Alexander is 7!

His birthday was February 9th and I'm finally getting around to writing...

I can't believe my boy is seven already! He's getting so tall and thin, and all his teeth are falling out and growing in crooked. Pretty picture I paint, ain't it?

Here's a portrait of our boy at seven:

He still has his lovely musical laugh, which we get to hear when we play chasing or tickling games or if we make pee, poop, or fart jokes. He has started to reject many of our jokes, even getting really mad if he thinks we're poking fun at him. Admittedly, sometimes we are. Lovingly, of course.

Alexander has always liked to follow the rules. He likes everything to be the way it's supposed to be. Drawers closed. Everything in order. So, I've thought, "Alexander is like me." But now that he's in school, I'm realizing that he's not like me in all sorts of other ways. I loved school. Just loved it. And I worked really hard to make all of my work perfect. We're realizing that with school, Alexander is a whole lot more like Michiel.

He's really proud of his math skills, but reading has been more of a struggle. Struggle for us, not him. You see, our boy is not a performer. (Like Michiel.) He doesn't like to do things in front of other people until he's sure he can do it just right. (Like me.) So, we don't actually know how well he reads because he will do anything to get out of reading time with us. Now, being read to is another story. That he can do until my voice croaks.

He has high standards for himself in things he thinks are important. Obviously, not cleaning his room or brushing his teeth. But he keeps saying he's not a very good lego-builder, that he's not very creative. it hurts my heart to hear his say that when I know that he's an amazing builder. Not only does he look up building instructions online and then modify for the pieces he's missing, but he also comes up with his own amazing designs.

Finally, I realized that when he says he's not a very good builder, he's comparing himself to the master builders he's seen profiled in his lego books or the builders who go to expos and show off their 4ft tall praying mantises. Well, yeah. He's not that good.

Not yet.

We wish he'd do more things for others of his own free will. He can get kind of wrapped up in himself. But then he'll bust out with a profusion of kindness, helping me pick up the living room without being asked, noticing that Mieke needs attention and giving it to her.

He does love his youngest sister. Unfortunately, right now he often wants to hold her or grab her when she wants to walk. Tears ensue. On both sides.

At the beginning of the school year, we began giving Alexander an allowance. He's very serious about it and likes to plan what he's going to buy when he saves up enough. It's always something lego-related. I thought he might go crazy and buy lots of gum or other things we don't let him have regularly, but all he does is save up for his next lego set.

Alexander has become a great eater, trying new things and loving them. He likes to play games and has learned to have fun even when he doesn't win. He thrives best when he gets enough quality time with us.

Oh, and did you see that cake? Am I the best mom or what?