on your seventh birthday, my dear son...

I spent months preparing to have the perfect all natural all peaceful all perfect day of your birth! But what I have spent years training myself to do- prepare and plan and perfect- all proved itself in perfect meaningless on that special day! I did experience the labor and birth that I had planned for- it's just everything that came after changed me. But son, the thing I've learned is that is true with the other two as well! In fact, I spent a year planning a big party when your dad and I decided to get married- and the wedding was all I planned for- but then life happens.... and it unfolds in ways you will never imagine. I can promise you that, son. Ok back to you...

So you were born in the early morning of August 14, 2008- 11 days early. We didn't call anyone to say we were going in to the hospital... After 2 hours of pushing you finally came out! The doctor said, "It's a boy!!" We all smiled! They wrapped you in up and placed you in my arms for a photo- then they said you were too blue- so they wheeled you away. Here's the only photo I have immediately after you were born: 

Two hours later they brought you back. They told me you probably had Down syndrome. "No, I don't have any questions- I just want my son," I said.

It was love at first sight. Oh man- I just scooped you up- and I never wanted to put you down. You rarely cried and always cuddled. 

I did have to put you down- for adequate "tummy time" of course. The therapists wanted you strong! So down you went... 

And then you started growing...

And you were always such a happy kid! Here daddy and I hiked Sleeping Bear Dunes all the way to Lake Michigan. I was pregnant with your brother- 

 

Then you got glasses- and they made your cute little face even cuter! 

And then your sweet brother was born... 

you loved him right from the start

 

then you had to learn to walk... that was a lot of hard work!

you made a friend in Africa! 

 

and you always love to be helpful

and then we brought your sister home! 

you have quite the personality! 

we had the most amazing summer! 

Having you as our son has pushed us to change our perspective on life and people and even God. I am constantly learning new lessons- and I am always working on my patience! You have this way of making people laugh and smile and fall in love with you. I have seen the sad and the broken turn to your joyful face and watched their mouth lines move to experience joy with you. Even at the young age of two you crawled into my lap when I was crying at the loss of a friend and you wiped away my tears... which only made me cry more.

You have also unrolled countless toilet paper rolls, broken some of my favorite things, spilled things daily for the last 7 years, thrown your glasses out of car windows never to be found again, colored on walls, and ran every other direction than the one I wanted you to go. But it's the reflections of these moments that make me ponder what really matters. What is the purpose of life and how do I teach it to you? Why did God give you to us? Are you knit perfectly or are you to be made new in heaven? In essence- we are all imperfect- but we are able to mock perfection a little easier. 

Bentley, your joy is contagious, your smile igniting, your heart pure, and your life a reward. You have taught me many many things.... and I look forward to the many many many more adventures, challenges, and joys that lie ahead...