Boy, Do I love YOu!

Today is this guy's 6th birthday.  This time of year brings many memories flooding back.  Its amazing to me how 6 years can both seem like just yesterday, and like an entirely different lifetime. Gabriel, when you were born life was so different. We were newlyweds, Daddy was in the Marine Corps, we lived in government housing.  That year we cleared 17k.  Operation Iraqi Freedom had started just weeks before.  Mommy thought Daddy was sitting in a tent safely in Kuwait (mommy was wrong, but daddy didn't bother to correct that impression until months later).  After a small, but as it turns out helpful, miscommunication, Daddy thought the life of baby Gabriel was in danger.  He's told us that after he read the letter that he misunderstood, he walked up to his superior officer and handed him his weapon, saying "I can't have this right now"...that's when events turned and phone calls were made, and 24 hours, a helicopter ride, a transport plane, an airliner, and an excruciatingly long car-ride, brought daddy home to see you before you were even 36 hours old.  He had been on the other side of the earth and he came home to hold you.  Daddy never went back to Iraq, but the war continues even today on your 6th birthday.  I have loved watching you grow up.  You have brought us so much laughter and joy.  I will always remember the way you belly-laughed when you were a small baby, the look of surprise on your face when you jumped off the stairs onto the rubber ball and fell, the first time you said "awwwww craaaaaabitz!" and when you told me you already knew how to ride a bike, and then took off down the street without anyone ever having taught you how.  I love that your favorite food is Broccoli, you're always eager to try new things, and you are kind to your sister.  I even love that sometimes you are a little bit naughty, it means you think for yourself, and someday, when you get really good at using your own ideas to make good decisions, you will be a wonderful leader.  Its wonderful to see you make friends wherever you go, study out scientific problems, and run, jump, and do all things "boy".  Yes, son, I do love you.  Happy Birthday!