Ten.

10 is a special one.  A big one.  And a big zero.  An entire decade and a preteen.  And my oldest guy is ten.  Wowza.  He's a decade of awesome.  I don't think I could get a better kiddo.  I mean for real the boy is Ah-mazing.
The first born.  The one who made us "Mommy and Daddy".  The first to walk around with our entire heart and our everything and now he's ten.  And he's a big brother times 3 and a fantastic one at that.  Like I don't think he could be more amazing with Nolan.  He is so incredibly sweet with him and loves on him and wow.
So Jakeb--my boy with the brown eyes and the fabulous hair that makes us jealous.  He's 10 years of creativity and 10 years of serious and 10 years of silly.  He's a thinker and a worrier and cautious and careful.  He's thoughtful and considerate and caring and helpful.  At 10 he loves to read and build bionicles.  He loves the animals and has mastered swinging (a bit late but he never knew the awesome that is flying on a swing) and loves to do it.  He loves to run and run and run some more.  He says "I like how it feels to run".  So we tell him to run.  He different and special and knows it.  He doesn't like too fast and doesn't like too high.  He's often quiet and often loud and always observing.  He's spacey and we chuckle at that because so is the rest of his family.

 Jakeb is full of so many wonderful things and my hope for him at 10 is that he always sees that and always knows that.  His sweetness and generosity and tender heart is perfect for him and perfect for us.  We need him and as much as he needs us.  He keeps us all grounded and helps us remember and stop and enjoy.  I have always said Jakeb is wise beyond his years but at the same time a little boy--and that is still so very true.  My old soul of a boy.   Happy Birthday Jakeb!  We love you more than you can imagine!