Happy Birthday to Son #2!

There are so many birthdays in January and February in this family!  The latest was yesterday, when our second-born son turned 36. 

36?!  I would like to know how this is even possible! Because to repeat myself here at the blog for the umpteenth time, yesterday is about when it seems like he was born!  Just the other day, he looked like THIS (he is the one who probably resembles me the most, as you can see from this side-by-side comparison picture, which I've shared a number of times here at the blog already).

And now he's a married father of four adorable young boys to whom I am not "Grammy," but "Ree Ree" (their own unique derivative of my grandmother title that I kind of hope they never decide to stop using).

My husband and I are so happy that our move south to VA means that we now live close enough to son #2 (and three of his brothers) to drive over on a weeknight to have a celebratory birthday dinner with him at his house, like we did last night.  We sang Happy Birthday, along with his boys, and then enjoyed the cake I'd made to his oldest son Junior's specifications.  (For some reason, Junior knew that the ideal cake for his dad would be a rainbow cake--and when he saw how it had turned out, he pronounced it "perfect!")

Son #2's wife Ginger and I talk often these days about our similar experiences as boy moms.  She gets a lot of the same kind of "Poor you!" comments I used to get from people who didn't understand the inexplicably awesome enterprise of raising all male children.  She once said to me, "I feel sorry for people who feel sorry for people who have all boys!"  Well said, in my opinion.  My boys always were, and still are, such a joy to me.  And this husband of hers has always been an extremely special boy (I'm not just saying that because I'm his mom!).

Our second-born has always that "it factor," that thing that drew others to him, even when he was a little guy. He's the best storyteller ever, and he can take the most mundane event and turn it into a crowd-pleaser.  He makes us laugh, and there's almost nothing more satisfying than amusing him enough to hear his deep, booming belly-laugh. My husband and I love to watch him roughhousing, joking, and playing with his boys, who clearly adore him.  He has a serious side, too; ever since he was very young, he's had an ability to sense emotional undercurrents and inherently know when someone is sad or upset.  (He even reads into my texts sometimes, when I think they seem pretty normal, and gets in touch to find out if something is bothering me, because he doesn't think I sound like myself.  I won't say how often he's right!)  Because of this, he is often the one his brothers contact when they just need to vent about something; he's understanding, gives great advice, and just has really broad shoulders to lean on.  I could go on about how brilliant he is--a former high school math teacher, now a data scientist--but I don't want him to get a big head.  (Ha ha!)

I can't imagine my life or our family without this guy in it, and I hope he knows just how much he is loved  He likes to joke that he's my favorite child, even though he knows that I don't have favorites.  (You do know that, right, son?)  But on their birthdays, my boys get to be the favorite for a day; so yesterday, son #2, you had the top spot!  

Happy Birthday, and here's to many, many more!