My boy is turning 18 today…and it’s hard for me to believe.

Hard to believe that 18 years ago today, he came into our world with such an entrance! I remember standing by his little bassinet at the hospital for the first 24 hours waiting to find out if he was going to be able to breathe on his own or not. They begged me to sit down because my legs were so swollen, but I didn’t want to leave his side. His father would talk to him and he’d turn his head to his voice, obviously recognizing the voice that had spoken to my tummy for so many months.

And we cried when they took him by ambulance to another hospital and told us we weren’t allowed to go with him; that we’d have to wait for three long hours until we could come see him. And we waited. And we cried when we were finally able to see him again.

And we waited for three LONG days until we were finally able to hold him.

I remember bringing him home from the hospital and putting his bassinet next to my side of the bed…and listening to make sure he was breathing. I was the goofy parent who would put her pinky up under his nose to make sure I could feel his breath.

Art and I still laugh over putting his crib together. A cousin had given it to us and it didn’t come with instructions. When we finally moved him to the crib, he looks so tiny. He’d sleep on his tummy with his head turned to the side and his little bottom up in the air. One night, the we heard a crash come from his room. We rushed over to find the mattress had fallen down to the carpet! And there was Nathan still sound asleep on his tummy…not even a bit phased, while his parents were about to throw the crib away!

The Talented One was the best baby out of all of them. He didn’t cry much, was always happy. You could put him anywhere and he’d smile and play with his toys…and if he had none around, he’d play with his fingers. He was happy, happy.

Until he turned three. That boy could thrown tantrums like none other! Whew! But we survived!

He’s also, a clone of his father.

Can you tell who is who?

He is also so smart! When he was four, he was stubborn and had no interest in learning how to read. I knew how smart he was, but he was more stubborn. So, one day, I started reading a book to him that was all about snakes and spiders and stuff. He loved it. He asked me,

“So, you mean if I learn to read, I can read about this stuff?”

A week later, the boy was reading! (He also used to have a fascination for reading dictionaries, but he outgrew that! ha ha)

And then there is his music. We realized just how talented he was when he could hear something, and then go play it. I’ll never forget watching the Phantom of the Opera and the next morning, Nathan was playing the music! It was amazing how he could hear something, and then play it. And he’d work at it and work at it until he perfected it. (That’s where the good stubbornness comes in!)

For me, Hume holds a special place in my heart. It was the last camp he went to. He’s never like being away from home for too long, and he certainly doesn’t like to be away from a piano. There was a gorgeous piano at Hume and he wasn’t allowed to play. I knew it was driving him mad, but he exercised so much patience. Finally, he got up enough courage to ask the keyboardist of the worship team if he could play her keyboard for a bit. And she let him. She had him come in when everyone was gone and sat there while he played. What an encouragement.

But I knew it wasn’t enough. I had made up my mind that I would help him play a piano, even before he came and asked me for help. So, we found someone who led us to someone else who was kind and impressed with his persistence. She led us into a room with a piano and gave us 45 minutes. The catch? I had to stay in the room with him.

And so this song is what I will always hold close to my heart.

My heart hurt when certain people put him down and tried to tell him he had no talent. They obviously could not see his heart, or his passion for his music.

And I was never prouder than sitting in the room with my oldest son and the professor while he listened to him play….and then said he was impressed…and that he was in.

This fall, my boy will start a whole new adventure in his life. He’ll be attending university and studying music. He’ll get to learn under some talented staff and play his music.

I’m so proud of what he’s become. He’s an amazing son, a wonderful brother, and a terrific cousin. I’ll never forget those special moments: Dance Revolution in 8th grade, the shopping cart move, his love of all things reptile, and the special notes he’s given over the years.

Wow…eighteen years. Where does the time go?

Happy Birthday, Son. We love you.