Twelve

A few weeks ago this boy turned twelve.  Its hard to believe he is almost a teenager. He has the biggest heart, most creative mind, exasperating stubbornness, perfect comedic timing, strong determination, and we couldn't imagine our lives without him. 

He had been trying to figure out what to do for his birthday but when your birthday is in July a beach party seems like a great idea. 

We met some friends at the bay for the morning and then they all went to swim practice. It happened to be a fun friday swim practice so they played games and relay races and then I brought popsicles for all the kids. 

I hope he knows how loved he is by everyone. There really is only one Joel. No one else is quite like him. I'm so curious to know what his brain thinks and how it connects everything.  Joel will be doing something  and my friends will say only Joel. We except nothing less from him.  

We've been spending a lot more alone time together lately because he is going to a new doctor/trainer twice a week.  This doctor is trying to deplete his glycogen stores so his body will absorb his insulin. This is a last effort before he goes on medication.  I have a lot to say about all we are learning but he works so hard there and I get an ear full the entire car ride there and back. I really enjoy this time with just him.

I feel like we will hear a lot more from him as a teenager than Colin. Joel already asks me how to ask a girl to be his girlfriend (don't worry he doesn't have anyone in mind that he admits to yet he just wants to be prepared) He has no regard for hygeine so I'm sure when he is ready to ask a girl to be his girlfriend he might start bathing more often. He loves to sit in the backseat middle and stretch out his arm across Norah since she is the height of his smelly armpit. 

He did his birthday belly flop and as another parent told me, "Joel's birthday belly flops never disappoint"