Max Turns 7!

Last night, just before bed, we all took turns giving Max the last hug we'd be able to give him as a six-year-old. I had to go back for seconds and then thirds. Luckily six (nearly seven) is still young enough that he let me hug him again and again and then beg him to not turn seven as to not get so old that he would no longer be 'my boy.' Maybe it's the result of our just finishing reading Peter Pan but I wanted to sneak into his bed and keep on hugging him in order to keep him from turning seven in the morning.



Of course, I think Max is just a great boy all around. I love how he is growing into such a clever, thoughtful, and sweet boy. But I really love how he has always had an extraordinary enthusiasm about life, friends, learning and just generally having fun. I can't think of Max ever being in a "bad mood" or having a "down day." Certainly he can get upset over something, but he is rarely ever moody or mopey. In fact, we have the opposite problem in that we sometimes have to work to control the overabundance of what we call, the sillies. But mostly I hope that he never loses that quality the makes him approach the world around him as a place of unending fun. He has a gift for making others laugh and enjoy it too. One of Max's most amazing talents is the ability to make friends and really get along with just about everyone he meets. He has friends of almost every personality--discriminating he is not and shy he is not. He wholly and truly loves to play with everyone.



One of the other best parts of Max is his laugh, his true laugh. It's like a rolling giggle and cackle combined. I wish I could post a recording of it because it's wonderful and it's infectious. You can't help but feel happy yourself when you hear it.

We love you Max. Tonight, as we do every birthday, we'll tell you the story of the day you were born. Of how it snowed in Berkeley that day (just as it is now as I look out the window while writing this) and of how your dad had to ride his bike in the bad weather to and from the hospital. But mostly of how we were so happy to have you come to our family and of how we loved every single inch of you more than we could have possibly imagined....and we still do.