To The Child Formerly Known As The Little One
by Jenners • 09/24/2011 • BB/The Little One • 85 Comments
Dear Child Formerly Known As The Little One,
You’re 7 today! Wow! Daddy and I kept you alive for an entire seven years! Amazing! It was touch and go those first few days (I remember waking up with a start and almost dropping you after falling into what could only be described as a “mother of a newborn coma.”) But 7 years on, and you’re thriving and doing fantastic!
I know you are a big boy now, and I know you dislike being called “the Little One” on my blog. So, for your birthday, I’m giving you a gift. Henceforth, your blog name shall be BB (for Big Boy. Also for Blueberry, which is what Daddy calls you.) How about that for an amazing gift?? What’s that you say … kind of cheap? Well, who got a puppy for his birthday?! HA! No complaints from you!
I know it has been challenging this past week, with your new fur brother taking up so much of my time and attention. I know you’ve felt a little neglected as I run around after Romeo like a mad woman, trying to keep him from destroying the house. Don’t worry … it will get better as he gets older. And I’m going to carve out time each day just for you and me. (I can’t tell you how much it touches me that you still crave and need “mommy time.” It was worrisome when you told me that you didn’t need me to walk you home from the bus stop last week.)
This past year has been difficult in many ways. Losing Grandmom at Christmas time left me feeling sad and low energy for months. It helped so much when we went to Montana together this summer. You were a real trooper, and you helped Uncle Chris and I heal so much. Seeing the two of you strengthen your bond and watching you learn more about Grandmom and Grandpop made my heart happy.
I also know how hard it has been for you to deal with some of your other worries, which I haven’t talked about on this blog out of respect for your privacy. But I want you to know that you are doing fantastic and really growing in your confidence and strength. I’m so impressed with all the work you’ve done, and sometimes your grasp of a difficult situation astounds me. For all your goofing around, sometimes you show me just how much you actually understand. Not that I want you to grow up before your time, but you’ve been thrown some curve balls in the past year and have dealt with them amazingly.
When I think about it, you’ve had some truly impressive growth and accomplishments this past year. Here is a short list:
- learned how to swim (and being the only kid from your class to pass the swim test at the pool!)
- jumped off the “high” dive
- started gymnastics class and jumped right into it on your very first lesson, looking like you had been flipping around on rings and moving across parallel bars your entire life
- learned how to ride a bike without training wheels
- were invited to participate as a role model in a group for kids in your school who need help with their social skills (I was gobsmacked when you got this invitation … I never knew you were such a social butterfly as you act so shy around other kids when I’m around)
- confidently read the longer chapter books in the Magic Tree House series … and understand them. (I enjoyed when you were telling me about “Lisa” who Leonardo da Vinci painted.)
- expanded the list of foods that you’ll eat a thousandfold. (It wasn’t healthy eating just dinosaur chicken or mac and cheese all the time. I’m glad you have some variety in your diet now … even if pineapple isn’t your thing. When you gobbled up shrimp at Aunt Nicole’s house, I was so proud!)
I’ve also enjoyed seeing your friendship with L develop and grow. It is good for a boy to have a best friend, and you two have strengthened your bond and really look out for each other. When L thought you were hit by another kid, he was ready to find him and “make him show some respect” for you. What a good buddy you have! It is a kick to eavesdrop on your conversations (not that I do this all the time), and I’m thrilled when you guys are able to work out your conflicts all by yourselves.
You’re really are growing up fast. It amazes me and fills me with such pride and joy. Keep up the good work!
Love,
Mommy
P.S. Even though you are a now “The Child Formerly Known As the Little One,” never ever change your name to an unpronounceable symbol. Trust me … it’s been done and it didn’t work out all that well.
This is not a proper name!
Happy (Belated) Birthday! He sounds like such an awesome kid! Also, it is good to know that Joseph will survive if he continues only eating dino-chicken-nuggets. oh, and KETCHUP, of course!
My son was a horribly picky eater for the longest time and then, some time last year, we put our foot down and said he had to eat whatever we ate and that was it. He is much better now and more willing to try new things. And apparently almost a year of dino chicken, ketchup and mac and cheese doesn’t stunt your growth or smarts!
Happy Birthday to BB!!! He is a terrific kid and I know that you’re proud of the wonderful and kind young man that he has become. Seven is a fun age and I know that he will make the most of it. It’s awesome that he’s such a prolific reader already
The reading thing is making my heart so happy. He is burning through these Magic Tree House books … even the Merlin Mission ones that are longer.
Time is racing by. I do remember when he was a little one. He sounds like he is developing into a wonderful young man and it’s truly great that he still likes spending time with his mom. I hope it is always like this for you two.
Time is racing by. When I look at your blog and see Bebe Sister getting so big, it makes you realize how much they’ve all grown!
Hugs to BB whom I’ve never met but if he’s anything like his Mom, I know he’s a gem! Nice job Mom and nice job BB! NM
I truly wish that we can get our kids together before they are too big to really get down and play together. Guess we better act soon, huh?
What a fantastic letter to your son! My daughter’s Birthday is this coming Saturday and you’ve inspired me to write her a letter. He sounds like he’s had a wonderful year and that you two are really close; I hope he had a great Birthday!
I hope you do write her a letter. I think it is a neat keepsake. If nothing else, this blog is a wonderful record of — not only the books I’ve read — but the big and little moments in our lives. Chances are, I’ll forget what year he first learned to ride a bike but I’ll have it documented here.
Aww, what a sweet post to your little one…or should I should say BB
7 years old! Before you know it, he’ll be driving cars and going out with girls….scary!
By the way, my grandmother calls me “BB” but only because I was her first grandchild and “BB” sounds like “baby” in Chinese
Shush your mouth! I can’t BEAR to think of him driving a car! Seriously, it scares me!
And I love hearing about your BB nickname!
Happy birthday BB! It’s amazing how fast they grow up.
You said it! It seems like he was a little toddler just yesterday. What happened?
Such a touching post! Seven is a great age!
We’re having a bit of a rocky and emotional start but I’m excited to see what 7 brings!
Yea for Little One Turned BB! And congratulations to you and Mr. Jenners. Keeping him alive and well and thriving for 7 years is no small feat. He sounds like a great kid and I know he must be with such a cool mom
Before you know it, you will be writing a similar post for Gage! Hard to believe but these baby days will go by so fast!
awwww…Happy Birthday to your little one!
Sounds like he’s had some great accomplishments this past year.
He really did! It was amazing to see all the things he managed to accomplish in one year … some of it in just the span of a few months.
Aww … we’re four months into 7 right now and they might be the best four months so far. There’s just so much mental growth (not to mention physical! one inch in four months!?! how does he eat that much?) and a growing awareness of the world around. I’m loving it but also getting sad that we’re always moving closer to the teen years.
Happy Birthday, BB!
We’ve been having a very emotional transition, which I hope evens itself out soon. And he was taught in school that his tastebuds change every 7 years and now, suddenly, he doesn’t like anything he used to eat!! ARGH!
My daughter turns 8 on the 7th and I still refer to her as little. I have a big one (13 years old and 5’11″) so she is definitely still the little one although not quite so little (48 inches).
Happy Bday to BB!!
I think the youngest (or only, in our case) will ALWAYS be the little one. He still is to me.
Yeah, I still don’t know what Prince was thinking, weirdo. lol Happy belated birthday to BB!!! Hope he had an awesome one! Sounds like he is a fine boy and it’s wonderful he has such a great friend.
The friendship that he has with our neighbor boy is a beautiful thing to see. I feel so lucky that he had this type of friendship at such a young age. And Prince was a bit on the strange side.
Happy Belated Birthday BB! You are one lucky kid because you have a wonderful mommy!
I shall remind him of your comment whenever I’m annoying him.
I’m a day late, but happy belated birthday to the no-longer-Little One! And congratulations on the snazzy new nickname. I hope you guys did something great to celebrate!
We had a very small party (just his best friend) and he said it was the best party ever … they played Ben 10 all day. Who knew that you didn’t really have to spend too much money to have the funnest party ever!
Happy birthday, BB!
Jenners, has he read this post? You’re an awesome mom!
I started to have him read it but it “was too long.” A critic already!! I figured I’d have him read it when he wasn’t as excited about his party.
How sweet! And a puppy for his birthday, how fun
Well, the puppy has been desired by both of us for a long time. We just wore Daddy down and it just happened to be both of our birthdays so we called it a birthday present!
Happy birthday to BB! I hope this year is a great one!
I’m so excited to see what he has in store for us this year. This past year was a huge year filled with accomplishments of all kinds.
Happy Birthday to BB!
This is a beautiful letter, Jenners! You are a wonderful mom!
Aw shucks. Thanks.
Oh – Happy Birthday! I can’t believe he is 7 – such a big boy!
I can’t believe he is 7! We’re inching closer and closer to the teen years … ARGHH!
What a nice birthday post for your BB. Happy birthday to him from us.
He said a general “thank you” for all the birthday wishes. He thinks he is famous now!
Oh, Former Little One, your mom wrote you such a beautiful birthday letter. Good job on helping her during this sad last year and good job, Jenners, on keeping him alive and kicking for a whole seven years. Because, really, that’s an accomplishment to be proud of. BB, you’ll understand some day. xxoo
I cannot wait until he gets a sense of what it is like to be a parent! I know I never fully appreciated my own parents until I became a mother!
Happy Birthday to the Child Formerly Known as the Little One. Enjoy these moments dearest. Great post.
I’m doing my best to enjoy all these moments … it is can be a challenge sometimes but I’m trying.
Happy Birthday to the BB. and enjoy this time, they are only little once.
I’m realizing the truth of that statement more and more each year. He really is growing up and there is nothing I can do to stop it.
Happy Birthday to BB! I was in “awww land” the entire time I read your post.
Awwww….your comment is so sweet. I think the awwwwww are catching!
Happy Birthday to your big boy! His accomplishments are very impressive! BTW, I knew our kids were near in age, but I hadn’t realized they were only a couple of weeks apart in age – very cool.
It makes me wish we were closer together so they could play together. I already know that we would get along just perfectly!
Happy Birthday BB….obvious how much you are loved!
Thanks for saying that. He is loved to pieces, and I hope he knows it. I’m pretty sure he does!
Happy Birthday BB! I have to say that this letter really touched me. You are really an amazingly sensitive and wonderful mother, Jenners. And have fun with that puppy. The first few months are horrid, but eventually they grow out of it and stop trying to chew and pee on everything.
Well, believe me, I have my moments as being a very insensitive and horrid mother, as we all do. And the puppy stuff is actually going much better now that I got over the initial shock.
Happy Birthday to BB!
I’m still called “Little ‘un” and I’m in my 30s!
But do you like that or hate it?
Such a cute and meaningful blog to the “Little One” (I bet you secretly still call him little one
They grow up all too quickly don’t they. Love the “Prince” symbol.
We call our three youngest grandchildren The Little Ones” I wonder when we will have to stop? (Of course Grammie’s and Papa’s get special dispensations that parents don’t get!)
Grandparents do get to call the kids whatever they want for as long as they want! And I do still think of him as “The Little One.” He’ll always be my little one … even when he is looking down at me!
A VERY happy birthday to BB!!! Congratulations on all your accomplishments over the past year – you’ve certainly earned the new name!
He really did grow up a lot in this past year. He is really becoming his own little person.
Happy birthday BB!!
I didn’t realize how close in age our kids are. My youngest turned 7 back in mid-March. Your son sounds like a wonderful kid.
I wish our kids could play together!! I bet they’d have a good time.
Congrats on keeping him alive! And, Happy Birthday, BB! It is quite the list of accomplishments for one year, it’s going to be great to see what happens in the next one.
He really did a lot of big stuff this year. Just the bike riding alone was huge. It was neat to watch his confidence just blossom as he did all these things.
What an awesome letter! Happy Birthday to BB! And congrats to you, Jenners, for getting him through 7 years.
In the beginning, it felt like a day-by-day type of thing. When I look back now, I’m amazed it has been 7 years.
This is so sweet! Happy Birthday to the Big Boy! Enjoy this time, Mom. They grow up too fast (says the Mom of an only girl who will be 29 this next Friday).
Ack!! 29!! That seems impossible to you I’m sure! I’m trying my best to enjoy this time. Already the baby days are getting a bit foggy.
But he’s been immortalized in song as The Little One! Symbols don’t work in songs, either.
Happy Birthday, TCFKatLO!!
Consider your song as his “swan song” as the Little One. What a way to go!
It is nice to see this side of you. I enjoyed learning about BB and all that he has taught you. TFS
I”m really a big softie mushball in my personal life. Sometimes I let that show.
Such a dear post. They grow up and become their own little persons so darned fast. With each year comes such amazing epiphanies about my children. Before you know it, you are going to wake up and have a teenager. It is terrifying.
I am terrified of the teenager stage. Everyone makes it sound very very very scary. It is hard for me to imagine my little boy being a big hulking sulky teenager!
What an awesome post! The Newly Named BB is lucky to have such a great mom.
I think he is lucky too … though there are moments when I’m sure he doesn’t think so!! HA!
Wow this is such. Lovely post! Happy birthday, Big guy!!!
He had a great but exhausting birthday. He had to go to bed super early tonight to recover and be ready for school tomorrow.
To the Child Formerly Known as The Little One: Please take note of how awesome your mom is. It takes a lot of self control not to share every cool/interesting thing you do in life….and she controls herself…it isn’t easy when we all want to know so much about you! Have a great birthday! Jenners…..that was a very sweet post….oh and you are right, make sure to take all the moments of mommy time that BB will give you….it gets less and less as they age (although my almost 14 year old still sneaks in some mommy time – when nobody is looking!)
I’ve heard that mommy time gets more precious and rare as they grow older. I’m already feeling it a bit. When his friends are around, it is like I vanish into thin air.
Happy Birthday to the Former Little One!
I’m glad you were able to keep him alive for 7 years and counting (as your first paragraph indicates). :/
It is a miracle we did as well as we did. We were absolutely clueless parents. I had never changed a diaper in my life before he arrived!
really? I’ve been changing diapers since I was 9… sadly not my own child’s.