Flowers and Firsts - A May 2010 PTR, 5/13 TR started! Link on pg 39

[PrincessInOz]

More shoes???!!! I am SOOOOOO envious...and oh...I too am part of the anti FB party. I'm learning that Resistence is FUTILE!!

Might have to sign up to an account when I return

 

[SoonerGirl]

More shoes???!!! I am SOOOOOO envious...and oh...I too am part of the anti FB party. I'm learning that Resistence is FUTILE!!

Might have to sign up to an account when I return

I'm doing my best to keep from signing up for that facebook account! Stay strong - we resisters have to stick together!

 

[SoonerGirl]

So today I'm taking a break from the trip planning festivites to wish my baby a Happy Birthday. Today Justin is 14. Where does the time go? It seems as if it was only yesterday that we were bringing home that tiny little bundle from the hospital. So, sweet and soft, with his ten tiny toes and ten tiny fingers. I remember Don & I being so afraid that we were going to break him! I can't believe he is now just a few short weeks away from his last summer before high school. I get all teary eyed just thinking about it!

I hope you all don't mind taking a walk with me down memory lane! Many of these pictures I had to scan in and crop from scrapbook pages, so they aren't the best quality!

Just days after coming home from the hospital - so sweet!

Age 3 mos

Age 6 mos, my stepdad bought him this little tux to wear to my brother's wedding, it was so cute I had to get his pictures taken in it!

Age 1

Age 2, halloween, he was so proud of his little pumpkin!

Age 3, our first real family vacation. We went to Sea World in San Antonio

Age 4, with his new baby brother. I love this pic and have it framed in my living room

Age 5, his first year of t-ball

Age 6, at my Mom's house, after playing in the rain with his brother. Look at all the scrapes on Jared's face - that child has been a daredevil since day 1!

Age 7, another one of my favorite pics. The baby is my nephew, Jared is 3

Age 8, he grew up alot between 7 & 8!

Age 9, when he discovered his love for the game of basketball

Age 10, his first out of the park homerun, he was so excited!

Age 11, meeting Adrian Peterson. For those of you who don't follow football, he was a great running back at Oklahoma and now plays for the Minnesota Vikings

Age 12, first day of Jr. High

Age 13, pitching in the state tournament

And finally, a photo taken of he & I last night during his family birthday dinner. *Sigh* such a young man now...

Thanks for letting me share. I sometimes wish there was a way to slow down this process, but there is also a lot of joy in watching them spread their wings and become their own person. It's happening way too quickly for this Mom though!

 

[marsa1969]

The pictures are so sweet! So, is Oklahoma like Arkansas and 14 yr olds can get a learners permit for driving? I can't beleive mine is 16, diving and bigger than all of us - 235 of pure muscle.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Ah, Happy Birthday to Justin! That was a very sweet trip down memory lane! Justin has always been a very happy child, hasn't he?

 

[MHTeacher]

Happy Birthday to Justin!

I know as much as we hate the thought of them not being our babies anymore, I know it is all part of the cycle of life---and that's what I want for my kids---to grow up and be kind, good adults with happy lives.

 

[stace208]

Happy birthday to Justin!
I loved the pictures! Adorable baby to handsome young man. You done good, momma.

 

[cdotla]

Oh Michelle!!! What a terribly moving post. As a mom, I am feeling it right there with you. So bittersweet, isn't it???

I still have a couple of years to go before I am in your shoes with a soon-to-be adult living in the house with us, but....I fully realize these days as a parent you just blink your eyes and a decade passes so quickly!

What wonderful photos you have of Justin over the years. Thanks so much for sharing! Seems like you have a great kid there!

 

[kschafer]

:Aww...those growing up pictures are awesome!! The black and white of the 2 boys is precious

Justin!!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Happy Birthday Justin!
Michelle, what a awesome trip you have taken us on!
He has accomplished so much!

 

[RachelNinja]

Happy birthday to Justin!

As I was going through the first few pictures, I couldn't really tell that it was Justin. However, when I got to the pic of him at age 4, the one that you have framed, I was like, WHOA. The profile really looks like him now! He just got so much older, of course!

What a handsome young man he's becoming! That pic from last night does not look like he's 14! I won't be able to fully understand what it's like since I'm not a mother, but boy, they do grow up fast!

 

[Happydog]

Good grief... 14. That blows my mind! It was neat to see those photos in order! Thanks for sharing! Mine turn 5 and 8 this June and that is enough to freak me out! I can't think about 14!! Well, he sure seems like a very nice young man. Good going mom!

 

[Spartangirl]

Happy Birthday, Justin...........loved all the pics!

Love the new shoes........especially the 1st pair! I can understand your addiction.........for me, it's shoes AND handbags! Both can be quite the expensive addictions!!!

Haven't given in to FB yet, huh?

 

[manntra]

Happy Birthday Justin!
What cute pictures!! I really like the black and white too
Also, the rice bags are very supportive....I think they feel like the "regular" keens...same footbed.

Tracy

 

[kcandbella]

Happy birthday Justin! I especially love the one in the tux! How cute. That will be a perfect one for his wedding slideshow someday!

 

[SoonerGirl]

The pictures are so sweet! So, is Oklahoma like Arkansas and 14 yr olds can get a learners permit for driving? I can't beleive mine is 16, diving and bigger than all of us - 235 of pure muscle.

No, thankfully we have another year before we have to add that worry to the list! He is starting to talk about what kind of car he wants though

Ah, Happy Birthday to Justin! That was a very sweet trip down memory lane! Justin has always been a very happy child, hasn't he?

He has always been quick to smile for the camera, I have so many great pictures of him!

Happy Birthday to Justin!

I know as much as we hate the thought of them not being our babies anymore, I know it is all part of the cycle of life---and that's what I want for my kids---to grow up and be kind, good adults with happy lives.

Well said Michelle!

Happy birthday to Justin!
I loved the pictures! Adorable baby to handsome young man. You done good, momma.

Thanks Stacy! I tell him all the time he was the cutest baby, always smiling and laughing.

 

[SoonerGirl]

Oh Michelle!!! What a terribly moving post. As a mom, I am feeling it right there with you. So bittersweet, isn't it???

I still have a couple of years to go before I am in your shoes with a soon-to-be adult living in the house with us, but....I fully realize these days as a parent you just blink your eyes and a decade passes so quickly!

What wonderful photos you have of Justin over the years. Thanks so much for sharing! Seems like you have a great kid there!

Time does pass amazingly fast! I've been very emotional this whole year when it comes to Justin and how fast he is changing. Heck, a couple of months ago, right after baseball season started, I went out to watch the end of one of his practices. I was standing there, looking at all these young men, most of whom I've known since they were 5 or 6 years old, and I started getting choked up thinking about how much they have all changed! How crazy is that?! I had to turn around so no one would see

:Aww...those growing up pictures are awesome!! The black and white of the 2 boys is precious

Justin!!

Thanks Katie! I love looking at all the old pictures, I've got piles and piles of scrapbooks filled with pics of these boys - way more photos than my parents ever took!

Happy Birthday Justin!
Michelle, what a awesome trip you have taken us on!
He has accomplished so much!

Thanks Anita, I know that you having grown girls and a growing boy, have been in my shoes. It's definitely a bittersweet time, being proud of what they have done and who they are becoming, and mourning the loss of your little one at the same time!

Happy birthday to Justin!

As I was going through the first few pictures, I couldn't really tell that it was Justin. However, when I got to the pic of him at age 4, the one that you have framed, I was like, WHOA. The profile really looks like him now! He just got so much older, of course!

What a handsome young man he's becoming! That pic from last night does not look like he's 14! I won't be able to fully understand what it's like since I'm not a mother, but boy, they do grow up fast!

I can see him in his baby pictures, but then I was there when he was a baby! You're right though, you can see him slowly emerging into how he looks today. He has changed quite a bit in just the past year, even just since Christmas I think.

 

[SoonerGirl]

Good grief... 14. That blows my mind! It was neat to see those photos in order! Thanks for sharing! Mine turn 5 and 8 this June and that is enough to freak me out! I can't think about 14!! Well, he sure seems like a very nice young man. Good going mom!

Blows your mind?! Try being me! I bet you remember when yours were tiny babies too, seems like a very short time ago, doesn't it?

Justin is a pretty good kid, he gets along with most everyone, has lots of friends and most importantly treats people with kindness (as long as their name isn't Jared and they don't live across the hall from him ) I'm proud of him

Happy Birthday, Justin...........loved all the pics!

Love the new shoes........especially the 1st pair! I can understand your addiction.........for me, it's shoes AND handbags! Both can be quite the expensive addictions!!!

Haven't given in to FB yet, huh?

Thanks for the birthday wishes!

I don't go too crazy for handbags, mostly because the ones I buy tend to be on the expensive side (D&B, Coach, Brighton), so I try not to go too crazy there. I have a harder time resisting shoes!

Nope, no FB for me......

Happy Birthday Justin!
What cute pictures!! I really like the black and white too
Also, the rice bags are very supportive....I think they feel like the "regular" keens...same footbed.

Tracy

I had a feeling they would feel a lot like the regular Keens

Happy birthday Justin! I especially love the one in the tux! How cute. That will be a perfect one for his wedding slideshow someday!

Isn't that tux the cutest! I still have it, that and the little black dress shoes he wore.



Justin said to tell everyone thanks for all the birthday wishes!

 

[BippityBoo]

WOW! Happy Birthday, Justin! They grow up so quickly, don't they?

I love all of the old pics. SO COOL he got to meet Adrian Peterson!! My DH would be very jealous.

Thanks for the "heads up" this morning. Some times those little kids pop up out of nowhere

 

[floridascgirl]

Your photos of Justin were so sweet, but they made me a bit sad, too. My son is 12 and just yesterday I was thinking how I want to put the breaks on his growing up. He was trying on his tux for an upcoming piano competition and when he walked out of his room, I almost cried. It doesn't help that he is my only child.

PS. I'm not on FB either.