The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
Friday, November 13, 2015 at 10:36AM 
"The first time ever I saw your face
I thought the sun rose in your eyes
And the moon and the stars were the gifts you gave
To the dark and the endless skies, my love
To the dark and the endless skies"
Dear Liam...the first time I saw your face was fifteen minutes after you were born. Do you know that six years has gone by since that precious moment happened. Do you know that today you are officially a big boy...I know, you think you have been a big boy for a long time, but today it is official. Nana's know these kinds of things. In the last year you have done more growing, added more activities to you list of "things I love to do"..and you have made so many wonderful friends..I bet some of them will even be your friend for a life time...It's how it starts, this building of your own life. The letting go of some of the old "time spent" to make way for your new "time spent activities. You have so many to choose from.
You and I have been best friends for all of these last six years. We have done so many exciting things together, sometimes just you and I...like our tea time adventures and going in the woods with our camera's, but sometimes we've done lots of things with just you, me and Papa. Like Peabody Essex Museum, Boston on the Train and going to the Maine house. Also, these last few years we've let Jaxson come along on our adventures...like when we go on the Duck tours or to the Christmas Village to see Santa. Sometimes now we have to make a date if we want it to be just you and I because your life has gotten so busy. I don't mind that, dates are good. We plan and then we do. Like when we planned our trip to the Lego Store and our latest plan is to go to the movies after your birthday. Of course, we have to plan tea at the Tea House for your special birthday day treat. We haven't been to the tea house in such a long time..
You have taught me so many new things over these many years...how to listen to your beautiful voice when you sing to me while you play your guitar. How you can now tell bedtime stories really well because you have listened to me telling them to you for such a long time. You are now teaching me how to color inside the lines in our new Secret Garden adult coloring book. I love when we do that and you are teaching both Papa and I to play all our favorite games that we haven't played in so many years...like CandyLand, Shoots and Ladders, Go Fish and Crazy 8's. I don't really think your teaching us the right way though, because somehow you always win. It's worth the smile and laughter from you to be a loser in these situations...I'm hoping as you grow bigger and bigger you will teach me more things along the way, when you have time...
Do you know that we have been so lucky to have all this time together. That for six years you have filled a space in my heart that I knew needed filling but I wasn't quite sure how it was going to happen, then there you were, that one night, six years ago in November. You came and you fit perfectly in the my empty space in my heart and it's been full of you and your love for all these years. You were born on Friday the 13th. Some say that Friday the 13th is a bad luck day. I don't believe that's true because that's when you choose to come to us and we have been the luckies Grandparents ever. I didn't know you knew how to fill empty spaces but you really are the best at it. I think now though, you are helping Jaxson to take on some of your responsibilities of how to love a Nana and Papa...Your a very good teacher and brother.
So Liam, this is more of a thank you birthday note rather than a Happy Birthday note. That will come later when you come over for pizza and presents. Thank you for the gift of you...for your love and attention. For the laughter and tears. More laughter than tears, I must say. For the warm snuggles and sharing of fuzzies when you come for sleep overs...for Kayak rides and wandering in the woods with our camera's. For loving the adventures of seeing the world together, you and I...and for never being bored. For tea times and rocking times. For story times and game times. Mostly for the silly times and selfie funny faces that we don't share much because we both look so silly. For song and dance and horses and dogs. Thank you for it all. I think it will be ok. to share a few of our favorite things from the last six years...you know, my peeps have watched you grow and have learned to love you also...so they would kind of expect us to toss a few photo's in on this most special day...I know you won't mind this year but pretty soon you might...so I better do it while I can...so just a few of so many that I have...of me and you.
I love you, yes I do, my little boy with the eyes of blue...I love you every day when you come to my house and play...the song you and Jaxson most love, that I made up for you and we sing it every single nap day.
My little dress up guy...Nothing more fun than to have a closet full of dress up clothes...why did I always have to be the bad guy though???
Story time with Papa...you loved the light from the den door. Your corner of your world.
Never mind "where's your coffee...where's your shoes"
Lots of time spent at the library...both here and in Maine. I'm so happy you love real books...
One of our most favorite times together...tea at the Wenham Tea House. Always special, always good conversations...I think really, I would have to pick this as my most special times with you...
Our shooting outings...Bradley Palmer State Park is one of our favorites...we have been know to get lost in there for hours...then lunch at the Agawan diner...yum.
Now after school you play soccer, baseball and tag football. Your best friend, Parker is on a different team than you, but you both have so much fun.
And now we bring Jaxson...you are such a great big brother...
And always, good times at the Maine house...always and forever...
So Liam, as you change each year, growing taller and getting bigger and your circle of friends expands beyond me and Papa...know that you are loved to the "moon and back again"..to the "deepest part of the ocean" and the to the "highest star in the sky."..that will never change...because when you were born, so was a Nana and a Papa...and really, Sweet boy...you can never get rid of us...but more importantly, so that you will understand, how did I know that this year, in particular, you are truly a big boy....well this happened:
Yup, that big yellow school bus came...and took you away. You know, before you were born, Nana was a school bus driver...and it was my job...to stop at all the big boy houses and take those little guys to school. Once you ride on the big yellow bus you become special again to so many other people...your teachers, your new friends and even the bus driver....enjoy your days Liam...being a big boy is just the best thing...but don't forget every once in awhile to stop over and take Nana to tea...now that, you never have to give up.
Happy Birthday Lil Man...
Reader Comments (10)
My heart is swollen from the love I feel after reading this! You are simply the BEST Nana...ever. Liam and Jaxson are so blessed to have you and Jim, grandparents in their lives. You show them so much love, and plan such special times to be together...building memories!! Wishing Liam a very Happy "Big Boy" Birthday!!
Thank you so much for your kind and loving words Beverly. It has been hard to let this one go, but go he will. It is the way of the universe. He is happy and full of fun. Such a delight. And I have about a million photos of him to look at on those days that I'm really missing him. Have a most beautiful weekend dear Girlfriend. Xo
Cheryl what a beautiful post! Not only do you have wonderful memories you are creating wonderful memories for them as well as a special bond!
Thank you Liz...I am so fortunate to live so close to them..just can't believe how fast they are growing...I'm taking advantge of every minute with them because, honestly, they are the most fun.
Oh, Cheryl.....this is so sweet! Very much enjoyed this, such beautiful memories and images. Have a beautiful Sunday.
Cheryl, First off, I have to tell you that you picture of you with little Liam melted my heart. If you haven't done so already, print this picture and put it in a frame where you can see it and be reminded of this precious relationship.I loved reading this love letter from you to your grandson, in honor of his birthday. Best gift you could ever give him! The relationship you describe with this little man is much like the one I shared with each of my sons. My boys are 10 years apart (we were told we couldn't have more children and then got a wonderful surprise!), so each one felt like an "only." And we did many of the same activities you describe - and best of all, that love is the foundation that allows those boys to become men worth knowing, men who bring goodness to the world, and men who love with all their hearts. Well done, my friend!
Karin thank you for your visit. Best six years ever. I know I've said it a million times, time passes quickly. So be sure to enjoy every moment.
Oh, Dearest Cheryl . . .
Of all your works, I honestly believe your portraiture is your forte . . .
Think of all the little books you could write, just with your precious grandsons!
Never tire of the love that oozes out of your blogs which include your boys, especially Grandpa Jim!
I'll never forget the lovely dinner we had together down at Cape Porpoise!
Hope to do that again some day.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed you will be able to get to the Christmas festivities and share them with us!
Happy Holidays to all . . .
Oh Donna, you are such an inspiring friend..you always see the positive and deliver your comments in such a constructive way.. I don't have that first photo framed...but because of you, I will now do it...I think sometimes we take so many photo's we forget to print a few thinking we will always have them...you comment about your boys feeling like the "only"...we also had that...My kids were 7 years apart and Chris started first grade the year Jenna was born...those second babies were such gifts...and I liked the "only's" Blogging connects us all in such unique ways...it has been such a treasure getting to know you...keep coming back...
Dear Antoinette, thank you so much for your visit and lovely, lovely comment. Let me just say that yes, we will get to Cape Porpoise again for dinner...that's an easy one...perhaps lunch and an afternoon strool on Goose Rocks...
I do love photographing the boys but honestly Liam is getting a bit tired of it I think...Jaxson is always an automatic "cheese"...Liam's first day at school was a difficult one for me...the time moved to quickly and I could see so much growth over the summer with him. We see him less and have to make dates...so the letter here will go into a book that I am making for both boys of my blog post of them...It won't be a fancy book but it will be bound with the words and photo's that I share here. Someday I know he will love reading about how special and loved he was...by his Nana...thank you for always leaving the most heartfelt comments.