Happy Birthday!

Today is B’s birthday. 16 years ago today I had my first child.

B was never dirty because he had a full bath every time he so much as spit up. His clothes always matched and he always had on shoes. His pacifiers even matched his outfits. His hair was always combed and his ears always clean.

This is the fate of the first born. He is the pride and joy of his parents, but he is constantly on display and under scrutiny. He must be brilliant. He must walk early, speak well, and read by four.

B was the perfect first child as he did everything right on time, exactly when the baby books said he should. B had a firm grasp on the world, trying to order it around by 3. Even his matchbox cars were organized. They were lined up and categorized by size, then color. His dinosaurs were always standing at attention, largest to smallest.

B was always the first to go through every stage of development; he was the first to ride a bike, the first to go to kindergarten, the first to follow his dad onto the dirt bike track.

Somehow I blinked, and his childhood zipped by. He is now a young man. He will be the first to drive, the first to date, the first to go off to college, and probably the first to marry.

I could not have asked for a better first child, you are now and always have been a joy. I could not have asked for a better first son. My prayer is that you continue to listen to the Holy Spirit and let God guide you always.

Happy 16th birthday B!