Aidan, today you are eight.
At eight, you are still our budding scientist, our Lego architect and our boy in charge.
You learned how to ride a bike without training wheels this summer and promptly conquered the neighborhood on two wheels. You evolved from a boy terrified of the water to a swim team junkie, competing in relays, backstroke and freestyle with ease. You have fallen in love with golf and enjoy the time with your dad on the course, particularly during your first father-son tournament last month. You started baseball this year and made all of us so proud with how quickly you adapted to a sport you have never played.
This summer was your first ever triathlon. I admit it, I never expected you to finish the race when I saw the crowds of kids ready to compete. I was nervous for you. But you have grown into such a confident boy. Without even a backward glance, you set off running towards the water to swim, then to bike, then to run. I will never forget how proud of you we were when you raced across that finish line with a huge smile on your face. You were spectacular.
You love to read, but particularly like atlases and encyclopedias stuffed with facts about science, space or the world. I constantly find you re-reading the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, again, again, and well, again. Your favorite television shows are Adventure Camp, Fetch with Ruff Ruffman, Star Wars the Clone Wars and Arthur. You love to play Rock Band, preferring to rock on the guitar, while your brother Brennan accompanies you on drums. You also love games, from Chess to Monopoly to Battleship. But above all, you continue to love anything Legos and anything Star Wars. And any combination of the two is your idea of perfection.
You are a hard worker. Your teachers and coaches are quick to tell me how you will do whatever is asked of you and how you are always one of the first to offer to help. There aren't any words of praise that could make me happier.
You are still my junk food junkie. Your favorite food is pizza. You love brownies and cookies, warm from the oven. I feared you would turn into a pizza log from the sheer number you consumed at the pool over this summer.
You discovered girls this summer or well, they really discovered you. (This was not easy on me and I had to hide many a tear behind big sunglasses as I watched a gaggle of girls chasing you around the pool.) You developed your first crush on a sweet girl named Emily. It was a summer romance of giggles, tag around the pool and deep sighs as Emily talked about, well, anything.
You are a wonderful big brother. You are kind to your younger brothers and are eager to help them or teach them new things. The three of you are inseparable, spending long summer days staging elaborate Lego battles, riding bikes or swimming for hours upon hours.
You are a cuddler and a love. You will still crawl onto my lap, snuggle up next to me or run to me for a hug. You are open with your love for us and never shy away from sharing how much you love me, your dad, or your brothers.
You are becoming a young man before my eyes, but I continue to treasure the little boy I can still see in you. Happy 8th Birthday to my sweet boy.
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