All the Little Grubbs

Today’s the big day! Foster’s 8 years old.  I can’t believe it’s been 8 years since I first laid eyes on my son.  I have gushed and talked about him for days now so I will just tell a little on how we are celebrating this week. (Yes, I said week. We love birthdays around here.)
Monday night   Foster’s Papaw and Ms. Debbie took him out to eat at Mr.Gatti’s and to Gander Mountain.  It was a big treat mostly because he got to go all by himself.  He came home with some fishing stuff and a video about how to catch Crappie (pronounced craw-pee, not crap-pee).
Tuesday  Lots of phone calls, no schoolwork, doughnuts for breakfast, Chick-fil-A with friends for lunch, lots of screen time, dinner he planned with our family, skype with Grammy and Grandad.
Thursday  Playdate with new friends.
Friday  Grammy’s coming! Family dinner at Chili’s and then cake and ice cream at home with extended family.
Saturday  Movie with Grandad.
And some nice memories from today…

Foster and Katie are just 20 months apart and we lived in a massive 960 sq. foot 2 bedroom house when she was born. We moved Foster to a “big boy bed” when he was about 18 months old so that Katie could have the crib.  He never got out of bed at night but we did have to teach him to stay in it for his daytime naps.

This picture actually makes me a little sad.  He looks lonely doesn’t he? Chris was working 2nd shift and we rarely ate dinner as a family.  I would fix something for Foster and then after I got him in bed would eat alone while I read or watched t.v.  The summer after Foster turned 2 years old Chris started an apprenticeship program and moved to a 1st shift job. Thankfully, he has worked 1st shift ever since and having dinner as a family is something we do most nights.  While dinner time can sometimes get hectic, messy and loud, I am thankful that my children have each other and mommy and daddy with which to share a meal.

At his Uncle Chad’s birthday party in 2006.  Grammy made that great leather cowboy vest for him.  He has always loved dressing up.

This is the summer after Foster turned 3 years old. Katie was newly walking, I was pregnant with Theodore and Chris was deployed to Iraq.  We were home a lot that summer but one of Foster’s favorite things was eating those big cake like cookies on the front porch.  He has always been a messy eater, even now we have to remind him to slow down if he’s eating something he enjoys.

Foster and I went to see Thomas the train in Chattanooga that summer that Chris was deployed.  Grammy took care of Katie and we had a wonderful day together.  We were cooling off under one of the tents they had set up and this lady asked if any of the kids could come up and sing the alphabet song.  Foster was 3 and half and very shy around adults and crowds.  I was shocked when he volunteered and so proud when he sang the whole thing! That was one of my first homeschooling success stories!

This is one of my favorite pictures. Foster is 14 months old here.  I was about 3 months pregnant with Katie. Foster had just begun walking and one of his favorite things to do that Spring was walk to the mailbox with me.  It was amazing as a new parent to watch his fascination with the wind blowing through that big tree in the front yard. 

My sister-in-law and I had our kids professionally photographed the summer that Foster was 2 and 1/2. I remember it was so very hot, but he was still all smiles.

I thought about getting Coke to pay me for this shot. We were at Dollywood with some friends. Foster was about 16 months here so it was a real treat for him to drink out of a big cup. It was water by the way. We don’t give our toddlers soda!

Foster riding the ducks at Dollywood. I think he was about 2 and 1/2 here.

He started early with loving books.  We’ve had to glue and tape this one back together a few times because all the kids have loved on it.  We still have it on our shelf.

“This teeth brushing is serious business!” He loved learning to brush his teeth.  He had a racecar toothbrush that he would “drive” on the counter before and after chewing the toothpaste off.

Here he is after his bath (about 15 months old).  He would just get his lovey, suck his thumb and say “night,night”.  Even though he’s grown so much, he still wants to be walked in to his room and tucked in. 
 
Foster is getting really excited about his birthday.  He seems to be bouncing off the walls, laughing and whistling and singing.  He is full of joy!  We are so blessed to have him in our lives.

Why yes, that is my handsome soldier and fat-cheeked first baby.

It’s hard to make out in this picture but there is a shiny, yellow lovey laying on top of him.  It’s frayed and worn and not too shiny anymore but he still sleeps with his lovey every night.  The thumb sucking didn’t stop until he was six.

This snowsuit worn by Foster his first winter walking was the same one that my little brother wore when he was one.

Shortly before his first birthday, Foster loved climbing in and out of this rocker.  The rocking chair was Chris’s when he was little.

In just a few more days my first born will be 8 years old.  I have a lot of pictures I want to scan in but my wireless router is not working and my awesome printer/scanner is wireless. Sooo… anyway, looks like I might have to just write about him for the next few days and hope that the pictures will come soon. Since I know my mom loves them.
I am his mother so I know I am extremely biased but here are a few things I love about Foster:

• His love of God and His Word
• His tender heart and sensitive spirit
• His gentleness
• His sense of humor
• His patience
• That he is a thinker and therefore gets distracted easily
• His willingness to help others
• How he so easily forgives
• His appreciation and love of books and reading
• His fascination with Legos
• His hatred of any form of potatoes (except French fries)
• His love of hunting and fishing and being outdoors

I could go on and on.  Foster isn’t perfect, but he was an easy baby, a cute, fat toddler and a bright, inquisitive pre-schooler.  I am so glad I am homeschooling because I can’t imagine missing all that time with him every day.  Right now Foster talks about becoming a wildlife biologist, a missionary, and “someone who goes to China and convinces them to stop slavery”. 
Some things that we would like Foster to learn at this point in his life are how to stick up for himself when being bullied and how to stay focused on the tasks he should be doing. 
For now these are a few pictures I have handy…