My sweet boy turns 9!

Solomon was born 4 years and 7 days before Eli. It's been difficult to really make each one feel special when their birthdays are so close together but I've been giving it the old college try. I guess that's why I haven't been posting the last week. Between soccer almost every day, cupcakes to bake and all the rest of life to manage, I've been busy.

So, I was thinking how I could do a post about Solomon, who by the way is so opposite from Eli that I wonder sometimes if they're really brothers. I decided to look through my photo albums and find some pictures of him when he was a baby. Can I tell you that looking at them again was so emotional for me?! It reminded me of how special and fragile these early years are for them. I was reminded of how much he's grown and how much I love this boy. I was also reminded that I need to take more pictures of myself with my kids. I need to hand over the camera to Jonathan more often!

Here's a stroll down memory lane with Solomon, just a few random shots that caught my eye....


I remember how hard it was to add another child to the family. How could I balance the love and attention? Some days I remember barely making it through. I remember taking a walk with Amelia before Solomon was born. I held her hand very tight. I couldn't imagine loving any child more than her. When I had Solomon as you know, you have enough love for two children, it's just learning how to balance that's hard. It wasn't until Solomon was about two that I was able to get better at balancing.


Amelia was and still is the most loving and patient of older sisters. She loves her brothers so much.


Here, Solomon met his first cow. I remember how scared he was.



Solomon became a big brother a week before he turned 4. He takes his job very seriously.


We rented a Jaime Oliver video from the library when he was four. He decided then and there that he was going to be a chef. Here, he's made for me a piece of cheese with lettuce and ant garnish. Yum. He was very proud. I think there's something to this chef thing. He's my biggest critic and encourager when I cook for him. He's always describing the subtle flavors in my food. If I cook something that isn't that good, he'll let me know! He makes me want to be a better home chef.


Solomon is very silly sometimes and loves to laugh. He's very sensitive and sweet and gets embarrassed very easily.


Solomon LOVES his garden. Solomon is very intuitive and can pick up very subtle things in human interactions. When we're alone together he likes to talk to me about his deep feelings. He loves to draw pictures of machines and inventions he'd like to make. He melts my heart. Happy Birthday Solomon!!