Joey Turns 11 and Random Thoughts About My Middle Son!

This month Joey turned 11! I can remember when he was two, climbing up on the counter to get an “ashew” (apples. He still loves his apples and all fruit for that matter…) and how he used to push a chair up against the door when he was two so he could climb on it and open the door.

He loved to be upside down and tumbled all over the place. So I put him in gymnastics at 18 months. Joey was a natural!

He was also an easy going baby and toddler. Whenever something spilled or he did something wrong, I said, “That’s okay!” He adopted that mantra as well, totally opposite of his older brother who tended to be more controlling over every little thing. I’m not sure when Joey lost his easy going attitude. Maybe it was one too many conflict with his older brother.

When Joey was first born, his older brother doted on him. They were best friends. I’m not sure when the switch happened. Maybe it’s because Chris liked to play with action figures and Joey never even picked one up as a toddler. He preferred to build things like marble towers, and train track and later K’Nex rollercoasters. The brothers are just too complete opposites. I’m still praying that one day they’ll be best friends again.

Joey is the one I never thought would be cast in several plays. He doesn’t have his brother’s gift of singing, but the directors saw past that and cast him in several shows. When Joey was Chip in Beauty and the Beast, he was the only little kid in the cast and the director would often remark at how great he was at taking stage directions. The director said he’s work with Joey anytime!

One thing I learned while homeschooling Joey is how smart he really is. I thought my oldest was smart, but Joey’s mind never quits working. He gets things so quickly and on the standardized tests in 4th grade, his grade average in various subjects ranged from a 6th grader to a 9th grader. Needless to say I’m proud, but his constant chattering and explaining drives me batty.

Joey has a heart after God, and it’s evident by the fact he started to read the bible through on his own last year (but I discouraged him from reading the Old Testament when he got to the part about Lot and the angels!) He’s the only one of my kids that truly gave something up for lent (second servings at meals) and his Sunday School teacher said Joey should probably be teaching the class.

I can’t believe my toe-head baby is growing up. I wish I had the time to post more photos!

He’s the one I really need to focus on. He’s the one that’s often over looked. He’s the one whose smile brightens my day and still isn’t too old for snuggles!

Happy Birthday Joey!