Like, he's totally a Tween, for reals!

Ethan at the beginning of June had a birthday. He turned 11! I don't think i really wrapped my brain around it for the first week. Now that he's 11 and so close to 12 and all that follows that i feel just a tad older myself. Ethan has told me a few times he's a pre-teenager or an early teenager and i tell him no you're 11, and you're not a teenager until you are 13. We don't need to rush this anymore than it already feels. What is scary is that i totally remember 11, vividly. So at this point i could be scarring him. We try not to, but being a parent is hard, and being the oldest he gets to be the guinea pig (and i suddenly have a little more sympathy for the oldest children in all families). The time has flown by. As is tradition we pulled out the scrapbook of the day of their birth and reminisce. I looked at some of the pictures and it just seems impossible that the little baby that i was soooo overjoyed to have out of my belly is now 11. He still smiles the same, he still has boundless energy, still fights sleeping each night, and we can still see the gears turning in his head. The reasons we love Ethan:
-his spongyness (he absorbs all information)
-his raw talent that is focused and channeled into great accomplishments
-self determination (he is very driven all on his own)
-the way he loves music and creating his own songs
-he is a good big brother and is always willing to play whatever game Ryan is begging for. (Ryan told me the other day that he liked being by Ethan--i thought that was sweet).
-he is a great helper around the house (like the jobs are actually done to a level that i don't feel like i have to go back and re-do or touch up on) he's always been a great helper but it's hit a new level.
-I love that he has no fear of being up in front of an audience
I do not question that Ethan will do many great things. (and no I'm not in the least bit biased). He is a wonderful boy, and we are very happy he is a part of our family.

WE LOVE YOU ETHAN!