Happy Birthday Owen

Today my middle child turned 7! He has always been the youngest one in his class, on his sports teams and among his group of friends so he has been waiting to catch up with all his classmates since school began. Little does he realize that in a few months they will all be turning 8. Shhhh...don't tell him. It seems as though Owen was meant to be a part of our family right from the beginning, the balance that keeps us even. Though at times he is the one that sets off the balance the most being the "spirited" child that he is. It seemed from day one, he was the one who needed me the most. He was the one who I realized that I needed to throw away the "What To Expect The First Year" book with because he developed at his own speed and refused to be pushed. He was the one who required the extra help as a baby and he was the one who taught me new ways to teach him. Go figure. He was the one who made me a better mom. Granted yes, there are days that he brings out the worst in me but then there are days that I see him and want to give myself a pat on the back and say "we're doing OKAY." He makes me smile with his pure love of life. I wish I could bottle his energy. And when he plays...he plays hard. He love sports and has been caught at times trying to catch a football in a baseball glove. He doesn't care what sport it is. He just cares that he is out there playing.
Owen has taught me that you don't have to be perfect which was a hard lesson to learn especially as to not compare him to the first son. He taught me that just being yourself is good and if that isn't good enough for everybody then it is their problem. He has taught me that it won't be the end of the world if he puts his shoes on the wrong feet or goes out of the house with a mismatched outfit. Owen has taught me what it is to be an individual.
Happy Birthday, O. I love you very much.