving onto a more challenging level so you decided to throw yourself back into soccer. Your team in the spring didn’t quite have it together but now you are on a new team and it seems to be a better fit. Your coaches are very enthusiastic and encouraging and they love your energy during the games. They love your heart.
And that is who you are Sam, all heart. When you are sad, it is heart-wrenching. When you are excited, it is awesome. You are still my most ticklish son, and your laugh is contagious! You are an incredible little man, and I am so proud to be your mama. You make me smile with your large vocabulary. You make me laugh with your take on life. There is already so much wisdom in your little body. You take care of your younger brothers and idolize your older one. Thanks for making my job easier. Thanks for making my days brighter. Thanks for making me want to be a better, more empathetic, and loving person. Thanks for being you.
