Zack turns EIGHT!

Eight years ago on a cold January night in Spokane, Washington, I went to bed feeling miserable.  I was nauseous and uncomfortable and crawled in bed and had a quiet conversation to the baby moving in my belly.  I don't remember exactly what I said, but it was something along the lines of "little son of mine, if it's not too soon and you're feeling ready to come, I am really anxious to meet you."  The next morning, after several hours of tossing and turning, my water broke while still in bed!  I was so excited and also feeling a little guilty because I wished you here so early.  It was 5 weeks before my due date and I knew you were going to be small.

I woke up Daddy and jumped in the shower.  It took us a little while to find someone to watch your brothers while we drove to the hospital.  I was expecting you to arrive before noon because my other labors were just a few hours long.  But you didn't come until 5 pm!  It was a long day, and I spent a lot of the time at the hospital alone because Dad went home to take care of the boys (and my nurses and doctors didn't check on me for a long time!)  When the doctor finally showed up, he got mad at the nurse for not taking better care of us and then he stayed in our room until Daddy showed up.  He covered me up well so Ben and Luke could come in the room and see their baby brother being born.  It was an awesome experience for all of us!  Your brothers were giggling and squealing when you came out and were placed on my chest.  You were snorting like a piggy and crying like a lamb.  And you were bald with white eyebrows and very blue eyes.  I loved all 5 lbs 15 ozs of you and knew right away that you were full of personality.

You were an easy baby and I was so grateful because those first few months of your life were some of the loneliest and hardest days of my life.  You were such a sweetheart and I thought the adjustment to 3 children was easier than everyone told me it would be.  And then you started crawling and I wanted to pull my hair out!  You LOVED making big messes and you were obsessed with our split-level stairs.  I couldn't keep you away and your learned to crawl up and down quickly.  You were always such a happy, bright-eyed boy!

Just before your 1st birthday, we moved away from the snowy weather and drove to Las Vegas.  You've spent all of your life in Sin City and it's been a great place for you to grow up and explore all year around!  You have played such a central role in our family.  There is a 3 year gap between you and Luke and 4 years between you and Simon!  Sometimes Dad and I feel bad that you don't have brothers closer to your age, but we always feel grateful you came when you did.  Our family is pieced together by our fun-loving, happy-go-lucky, energetic Zack!  We would have a BIG hole in our family if you weren't around.

On your eighth birthday, Dad and I woke you up before everyone else.  You were sleeping in our room on your bean bag (because you got to chose where you wanted to sleep the night before.)  We told you we were taking you on a special date out for waffles (your all-time favorite food!) and you were so excited.  You wanted to wear your zip-up pajamas to the restaurant and we didn't make you change... because on your birthday, YOU are king of the day.  We ate at The Original Pancake House and you ordered blueberry waffles and apple juice.  You moved back and forth between Dad and I and kept scratching our backs, because that's what you do-- you are the back-scratching master!

After breakfast Dad went to work and you and I went shopping.  We bought some green spray for your hair and a bright green shirt for you to wear that says, "I should get paid to be THIS awesome" and some green apple bubble gum. Did I mention you are obsessed with the color green?  We drove home to pick up your siblings and Jane, Vaughn and Mason and headed to PUMP IT UP.  But first, I persuaded you to change into pants and your new shirt :)

Jane brought green graham cracker cookies to Pump it Up and you loved them (and everything else green and loaded with sugar!)  After jumping and running around for over 3 hours we headed home.  You were going to warm up pancakes left over from breakfast, but decided to head to the park with your homeschooling buddies who were meeting there for a playdate.  I tried to convince you to stay home with Roma and I because I knew you were going to be tired, but you decided to play.  After you got home from the park, you laid on the couch and wouldn't move.  You often get sick when you eat a lot of sugar & don't get very much sleep :)  We were going to make pizza for dinner and head to the ward talent show, but because you were sick we decided to pick up Papa Johns on the way (along with a couple of your buddies).  I thought you might feel a little better with some fresh air, but you threw up on the way to the party :(  You were the first one to perform for the talent show, but we had to cancel your piano piece.  I felt bad that you were so sick on your birthday, but you started to feel better by the time it was over.... although I never was able to convince you to eat any pizza!

The next morning, we woke up early (again) and went to the church (again) for your birthday party!  All you wanted to do was PLAY SPORTS with your friends.  We invited a dozen boys to play dodge ball and kick soccer.  You got a lot of fun presents.. your favorite was a big art kit from Vaughn and Mason (Jane knows you well!)  We had donuts and chocolate milk and you ran yourself ragged (again).  But after the party, we went home and took a long nap and you didn't have a repeat sick day like I thought you might.  When we woke up from a nap I asked you on a scale from one to ten, how much fun your birthday was and you said, "ELEVEN!"  You are enthusiastic about everything you do and say.  You party until you crash and we've always loved that about you!

We've decided to hold off on your baptism until after the baby is born and then we can have a special combined baptism and baby blessing.  You already have a special connection to your new sister who has yet to arrive.  You want to attend all of her doctor appointments and you were the first person to find out she was a GIRL!  I will always remember you announcing we were going to get another sister!  You are crossing your fingers that she comes out looking like you because in your words, "Simon looks like Ben.  Roma looks like Luke and I just want a buddy that looks like me!"  I would be thrilled if she came out with white eyebrows and baby blue eyes... thrilled especially for you and happy for her too because you are so cute!

Zack, I want you to know that I am proud of you for the wonderful boy you have become.  You are so helpful and happy and eager to learn and to be friends with everyone you meet.  I can't wait to see where life takes you and what you decide to do in the years to come.  Thank you for all of the foot rubs you give me and for spending your own money on "dates" with just the two of us.  I love when you hold my hand when we go out for ice cream and when you crawl into my bed at night for one last cuddle.  We are all so crazy about our happy 8 year old.  I love you so much and feel so grateful to be your friend AND your Mom.  Happy Birthday, Son.