1. Okay, so the Star Wars thing is no secret. He loves Star Wars and anything Star Wars related. He's seen the movies a handful of times, but he can tell you specific things that happened in an episode and which episode it is.
2. He hates getting his picture taken! (See that fake smile up there?) He just hates it. One of the few (weird!) personality traits he gets from me is that he loves to be the funny person everyone is listening to and laughing with (or, well, "at") but he is so uncomfortable with recognition. He just doesn't like to hear how wonderful he is, he changes the subject or barks like a dog or does something to try and take the focus away from how great he is.
3. He's the pickiest eater! He's getting better but he hates sauces and dips and anything even resembling an accoutrement! He recently started dipping his chicken nuggets in sweet and sour sauce, which is kind of a miracle, and his favorite food of ALL time is Orange Chicken, but if you give him ketchup for his fries (which he doesn't really like anyway) or put a bowl of spaghetti with spaghetti sauce in front of him, it's going to be a situation.
4. He loves telling jokes. He often makes up his own jokes, which are not even close to funny, but he thinks he's hilarious and I'm working on making my fake laugh sound more genuine since he insists upon calling me out when I don't give him a "real laugh."
5. He's LOVING reading! He's reading on at least a 1st grade level and it amazes me to hear him read scriptures. I have to say, I mean aside from how cool it is that he wants to stay up late and read, my favorite part of him being able to read is leaving him notes in his lunch. It makes my heart happy that I have a way halfway through the day to make sure he knows he's loved.
6. He's so responsible! He's fanatical about making sure lights are turned out in rooms we aren't in (to save electricity, dontcha know) and when I'm in the shower, I'll hear the door open and the fan switch on. When I was pregnant with Elisabeth, he came with me to a midwife appointment and he made sure my midwife knew that it was a waste of energy to leave the TV screens on in the ultrasound room. Good heavens.
7. When I pick him up from school, it cracks me up to hear him say good bye to his friends. He says their names in like a schmoozy politician way. "Aliiii-yah!" "Jourrrrney!" If he could snap and point in their direction, I'm sure he would.
8. He loves routine. More than once, I've been conducting in Primary and he will raise his hand and when called on, reminds me that I forgot something. Scott once substituted in his Primary class and Jack was SO mad that he didn't ask the class at the beginning how their week was. He likes continuity, and I just can't blame him for that. I'm the same way!
9. This little boy loves his Nana. He loves us, of course, but he just think the sun rises and sets on his Nana. His eyes light up when he sees her and he will do anything in the world for her. The most devastating thing in the world for him is for his Nana to be disappointed in him.
10. One of his favorite things of all time is to work outside with his dad. He loves to work in the garden, shovel the driveway, mow the lawn...Scott can spend 7 or 8 hours outside working on a Saturday and you can bet Jack will be right next to him. If said workday involves a trip to Lowe's or Home Depot--well, that's a HUGE bonus!
So many more things make Jack special--like seeing him play with his sister or when he gives me a million kisses or the few times when he'll let me hold and cuddle with him. Mostly, though, he's our very first baby. I remember being terrified at the idea of being alone at home with a baby. I told the nurse they had no business sending us home with a baby! But we figured it out. We had lots of trials along the way, but they made him even more precious to us. This little friend has changed our lives in a way we never knew they needed to be changed. He made us less selfish, he healed our hearts because we'd lost Scott's dad and we knew that he'd had an opportunity to be in heaven with his Grandpa Gary and we knew that Grandpa sent him down with all of his love. I am convinced his Grandpa watches over him everyday, protecting and guiding him in a way we cannot.
Before Jack came, our house was spotless, we were well rested, we were able to spend our money however we wanted and we could eat whatever we wanted for dinner. But I don't consider any of those things as having been sacrificed. This little boy makes all of those things seem silly and worthless and we wouldn't for a single second consider training.
We love you, buddy. You are AMAZING! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
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