The big 18th

We have had another birthday at our house and not just any birthday.  T has had his eighteenth birthday! He had very specific plans for his birthday which included receiving a particular Xbox game and playing that for as much of the day as he could!

Here are two novice parents and one great son about eighteen years ago.  B and I do not know a whole lot more about parenting than we did then, but we have had more experience--eighteen years to be exact.  I do not know if any child has been more anticipated than T.  A couple of old folks having a baby is a pretty big event.  If you cannot tell by the picture, I will tell you that we were pretty proud parents of that little guy.

I have been remembering some of the things T liked to do when he was small.  I remember when he was just a baby, he liked to study his hands.  He would spend hours just looking at his own hands, turning them this way and that.  I remember how fun it was that from an early age, T could get a joke and tell a joke.  I remember how he was more interested in playing with things found around the house like the TV remote and locks than playing with his toys.  I remember how he loved to have pretend arguments.  I was to say something and he would say the opposite (such as "Yes!" "No!" or "Go!" "Stay!" and a myriad of other "opposites").  I remember all the hours we spent watching big machines work and reading about big machines and watching videos of big machines.  I also remember that he loved to have me sing to him.

We have had a lot of good times watching T grow and learn. From the beginning, he has loved science and nature.  Unlike his mother (who always learned for the test and then promptly forgot everything), he can actually remember things he has learned about subjects that interest him and can give them back in detail.  I remember reading to him an adult-level book about rocks and minerals as bedtime reading.  It took us forever to get through that whole thing but we did.  He has always been very curious, funny, observant, intelligent, and quick to learn. He has a good heart. 

Here he is getting ready for a performance for school band a few years ago.  T has always liked school.

Now he is a senior and ready to graduate from high school.  Where did the time go?  Good luck, T, with all you do!  We love you and are glad you are in our family!