Dear Oskar,
You’re 11 today.
What a wild realization since I remember being 11 so well. You had one of your
best years yet, coming into your own with quips and sarcasm, but still never
too old to cuddle with me. Soaring ahead in all the things, finishing out the
year with 98% or above in every single subject without me ever having to crack
open your folder. Independent to your core, YOU did this, and I’m always so in
awe of you.
You are such a good friend and such a good kid, respectful, sweet, funny, and loyal to those that you love to have around you. Your year has orbited around soccer as it has for the last several years. Beadling is so engrained into your being and you love everything about it. The structure, the comradery, the learning, and the confidence it gives you. You traveled to Erie, Canton, and Lancaster and we made some of the best memories from our trips there together. You just found out you made the team again after a pretty rigorous try out period and I’m so proud of you for it. The feedback they provide you is consistently in regard to the hard worker you are, which is really reminiscent to your personality in general.
Your birthday
this year falls on the last day of school, sending you off into summer and all
of the amazing things ahead. We’re heading to Italy and Finland as a family and
your countdown calendar has been going strong. You said your favorite thing to
do is to travel as a family—turning into a mini version of me, slowly but
surely.
You’re still drumming away in your lessons every week and
belting out music with your dad. You went to your first few concerts this year—Green
Day and Imagine Dragons—and had the most incredible time at both.
You and August are probably closer than you have ever been,
tossing around footballs in the yard or playing video games against each other.
Being just a grade apart is a gift I didn’t realize I gave you until hindsight put
it into perspective. You both played on the same flag football team this year
and won the championship which I know will be something you remember forever.
You learned to ski over the winter and fell in love with it,
picking it up in under an hour and zooming down trails for the remainder of the
days. I can’t wait to go with you every year.
You went through 6 months of expanders and retainers over
the year, perfecting your smile and leaving room for all of your adult teeth to
come in. Another tangible sign of all the ways you’re growing up.
Your tonsils came out last July and it was the best thing we
could have done for you. We spent 10 solid days sleeping together in my bed
post surgery, waking around the clock with ibuprofen and Tylenol doses. All
well worth it to hear you sleep so peacefully ever since.
We recently got a puppy and he might just be your dog at the
end of the day. He is so rough and tumble with you, loving to be chased, or
even more, to chase you. Watching him sprint into your arms when you come
down the steps every morning or when you walk in the door from school is
exactly what I envisioned when we were mulling the dog decision over, and I’m
just so happy you get to grow up with him by your side.
You still love pizza the very most and your palette has done
little to expand itself. Eating like a teenager and always in the pantry,
keeping that 85th percentile in height going strong. We have three
cookie cakes lined up for your birthday—consistently your very favorite
dessert.
We’re not into teenage years yet and you’re still up at 6,
deep into video games by the time the rest of us pull ourselves out of bed. At bedtime
we’ve been trying to read as many Newberry award winner books as possible but you
always fall asleep just a few pages in.
Your friend birthday party this year will be at a sports
facility playing pickup games of every variety with a group of friends that
love you. You’re so incredibly excited to celebrate.
Happy birthday to my beautiful baby boy. Over the years, memories soften and some slowly fade, but I will never ever forget every moment of the day you were born. What a dream come true you were and have been every day since. The easiest to be proud of, the most naturally brilliant and beautiful boy. I’d give you the world if I could, but I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t even want it. Always happiest with just the little things and your family around you to love. I hope you have the most amazing 11th birthday. I love you forever.
Love,
Mama
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