Matthew turned 13th this past week! He is an official teenager. I can’t believe it. He is also a wonderful, caring, kind, smart, fun, talented young man.
I have thought a lot about Matthew this week. It really is true how fast the time goes by. The saying, “The days are long but the years or short” comes to my mind a lot. The memories of having him at the hospital and becoming parents for the first time, holding him for the first time, bringing him home. Thousands of little memories from playtime, bath time, snuggle time, all his firsts. His little running waddle, and cute laugh. There are lots of things about him that have changed as he has grown up but lots of things that are still the same. He has been sweet and loving from day one. He has a tender heart and treats people kindly. I have learned a lot from being Matthew’s mom. I am so grateful Heavenly Father trusted me with him. I hope I can be the mom he deserves. I have told Matthew a few times that I think he has an ‘old soul’. Aside from the fact that he likes peppermint and werthers candy and wears his pajamas tucked in with his slippers and housecoat like your typical grandpa, his ability to reason, and ponder, and internalize concepts and ideas is beyond his years. Sometimes beyond my years. The gospel makes sense to him and Ryan says, “Wrests easily on his shoulders.” I hope that continues to grow and develop and be true as he does. You are a good person Matthew. I am proud of you!
Usually about a month or so before his birthday Matthew brings me a list of what he wants to do, who he wants to invite, and what he wants for his birthday. He has it all planned out. This year he didn’t do that and when I asked he kept saying he didn’t have anything he could think of that he wanted. He did know exactly what he wanted to eat though. We had shrimp at home the day before and the day of his birthday we went to his favorite Mexican restaurant- K-machos, followed by a chocolate chip cookie cake. His appetite is definitely getting closer to a teenagers. It has almost doubled lately. He is very hopeful that means his growth spurt is going to start soon.
He did ask if he could have the home phone be HIS phone. Ryan and I decided to let him try it out. I told him I was going to write up a phone contract for him to sign. He also got a throwing net for baseball and a Royals sweatshirt. We watched him play in his last football game of the season before heading to dinner. I think he had a good day.
Just found out he can have his own phone. 
I filled his room with over 150 balloons. 
The last football game of the season was on his birthday. He is excited that this will be the last time he has to wear jeans for game days.