My two birthday boys

In the past week things have been really catching me off guard.  My family celebrated two birthdays that are the numbers that hit ya right between the eyes.  Colin my oldest had his 18th, and Nathaniel with his 16th!  Birthdays for me personally are just a number and each year we have them and move on.  But when your CHILD has a birthday and goes through the different milestones, well it gets me every time. 

I love how my husband truely believes that he looks like his senior picture (not kidding).  He is a kid at heart, loves to have fun and if we owned no mirrors I would never be able to convince him otherwise.  I will admit that for the past 18 years, things seem the same and feel the same.  Where did the time go?  On each child's birthday Todd and I talked about each birth as if it were yesterday...how could it possibly be all these years ago? 

Colin 18 (the oldest of 7) was our first of everything.  The first child, grandchild, great-grandchild to our families.  He was early in everything that he did from talking, walking and my favorite...whistling!  One of my favorite memories was going grocery shopping in our local store McMakens and having him whistle as I would go up and down the aisles.  I would be stopped by people passing and asking "Is your baby whistling?"  Colin was 9 months the first time we heard him.  Colin is like his dad, the center of attention and the life of the party.  No matter what mood you were in, he would have you laughing and smiling in the end...I LOVE THAT!  Had another important milestone for Colin as well, he GRADUATED from highschool this year and is working right now to save money..he bought his first car and is going to college in the fall.  Oh how my heart soars with pride!  I cannot wait to see where his journey will take him  :)

Colin's senior picture

Nathaniel 16 (the second oldest of 7) was next and let me tell you, we were in for a ride of our lives.  When we took him to his two week check-up, the doctor was checking him out and telling us how he was doing great and looked good.  She did the final thing by checking his heart and then again rechecked it.  She looked at Todd and I and asked if the hospital mentioned anything about a heart murmur and we told her no.  She listened again and stated that she would feel better if we just went to have it checked out....So we did.

Long story short and with many appointments with the cardiologists..feedings were labored..him sleeping most of the day, Nathaniel had a hole in his heart and needed open heart surgery.  Again, it was just like yesterday for me.  At eight months old, my sweet and chubby baby had his surgery to repair the hole.  Thank the good Lord for technology!  So each year when we celebrate his birthday, I celebrate the fact that he is healthy with no affects of his surgery and is a strong young man with the scar to remind us all of why we celebrate.  Nathaniel is a hard worker, has a big heart and loves to work on anything to get it to run.  I love his passion and know if he persues what he loves, then he will be doing what he loves and that is all I could ever ask of my children!

Nathaniel ~ One of my favorites and what he does best...EAT!