Noah - my birthday boy

So many of my "joyful posts" concern Noah because in reality, he is one of the biggest sources of joy in my life.  Since today is his birthday, it only seemed fitting to dedicate my post to all things Noah!

Noah's been surprising us since birth, as minutes before he joined this world we thought he'd be a Hannah Grace.  We'd tried for several years to get pregnant and were overjoyed in 1999 when we learned the news.  Since the pregnancy was a healthy one, we only had one ultrasound and although the baby was shy that day for photos, the tech was fairly certain we would have a girl.  A pink room, dozens of frilly dresses, and 9 months later, we were shocked in the delivery room when the doctor yelled, "It's a boy!"

Austin used to pick on him by telling the "story of how he got his name," which isn't true but funny so I'll share.  He told him that when the the doctor said, "it's a boy" that Tim shouted, "No!" and I yelled, "Ahhh!" and so we put it together to spell "NOAH".  In all honesty, we did have Noah Heath as a choice early in our pregnancy....we just never imagined we'd use it!

For whatever reason, this 11th birthday has been hard on me.  His looks are changing so much and he's growing so fast, I know my "baby" is no more.  Last night, I weepily read through his baby book, reliving all those little moments of his first seven years.  I know that Noah has always been quick-witted and has kept us rolling in laughter from the start but I'm glad I actually captured several funny stories in his book.

In one, I was recording his tonsillectomy, which he had when he was six.  I wrote that he'd been telling anyone he saw about the upcoming drama, followed by an "it sucks!"  On the way to the hospital, I noticed him huffing in the backseat and with a pout he said, "I don't know why I have to go to the hospital.  I like my tonsils just the way they are!"

I don't know why I recorded so much concerning doctor visits but at one of his first dentist visits, he asked Noah to open his mouth and he replied, "I will if you give me $3 dollars."  Around 5 or 6, his Aunt Raven got her belly button pierced and he refused to hug her because "I'm afraid I'll catch it!"  And at 7, he asked me, "who said eyelash wishes come true?"  I asked why and he replied, "Cuz, I've had a lot of eyelashes fall and I've been making wishes ALL my life and NONE of them have come true!"

This morning, all these years later, he's still making us laugh.  I turned on the radio while we were getting ready, knowing my mom had called the local radio station to announce his birthday.  Around 7 a.m. they started going through the names and ages when the DJ said, "Noah Blair turns 11 today."  He gasped, mouth wide open, and said, "That's awesome!"  I figured he just enjoyed hearing his name but later he said, "I can't believe they said my name on the radio.  I mean only famous people get their names on the radio.  And some country singer even sang Happy Birthday to us!  I bet I was the only non-famous person they listed.  I'm just a kid from Beaver Dam. How cool!"  I never corrected him, just added that he wasn't just a kid from BD, he was an AWESOME kid and deserved the best birthday ever!

Then, as we were touching up his hair, which has been recently straightened but still needs a swipe with the flat iron now and again.  He loves his hair but isn't a fan of standing still while I clamp a hot piece of metal inches from his ears and face.  Cringing through the process, he sighed in relief upon my last strand.  He then said very dramatically, "I hope my girlfriend knows all that I go through to look good for her!"  It was a good thing we were in the bathroom because I just about peed my pants!

Eleven years ago, when that surprise baby boy was placed in my arms, I fell instantly in love with him.  As he looked up to me with those beautiful ocean eyes, framed in a head full of black hair, never would I imagine the life he's given us.  Each day is a surprise with him, and filled with more joy and laughter than I could ever hope for!  He's such a blessed gift from God and I'm ever-grateful he was sent to us. 

Maybe "eyelash wishes" don't come true but I hope that when he blows his birthday candles out tonight, he gets everything he wishes for...and more!!