8:53 AM

For Nate, my first:

Seven years ago at this exact time you were born.

Your favourite number is still 7, so this is a lucky year for you. Your favourite colour is still blue.

At age 7 you are still the life of the party. You love to jump and bounce about and you still chat a person’s ear off. The neighbours all know you well.

You have been gifted by the tooth fairy so many times this year. You lost them like you got them, in a hurry. A few weeks ago I heard you crying in the bathroom and went to check on you. You were worried you’d lose all your teeth because they all seemed to be falling out at once. You’ve got another wiggly tooth as I type this. Don’t despair little one – your brother is quite jealous and wishes he had your problems right now and you probably have at least a few school chums who feel the same way.

You are the first person turning 7 in your class this year – such is the luck sometimes with February birthdays. This year you have met people who “aren’t a friend” because you were met with unkindness. You dealt with it as anyone should  – you stood up for yourself and that made me feel good that you know how to do that.

You still love maps and calculators. Speaking of the latter, Santa brought you a new calculator this year because you wore out the one from last year – and speaking of Santa – I’m pretty sure that you KNOW because you have made some good arguments about Mommy being Santa and I can tell this idea isn’t upsetting to you. For now, I want to see how good my skills are at still being Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, et al, so I keep trying to “outsmart” you (not much longer I suspect). The main thing to remember is that when you stop believing, they stop coming to visit – all of them go away – so keep on believing and they will keep coming to visit as long as they possibly can.

You remain generous with physical affection and aren’t embarrassed in the least if we hug or kiss in public so I know it will be no trouble at all when I sign off thusly:

This is just a little bit about you at seven. I hope you have the happiest of happy birthdays today, Nate-one.

All my love,
Mommy
xoxo