Happy birthday Noah Jackson!
It’s hard to believe it’s been three years. It seems like just yesterday we held you in our arms, sleeping peacefully after the tough work of being born.
Precious and peaceful, screaming and shouting, laughing and dancing, running and jumping, talking and singing, hugging and cuddling, joyful and tragic, we love you so dearly, our little big man!
I hope your day is magical and amazing, because you certainly are.
01/15/12 5:36 AM at 05:36am
Neal
Birthdays Children Family Photos
“It’s okay momma. I read a book about this. I know those are just happy tears on your face. I’m going to have fun at kindergarten. I love you!”
08/16/11 7:28 AM at 07:28am
Neal
Children Education Family Milestones
Tears of pride and joy come easily to our eyes whenever we think about this day, your birthday. Five years ago today you were born. The image that is burned into our minds from that day is of your tiny, pink body and red red face as you angrily announced to the maternity ward that you had arrived and the world better watch out. So much, and so very little has changed since then!
On that day you were so small and frail, yet also so very very strong. And the strength of mind and body you showed in your first few minutes of life has persisted and grown. You are so very strong, so exceptionally smart, and so touchingly beautiful, my girl. Not a day goes by when we don’t pause and consciously consider how very proud we are of you and all you have achieved. And every day holds the strong promise that you will achieve even more.
Y
ou have achieved so much this year. But three things stand out. First, you have learned to swim. When we enrolled you in the local infant aquatics class you were practically afraid of the water, and unwilling to put head under. It was a struggle, but over the course of six weeks of daily lessons you learned to overcome your fears and “swim, float, swim” your way across the pool. Swimming now brings you great joy — you appear so utterly confident and happy when you are in the water — and we are proud of how much physical confidence, skill, and grace you have gained from this experience.
Second, you have learned to read. You can now read entire books (the “Bob” series has been especially fun for you), and are eager to read words on signs when you see them. As a result you started kindergarten early this year, joining the “Grizzlies” class at Sunset Daycare half way through the year. And despite joining in “late”, your teachers report that you’re doing great, keeping up, and even teaching the other kids a thing or two. It makes us so proud to know that you’ll be entering “real” kindergarten this Fall well ahead in reading and math. Go Anna go!
Third, you’ve demonstrated that you can be a fantastic big sister to your brother. It brings us such joy to see you two talking to each other and playing with each other. He loves you so very much, and looks up to you, and you return the love with a caring, tender heart.
Thank you, Anna, for being part of our family, for letting us love you, and for giving us so much love in return. Happy birthday, little big girl! We love you!
03/15/11 5:12 AM at 05:12am
Neal
Birthdays Children Family Milestones
My beautiful boy, you are two years old today!
It seemed like only yesterday that you were born. I remember holding you in my arms, touching your soft face, amazed at how perfect you were, and how happy we were to have you join our family.
How the time has flown! How you have grown! You look like an adorable little old man in your big boy clothes, stomping and running and “Daddy, big jump”-ing around the room. Fearless, and totally heedless of gravity you roll and wiggle and climb your way around and over and through any obstacle like the little monkey you are.
Your vocabulary is stunning at times (“pyramid”), and you are nearly speaking in full sentences (“Anna, I watching the balloons”, “Daddy, please read me book”). You know all your colors, and can count all the way to 12 in English and sometimes in Spanish too. Your ABCs are not far behind. Your teachers have been amazed. We constantly hear people tell us how smart you are, how polite and “present” you are, and it is a joy to see how many new things you are learning each and every day.
You bring joy into any room. No one can resist your amazing smile. You adore your big sister and your cat Max (“I go pet him. Give him huggies.”), and most days they adore you right back. You look forward to meeting your friends each day at daycare (especially little Winter, whom Anna assures you you will marry some day).
We miss our baby boy, and your momma cried the day you got your first haircut. But we also shed proud tears as we think of how much you have grown, how much you have accomplished in this last year, and how much we look forward to watching you become.
Precious and peaceful, screaming and shouting, laughing and dancing, talking and singing, hugging and cuddling, we love you so dearly, our little big man!
Thank you, Noah, for being part of our family, for letting us love you, and for giving us so much love in return. Happy birthday, little one! We love you!
01/15/11 5:22 AM at 05:22am
Neal
Birthdays Children Family Milestones
15 years ago, I met my best friend. 11 years ago I asked her to marry me, and despite all my obvious flaws she agreed. 9 years ago we stood together on a bitterly cold winter night, surrounded by family and so many dear friends, and promised each other that we would nurture, and protect, and defend, and seek to grow our friendship – always, constantly, and forever:
And let your best be for your friend.
If she must know the ebb of your tide, let her know its flood also.
For what is your friend that you should seek her with hours to kill?
Seek her always with hours to live.
For it is hers to fill your need, but not your emptiness.
And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures.
For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.
The last 9 years have been a great trial, a great challenge, but also a great joy, filled with so many moments of great sweetness. I might occasionally wish to trade away a rare dark moment. But I would not trade the very happy span of years, each unfailingly better than the last.
Thank you, Tara, for being willing to overlook my obvious flaws. Thank you for your patience, your kindness, your strength, your wit, your looks, and your laughter.
Thank you, in advance, for all the many years to come.
I love you with all my heart.
12/8/10 5:30 AM at 05:30am
Neal
Adventures Family Milestones
We can’t believe you’re four years old today!
Four long and too short years ago you were born into this world. Our firstborn, our much beloved daughter, and our favorite girl in the whole world.
This past year seems a blur, filled with so much activity. You’ve spent your time this past year learning to ride horses and having fun learning gymnastics. So much energy! Naps have become a thing of the past this past year. It wasn’t too long ago when we were worried if you’d ever learn to run and jump, and now it seems that running and jumping are all you ever want to do. Which makes us as proud as we are tired.
You’ve done a great job in preschool this past year, and we’re amazed you’re already learning to read. Soon you’ll be reading to us and your little brother whom you alternately adore and despise, in roughly proper measure.
Two casting camps and a trip to Alabama were highlights of the year as we continue to work to make your left side stronger. Thank you for putting up with all that, and with the constant reminders and exercises we make you go through each day.
Four going on fourteen, your parents frequently say. Precocious and demanding and joyous and laughing and screaming and kicking and beautiful and snuggling and saying such grown-up things.
Thank you, Anna, for being part of our family, for letting us love you, and for giving us so much love in return. Happy birthday, little one! We love you!
03/15/10 5:39 AM at 05:39am
Neal
Birthdays Children Family Milestones
One year ago today you were born, little boy, and what an amazing year it’s been!
You arrived a little early, eager to meet your momma and daddy and your big sister and your beloved Max, and to start to get to know the world. Like your sister you were strong and vital from your very first moments, and you remain so to this day — such an active, curious, rambunctious little boy.
What an amazing person you are. There is such a sense of peace and presence about you. And joy! A basic, fundamental happiness. Your smile is a weapon you wield quickly and eagerly, and to devastating effect alongside your beautiful blue eyes. Together, they melt hearts and seem to solve any hurt.
In your constant learning, you teach us new things every day. Your enthusiasm and optimism and curiosity bring us all such joy. More than anything you constantly remind us to relax and see the world through your new eyes and enjoy these first learnings once again. It is such a joy to embrace you and your sister and each other and appreciate each new moment together.
Thank you, Noah, for joining our family and for and teaching us so much. Happy birthday, dearest boy. We love you, and are so very proud.
01/15/10 6:01 AM at 06:01am
Neal
Babies Birthdays Children Family Milestones
Each year our family takes time to pause, gather round the Christmas tree, turn out all but the holiday lights, and listen, together, to this song:
So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear ones
The old and the young
A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let’s hope it’s a good one
Without any fear
- John Lennon
It is my favorite Christmas tradition, and the only one that really matters to me. To stop and take a moment and remember how blessed and fortunate and thankful we are for all the many good things in our lives: Good heath, amazing children, wonderfully loving families, supportive friends, jobs we enjoy, our comparative wealth, and the ability to share this time of peace in peace with those we love.
And to you, too, we wish health, peace, joy, and much love this holiday season!
12/24/09 5:23 AM at 05:23am
Neal
Family Friends Holidays
I just posted some photos from way back around Halloween time. Actually they come all the way up to just around Thanksgiving time. Yeah, we’re a bit slow here, but better late than never!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/enssle
We’re just catching up, and we’ve got some more recent photos and videos coming soon, so watch this space!
12/13/09 9:39 PM at 09:39pm
Neal
Children Family Holidays Photos
No time for a big update, but I did just manage to post some photos on our Flickr site. Have a look!
10/24/09 6:59 AM at 06:59am
Neal
Adventures Alabama Babies Birthdays Children Family Milestones
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Happy birthday Noah Jackson!