Tomorrow, you’ll be 11 years old. We’re going to see “Muppets Most Wanted” and to eat in your favorite restaurant. On Saturday, you get to hang out with your best friends in your awesome new fort, and then stay up all night with your Nanny & Papi and watch all the Harry Potter movies. It’s a good weekend to be you.
It’s a good time to be Jack in general, really. You’re excelling in Jiu-Jitsu… gaining new tips and belts much faster than anyone anticipated, because you’re willing to invest so much time in your training. As you get stronger, you’re able to have more adventures outside with dad… building things, fixing things, and just generally being more and more manly every day. You’re getting better at guitar with every lesson, and it makes us so proud to hear that musical legacy being carried on. There’s a lot going on in your life right now, and we know it can be overwhelming sometimes.
11 is a weird age. You’re not a little kid anymore, but you’re not quite caught up in the throws of adolescence and teenager-dom that are sure to complicate life in all sorts of ways we don’t understand yet. You’re getting taller and your voice is getting deeper, but your eyes still get sleepy and your freckles flush when you’re embarrassed, so I can sort of see my baby in there somewhere.
We’re proud of you, little guy. We’re proud of the person you are right now, and the man you’re growing into. We know the next few years are going to take a lot of patience from all of us, but it’s not so hard to deal with when the kid in question is as kind, caring, imaginative, and fun as you.
And my favorite… all the strong & sweaty aside, my sweet boy is a bookworm, and reading is his happy place:
Happy Birthday, Jack… we love you millions!
You have a way with words my friend. Thanks for the goosebumps this morning 🙂 That last shot’s a keeper!
And happy birthday Jack!!
Hard to believe that amazing boy is gonna be 11. I feel so blessed to have been apart of his life and that I have had the chance to be Aunt Ambo. I am so proud of the man he is is becoming and his amazing parents for raising such a wonderful, kind, polite, smart, amazing person. Happy Birthday Jack-Attack!
Dang, Chelsea you can tell a story. This one made me tear up. Jack – happy birthday. Tho we have never met I feel like I know you. It has been a blast watching you grow up on the blog. You are an amazing young man with some amazing parents…and can I say…nail gun pictures are quite studly 🙂
What a COOL fort! Happy birthday Jack!
I. Love. This. Kid. Happy birthday, sweet Jack.