Monday, February 23, 2009

14?!

This is Levi at the Valentines Formal this year.


Today is Levi's 14th Birthday! How crazy to think that these boys of mine keep sneaking up in age. We are hitting the busy birthday season in this house, so prepare yourself for several birthday wishes and posts in the next 8 weeks.




Levi, Levi, Levi.....what can I say about Levi? Plenty! He came six days late, and he decided that he just had to arrive on the day that I was battling the flu. I was so sick with it that when I had my first piercing labor pain I cried for a few minutes because I knew I was in trouble....he was coming no matter how I felt. No pain, no gain though. He has been one of the greatest gains in my life!



When he was a toddler he was incredibly shy. In fact, when he went to kindergarten they thought he was so shy that they gave him a private evaluation to see if maybe he was being abused. I, of course, wasn't told about this evaluation until he passed it with flying colors (needless to say I wasn't thrilled about the secrecy, however I do understand the need for it.) Then in the middle of the school year we transferred schools and once we put him into a new kindergarten they did the evaluation AGAIN! Thankfully, all was and is well with his family life....lol, but that should speak to his incredible bashfulness.





He was so grumpy about attention when he was a tot that when he would go places with me people would think he was so cute and say "Hello" to him, frequently, to which he would respond with a deep furrowed brow and turn away. I would apologize, but what could I do? I had to work on his heart and continue to give him security in his little world. This turned out to be the best thing I could have done because he has turned out to be a very funny, outgoing, gregarious young man. He is very sharp, sweet and quick with his wit. He can keep his mama on his toes with his silliness, and that is tough to do.....hehehe




We are working on building him into a strong, independent, self motivating man. Being the third child the older boys have done a lot of chores for him in his youth, after all he was the baby for six years. The flip side with the boys is that being the third brother they have bossed him around, however it only made him very giving (yet a little too pliable to their will). Both sides of this have their beauty and yet both sides have their difficulties. Teaching him to lead his younger brothers with strength and kindness is a current conversation we are having, but also standing up to his older brothers clear enough to have his own voice and style is a work in progress. I can see why the middle child syndrome is an obstacle in many families.




Anyway, my Levi Den is one of the sweetest souls. He would do anything for any of us. He is the first one to sacrifice going somewhere and volunteering to babysit. He may not truly WANT to do it, but he is always extremely willing and kind in spirit when doing so. He will take over a job or task for someone because he is very compassionate and sensitive to others feelings.



I am so thankful for him and I pray that I can be the best mom to him that God intended me to be. After all, I am a continuous work in progress to be the kind of mom God intended him to have. Happy Birthday, Levi Den, we love and need you so much!



7 comments:

Beth said...

What a neat post about Levi. They are growing up fast. I already feel that way and Luke is only 5. Sometimes i feel like I am losing a grip on time and things are just passing my by way to fast. Happy 14th Levi!!!

Sis Stubby said...

Happy Birthday Levi!That was a good post about your Son. They do grow up so fast.My boys are 32 & 36 and I feel like they were babys yesterday.

pandama said...

happy birthday

meNmykids said...

Unbelievable how quickly they grow. He seems to be such a sweet, funny guy. I love to meet my friends kids, kind of a continuation of our friendship? You have lovely children.

Fifi said...

I can hear you are very proud of your boy!!!! Happy Birthday Levi!

Lori said...

That was beautiful! And what an insight to how unique each one of your boys are. Happy Belated 14th birthday Levi!

Sabriena said...

I hadn't realized his fourteenth birthday was anywhere near... or did I? I might have forgotten. It's been known to happen. Anyway, happy late birthday to him!

And I enjoyed reading the post. He is definitely a sweet guy... I don't know if fourteen year old boys like to be called sweet? It's a complement when I say it, though! I think you must realize that... you were also calling him sweet.