Eight Is Great

Tomorrow afternoon my oldest baby turns 8.  As always, I'm having some serious mixed emotions about the situation.  

On one hand, what I wouldn't give to have one day with newborn Luke.  The snuggles, the little baby toes, the smell.  Oh, that smell.  I'd rock him longer, sing to him sweeter and would give him the best little baby bath ever.

On the other hand, I wouldn't trade almost-eight year old Luke for anything. 

Y'all.  He's awesome.

He's incredibly intuitive and also analytical, has a witty sense of humor and is ridiculously smart.  He drives me BONKERS somedays (I mean... why throw your dirty socks in the washing machine that's outside of your bedroom door when you could toss them under your moms bed?!?!) and he did a semi-eyeroll at breakfast one day during Spring Break, but he also gives the most thoughtful compliments and I learn something from him every day.  And not like life lessons... but actual knowledge.  I swear he's going to tear it up on Jeopardy one day :) 

Luke is still as crazy as ever about Legos.  He loves logic puzzles, jigsaw puzzles and if we had to predict today what he's going to be when he's an adult we'd 100% say engineer.  He excels at building structures out of anything (Legos, blocks, marshmallows and toothpicks, his Easter candy and folded laundry) and his understanding of balance, force, tension, etc. is impressive.

As right-brained as I've always thought he is, this year has also brought about some unexpected accolades in Art and writing.  His art teacher just submitted two of his pieces to an art competition and not only was he was the only first grader selected, but he was the only student in all of 1st through 8th grades to have two pieces entered in the competition.  His writing has blossomed over the course of the year and his creative writings and journals are detailed and descriptive.

Socially, Luke has completely come into his own this year.  He's a leader in his classroom and is loving the social side of school as well as the academic.  He's loved playing soccer this season, but is excited about getting back into tennis and golf this summer.

Luke has lost two teeth this year, he loves mint chocolate chip ice cream and he can work the TV better than the rest of us combined.  He still loves all things geology, is amazingly sweet to his little sister and is becoming a voracious reader.

I told y'all he was pretty awesome! 

Luke, we love you to Maine and back, big guy!!!

Eight is GREAT! 

So this is where I'd normally overshare a bunch of baby pictures and such :)  So instead I put together a short little video!