8 years.

i was looking back at mad's old birthday posts (here, here and here.), and regretting not doing one for last year's (not too late). i love to look back at what seem like small changes over the year, only to see in pictures how big those changes really were. my chubby baby has grown into a bright, sensitive, and dedicated eight year old with a great sense of humor and a fierce determination.  he's amazing to watch master any new skill he tries.  he likes a clean house, a good adventure, and three square meals a day. you wouldn't know it from that sweet smile in those pictures above that we had to cancel most of his birthday activities because madden was sick with a pretty rough fever and cold that day.  he was happy with the humble celebration we threw and the promise of a trip to tepanyaki with his cousins at a later date.  a precious 8 year old boy. he makes us proud every day.