Marvin's Seven

This post is a little late, story of my life lately but with battling pink eye, a stomach bug, and and child developmental testing Marvin has had an extremely busy and active month.  Some of it not so much fun for him.

Where did my pudgy 18 month old go.  Marvin's first birthday with us was when he was two.

Feel free to ooh and ahh while I get a bit teary here.  See that smile?  When he first smiled at me when we got him I was like, yup I'm done.  That kid could ask me to jump off a cliff and I would happily do it.

Now here we are at seven.

Still a crazy happy kid and that smile!  He's a little tired in the pic from his afternoon of water sliding but he still had more energy than the rest of us!

What amazes me time and time again is that after he has lived through so much he still has the ability to be so happy and free.  His past will always be a part of who he is.  The abuse and neglect that he lived through. The fact that the meth his bio mom took has chemically altered his brain in ways that science is just beginning to understand as we raise our generation of meth babies to adulthood.

Some days and some things aren't easy for him and not everyone understands that or gets it.  I would love for Marvin to be "fine" and "well" but that has been like chasing an illusive butterfly at times.  Every day is different and every hour is different.  So we have learned to slow down and take it a little bit at a time.

Marvin has come a long way in his life and journey.  He tries hard, works harder, and is a pretty happy little person wanting to grow up way before his mama is ready.  He is already wanting to be eight while I'm still trying to wrap my mind around him being seven.  Marvin wants time to speed up while I just want to grab it by the tail and slow it way down.  

This coming year will have new challenges and be a new season of life for him.  Time won't slow down so I'm just going to have to get used to my little one growing and embrace this new season.  

Happy Birthday Marvin.  You were the first person to show me what unconditional love and joy were.  You taught me that even if the past is hard the future is worth fighting for.  That sometimes it is better to let things go and live for now.  That eating ice cream for breakfast won't kill you (although your teacher may not appreciate it).  For being my firstborn, making our family tree more diverse and unique just because of you being you.  For being the first one in your bio family to come out of a cycle of drugs, poverty, neglect, and abuse and to grow strong and healthy.  I love you.