(Yes, I have labeled all my babies...I think I have admitted this before.)
But you were awful that first day in the hospital. I was scared...scared about my ability to handle three children. I called my mom home from a distant work venue, crying. "I know I said I didn't need help but I changed my mind!" I remember I was down a hall at the very end by myself. The hospital was understaffed. I had to ask for diapers several time. I walked up and down those halls about 12 hours after giving birth, because you were so unsettled. No one checked on me. I think they forgot we were down there? It actually would have nice if it hadn't been so extreme. By the time I left (couldn't be fast enough) and my mom was at my home, you had morphed into 'good' baby. You made me look like a fool...I didn't mind.
Here's why you were good:
You never cried except that first night. Really, NEVER.
You slept. Imagine that? I had a baby who SLEPT!
I could lay you down in your swing, your crib, your bouncy seat, your car seat...and you would fall asleep. No music, no fans, no bouncing forever, no walking up and down streets, no rattling brain on my part, or stressful family moments for everyone.
You had double, triple doses of "good baby scent". It's weird but it's true. You just smelled SO strongly like a baby and I loved it.
1. You once almost ate a worm. It was going from little fingers straight to mouth when I screamed and you dropped it. I have a feeling there were some other times I might not have caught? You once pooped out a small one-dot Lego in your diaper. Part of being #3.
2. You were a master escape artist. You learned to take a broom stick and pop my hook and eye locks I had on every door. (Paybacks for the easy-baby stage...for sure.)
3. You have always been very confident in your decisions. Once, after preschool was finished, you told me you weren't going to Pre-K the next year. I believed you. I didn't sign you up, because I knew there was no making you and what for? Halfway through the year I broached the topic again. You said, "OK." And you went, and liked it. It's refreshing trait, this self-awareness.
4. Your teacher's always tell me that you are an asset to their class...they couldn't ask for a better leader. I have to admit the first time I heard this I was surprised...you are the third in line here...and I've often seen your quiet personality overpowered by your two older siblings. But no, I was assured, a leader and a great example to all. I am so proud of you. I know you are kind and so smart and have really good friends.
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I love you. We ALL do. Thank you so much for being who you are.
Happy 11th Birthday Mattie!
awesome.
ReplyDeletewhat a sweet post; and what a handsome boy. Happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteThat was so loving and sweet it brought tears to my eyes. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHow sweet! He sounds a lot like my 3rd, who was also a "good" baby in a lot of the same ways. Only one time I caught him happily chewing on .... a roach. A small one, but still - nasty!
ReplyDeleteoh my goodness- i actually cried reading that....thankyou....
ReplyDeletei think it's a combination of the fact that your Matty reminds me enormously of our Solly....i couldn't love him anymore...& secretly he's my 'good' child....& he's squat in the middle of his 2 sisters...and that my littlest is turning 5 in 'two more sleeps'...things like this do it to us mothers dont they...
happy birthday matty...
melissa :)
sweet sweet boy.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny but my #3 (who is just one year old) is exhibiting many of matthew's qualities already (good baby, calculating mind who can figure out how to get into anything, asserting herself only when she's alone or really needs to)...glad to see that a kid with these qualities can grow up and be so awesome!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Matthew!!!
What a sweet mom you are! Happy Birthday to an amazing kid!
ReplyDeleteLooks like being a middle child turns out pretty good! Happy Birthday :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a loving tribute to the boy! Happy birthday Matthew!
ReplyDelete"Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful boy"....(John Lennon)
ReplyDeleteAwww :) Sweet reflections Sarah :) Happy Day to your Matthew :) Wow! 11 years....don't they go by in a blink :(
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post! :)
ReplyDeleteSarah that was beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet letter to your son. Happy 11th birthday to him!
ReplyDelete*I love that you didn't send him off to pre-k when he didn't want to go. I did the same for my Cate and by January she was ready to go. Now she loves it.
Really enjoyed this post...not something a person trying to decide if she is ready to have kids should read!! haha!
ReplyDeleteI just posted about my middle child's 4th birthday today! Your good baby is a ray of light......that sly smile.......what a joy.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely tribute. Happy Birthday.
ReplyDeleteWonderful post. Reminds me that I need to remember and write down all of the things my little man is doing now at 8 months so that I can tell him when he is older. Love your pictures! I need to be better at that aspect of remembering too. My little man is not a "good baby" but, he has an amazing personality and an enormous smile!
ReplyDeleteWhat a cutie! I love the lego-pooping story best...;-)
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to Matthew!
Great story, great pictures, great kid! Thanks.
ReplyDeletewhat a handsome young man. wow.
ReplyDeletei of course cried while reading this. :) relating to it with so many traits of my sons. i think 3rd babies are easy. they have to be. and i had a third baby escape artist too!
My son is turning 11 on Sat. Can't believe it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet post. Happy Birthday to Matthew!
Happy Birthday! Love to see the pics of them smaller - so sweet! If we have a 3rd baby, I can only wish that they will be so sweet as an infant;)
ReplyDeleteI read your blog every day and find you to be such an inspirational mother, thank you!
ReplyDeleteSince I'm expecting baby #3, I can only hope he turns out to be an easy baby like your Matthew. And have you considered arranged marriages?? Just kidding. I have an adorable 7 year old girl that I'd love to marry off to Matthew in about 16 years. ;)
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your Matthew. What a great tribute to a great boy.
ReplyDeleteSweet post! Happy GIVING BIRTHday to you. :)
ReplyDeleteWow. What a beautiful post. I love to read about how other moms "know" their children. It inspires me and gives me hope that someday I will know and understand what makes mine tick (currently 21 months old). Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYou've done it again, made me cry. Such a sweet and loving post that only a mother could write.
ReplyDeleteSO sweet!
ReplyDeleteso sweet! you are inspiring me to write down these things now as we go...it's impossible to remember them later. i am making your spinach lasagna tonight, can't wait!
ReplyDeletelove this post... :)
ReplyDeleteAwww, happy birthday Matthew! Such a sweet kid. I love that picture of him with Isaac and Abby when he was a wee babe. Abby's laughing smile is just too precious! Ok, really, the three of them in that picture are just too precious, but you already knew that. And I totally understand what you said about those pictures from your "bad camera" days...they really do have such sweet memories attached to them!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Matthew! I love that shot of him on the scooter in the rain! (2nd to last)
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to Matthew! What a fabulous tribute to him. =)
ReplyDeleteWhat a handsome boy and a loving Mom.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Matthew!!!!
That was really, really sweet.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to him!
-FringeGirl
I am a new reader to your blog and am just loving it. Happy Birthday to your handsome boy! Emma
ReplyDeleteLove this post, I'm in tears, but happy tears such precious years.
ReplyDeleteok.. much like Carol above... I am very misty eyed! Such a sweet sweet post to your little man! You are a wonderful mommy and have raised a fine young man! and siblings for sure!! =) My little man turns 8 soon ~ and my little girl 10 shortly thereafter ~ too fast! lovely sweet post!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely birthday tribute. They will treasure these thoughts forever, I know I would reread it if my parents had written it for my eleventh.
ReplyDeleteGood Mom Award!
Dana
What a sweet post. I hope Matthew had a wonderful birthday...sorry I am a little late, just getting caught up on blog reading!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday!