Twenty-six birthdays

And this is the first one I've spent apart from him. I've missed birthday's for the other boys - when Brian was living in Illinois and when baby boy started college (and no longer lived at home) but this is the first one of Timothy's I've missed completely. I might have only seen him long enough to say happy birthday, but at least I saw him.
One of the things I was going to do once I wasn't working anymore was organize my pictures - I've had a year - don't even have a good running start but I went through a few boxes and I'm going down memory lane here a bit.

Three weeks

Eight months - he will surely love me for posting these. Takes after his mother and hates to have his picture made. A month later he was walking - everywhere!

First haircut. Yes, we went through a lot of 'binkys'

Out of three boys, he was the only one to break a bone or get stitches. He was five here. The cast didn't slow him down at all. The stitches came a few years later. Amazing - those were the only two times he injured himself badly enough to warrant a trip to the ER and trust me, he was a busy little guy - still is!

He would try most anything once - his first tomato plant - couldn't find a pic with it loaded with red 'maters but it produced a lot! (if Papa could grow 'maters, he could too)

He taught himself to ride a bike in one afternoon.

A teenager (barely - he had just turned 13) with our first doxie, Honey.

High school - he marched

he rested

he played

he concentrated

and yes, he knows what to do with all those knobs and buttons. How? I dunno - but he does!

High school graduation

College graduation

And now living on his own and working in the big city. (this picture was taken at Jason's graduation in May - I'm telling ya, he doesn't like to have his picture made - I had to hunt for this one!)
If he were here I would make him an Italian Cream Cake. I owe you one, kid.
Your parents are very proud.
Happy Birthday, Timothy!
Love,
Mom