Happy 12th Birthday Kiddo #2!

Our precious second child arrived at 7:59PM on August 25, 1999.  Induced a week early because of his size, he was still a whopping 10 pounds 12 1/4 ounces!  What a horrible labor it was for both mom and son.  I still remember the nurse having to climb on top of me to literally push down on me to help him out.  The doctor was a blessing.  He had come on shift when it was already too late to begin a c-section.  Kiddo had already descended into the birth canal and they would have to either break his collar bone or my pelvis.  He promised us he'd do his best to try to avoid both.  God bless him, he did it.  It wasn't easy, in fact, it was hell and the poor baby looked like he did a few rounds with a championship boxer, but he was here!  We were so blessed that that same doctor delivered all 4 of our children.  He is a wonderful, compassionate man who I will never forget. (a bit of an aside-- while he was delivering our 4th, and dh was on the phone from Iraq, the doctor made a special point of getting on the phone to thank dh for his service and to assure him that wife and daughter were fine.  He also called my room from his home the next day, Thanksgiving, to tell me that his family was grateful for mine)  Sorry for the tangent!  :-)

Kiddo #2 is such a blessing.  He is super-smart, funny as can be, and just amazing with his younger brother and sister.  He has the patience of a saint with them and can teach them almost anything!  He makes up games for them, practices math with them and teaches them how to do power point! (oh, yes with full graphics and animation!)  In fact, he just walked in the room and announced to them that there are multiplication facts hidden in certain rooms and gave them hints to find them!  :-))))

If you want any statistic about sports, just ask Kiddo #2.  He can tell you every team that has been in a Super Bowl, what year it was and the final score.  He wants to be a math teacher.  I think he'd make a great sports commentator, lol.  Whatever he wants to do, he will succeed, I'm sure.

Most importantly, his faith is so strong!  He received a beautiful letter from his CCD teacher complimenting him for his kindness and patience, but most significantly, his knowledge of the Bible and his devotion to the Lord.  A parent couldn't be prouder than I was when I read that letter!

Happy Birthday, dear Kiddo #2!  We love you very much and are so very grateful for the gift of you!

making homemade pizza



on a recent trip to Colonial Philadelphia

Kiddo volunteered as a group leader at VBS and this was during their final show as he and the other "crew" were leading the younger children in song.

during our recent trip to Hershey, the kids "made" their own candy

a prayer book Kiddo made during our online VBS