Thirteen

I prayed for you before you ever existed. We pray for you daily as a boy, for the man you will be, and for the woman you will one day marry. I knew the first time I looked into those navy blue eyes that this day would come. I just didn't expect it to happen so quickly. We only have about 5 years left with you "under our roof". How did this happen so fast? Although it did seem like all those nights of getting up with you in the middle of the night as a baby that this day would never come. But it has!

I think of all the times as the first born child, we couldn't wait for you to start talking and walking. We were so excited when we watched you hit your first baseball (at 2 years old). We celebrated your first foods, your first Halloween and all the other things that are so exciting as parents. Now if we could only slow it down a bit!

Some fun facts about you on your thirteenth birthday:

~You are 5'7" (same as me) and weigh in at 130 lbs. (5 pounds less than when I went into labor with you *sigh*)

~You wear a size 10 1/2 shoe

~You wear a men's small in shirts and pants size 29x32

~You learned to tie your own ties this year (that is a funny story I will have to share here later)

~You will pretty much eat a large amount of anything that doesn't eat you first; although, you say corned beef with cabbage is your favorite and you love double stuffed Oreo's

~You are playing basketball on the 7Th grade team at your school but you are counting down the days until baseball tryouts

~You are kind and considerate

~You crack me up!

~You really know how to aggravate your brothers

~You don't have to be told to do your homework anymore...you just do it.

~You are in advanced classes and know better than to ask me to help with homework!

~You are always smiling and laughing

~You have a BIG heart

~You seem to make friends with and get along with anyone you meet


~You are still allergic to peanut butter

~When you were a baby and your eyes started changing to brown, you had a 1/4 of your right eye that stayed blue. Now it is gray. ~You're brothers are your biggest fans, even though they won't always admit it

And like my mom always told me, "You may be taller than me, but I can still stand on a chair and slap your face!"

We love you Brayden and are so proud of you! Always remember to put God first in your life, no matter what, and you will do amazingly well! Happy Thirteenth!


Love,

Stephen, Mom, Blaine and Bryson