Father's Day and a Birthday Party

Today is Father's Day.  Aaron couldn't ask for a better daddy.  There's a special bond between the two of them that cannot be denied.  They connect in a deep, spiritual manner that can only be observed and felt, but not described.  Someone (actually several someones) said a couple weeks ago that Aaron always seems to act up when Dad's away on a trip.  They were joking, but I'm not.  It's true.  When he's struggling, he always does better when Daddy holds him.  When he's gone, that safety net is, too.

So in honor of Father's day, here's a poster that a trisomy advocacy group, Hope for Trisomy, put together.  You'll find Aaron and Daddy just to the left of the main logo and above the heart word cloud.  It's one of my favorite pictures of them.

Yesterday was also Aaron's birthday party.  Just like his first one, he thought it was sleeping time when it started.  Unlike that first one, he's now willing to wake up and be part of things anyway.  But he wasn't quite his normal smiling self.  Kinda tired.  But that's okay, it happens.  The weather was perfect.  After several really hot days, and with the promise of more starting today, yesterday was really pleasant.  I'll just let the pictures tell the story.  You know, they say a picture is worth a thousand words, and I don't think you want to read that many words from me.  Too long.  Thank you to TJ, one of my son's friends for taking all of these.  He did a great job.

The little sleeper on the left was actually
too big one him when we brought
him home.  We had to roll up sleeves
 and his feet didn't quite reach the bottoms.

My cute nephew

Cute kid.  I think I'll keep him.

This one's kind of cute, too. 

He's not quite sure what it is, or what he's supposed to do.

A fun slideshow through the past three years.  It's about ten minutes long and brings back so many memories.  It's hard to believe he was so tiny and frail.  Still fragile, but no longer tiny, nor frail (does that make sense?).  A special thanks to my sister, Mara, who sings the first song, "Here In My Arms," Songs of Love for the second song, "Aaron's Song," and the Timberline Middle School Boys Chorus from 2009-2010 for "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother."

Here's to many more birthdays and Father's Days, little man.  May your spirit and tenacity touch all who know of you.

He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.

  ~Friedrich Nietzsche