My baby is 9. A giant 9, but 9.

Porter is 9. Time really does fly by so quickly. 

Before I know it, he'll be taller than his birthday soccer goal!

(It was an early present, as he found it, "hidden" in the garage...)

In preparation for Porter's birthday, Emma Rose and I made a day of it and prepared his favorite chocolate chip cookies:

(But first, we went for a walk on the river and made some crafts...)

Such a doll...

Porter wanted to celebrate his birthday with his grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins on the lake this year, but of course we had to test it out and make sure it would be fun before the cousins actually joined us.

It was. 

And we had a great time with the grandparents and Leavitt cousins at his family celebration!

Porter, Emma Rose, Caroline, Haley, and Lily

Ansley watched as Porter jumps off the dock.

At the dock, Avery is staying away from all those little kids...

Porter was thrilled to receive one of two things he REALLY wanted but thought I'd never let him have (I still won't let him have a hover-board...) - a Nintendo Switch!

He also got a few carcasses (thanks, Grandma!!!)

Caroline enjoyed her cookies and chocolate ice cream very much-stache.

Porter wanted to go back to lake with his buddy, Trevor, a couple days later!  

(He's really enjoying the new kayak Papa bought...)

This morning, his birthday morning, he got his favorite, chocolate chip pancakes before heading off to golf camp with Emma Rose.

Porter was a little bummed when he got home because he'd thought that the goal was his only present. But I had a little scavenger hunt and he found the rest of his presents...and he was thrilled.

Later that day, we went to the turf fields to play soccer.

And for his final birthday-day celebration, we took him to a Rapids game!

Happy Birthday, Porter.  I love you.  Cheers!

And again, as with every birthday, I wrote you a letter.  Here is part of it:

Dear Porter,

I love you more than you believe, and more than you know.  I love that deep, inside boy who is so good, and caring and considerate and curious… that sensitive, literal, quick, smart, handsome boy who was born a natural leader, whose friendliness and adventurous spirt boys are immediately attracted to, and whose stature, blue eyes, blonde hair and gorgeous smile even little girls can’t resist.  You are my amazing, first-born miracle, and today, you are 9 years old.

I can’t believe how quickly the past 9 years, let alone the past 1 year, have flown by.  I can still remember how you took apart trucks and lined them up in order before you would play with them as a toddler, and now I watch you play with your life-like Bruder construction trucks with your sister (you NEVER show them to your friend - only Emma Rose is allowed into that make-believe world - and it’s just as adorable as ever) and I just want to hug you and listen to that sweet banter forever.  And yet you grow and grow and grow up.

The other night, we had a neighborhood party, and I brought you home and put you to bed before attempting to return. You asked me to cuddle and I couldn't resist falling asleep in your arms, you in mine.  I love you.

Much change has happened this year, and as much as you fear and dislike change, you have done it with grace and courage.  You started a new school at the start of 3rd grade, Lincoln Academy, a rigorous core-knowledge school in Arvada.  You made so many new friends, went through 3 girlfriends (finally finishing “strong” with Gracie, a 10-year-old, eye-batting beauty), finished in 4th grade math, and continued loving learning with Mrs. Leasure.  Your best friend is Sawyer, who was in your class and in your neighborhood, but Trevor (across the street) continues to be a close second. You received a 4.0 despite your challenging curriculum, and you received the John Smith award for being a leader in new Territory.  You cried your last day of school as Mrs. Leasure showed you a slide-show of your year, to the tune of Jason Mraz’s new song, “Have it All…”

You also started competitive soccer this year, and moved up from the bottom team to the top team as player #20 (because that’s Sawyer’s number on his team….)  You endured lots of competition, lots of quick, little kids with older soccer-playing siblings, and lots of criticism from dad.  I am proud of you.  You scored multiple hat-tricks, and you helped your “United” team to take 1st place in two different tournaments!

You landed a flip for the first time (and now it’s just common nature) on the trampoline, a continued source of enjoyment for you, your sister, and the neighborhood kids.  You and your neighborhood buddies, Trevor, Sawyer, and Joey, under the guise of “T-bone, Soy Sauce, JJ, and Pork Chop (with Emma Rose’s occasional entrances as “Kitty Galore,”) started a YouTube channel called “Beast Boys” this year.  You continue to play golf and love all things in the water...

For your birthday this year, you got a huge soccer goal for the back yard, again, attracting more neighborhood folk, and you also got a Nintendo Switch.  You were to the moon when you opened it!

Your favorite foods are hamburgers, banana smoothies (that I make,) my famous chocolate-chip cookies, Marcos Pizza, your dad’s beef tacos, SIRACHA!!! and chocolate ice cream. You still love Legos and nerf guns, but your favorite toy is probably a soccer ball. You still love Dino, Axl, and “Big Red” (the snake), though you hide them when friends come over.  Ugh… the growing up brings tears to my eyes.  Buddy, I spent too much time in this life caring what other people thought, rather than enjoying who God made me.  You are a strong, respectable, GOOD, funny, and smart kid.  Nobody cares if you have stuffies, or “junk.” Everyone else does too, and you’re going to appear more human for having some too….

Porter, I love you and I am proud of you.  You know right and wrong.  I have neighbors tell me how kind you are, especially to the younger kiddos.  One day recently, our next-door-neighbor, Ryann, was riding her bike and her training wheels were wobbling.  You ran and checked it out, got the correct tools from Dad’s garage, and immediately fixed it.  You’re a good boy with a huge extroverted personality who loves to go-go-go.  Lead well, young man.  People follow you.  I pray you chose to lead well.

I love you, Porter David Sowa

Love,

Mommy