Happy, Happy Birthday, Baby

My baby, Daniel Handsome Lad, is 16 today. Unbelievable! Somehow, I had a much easier time as my older kids entered each new stage of their lives. But with my youngest, who trails his sister by 4.5 years, I have found each new phase both familiar and entirely new. I guess the slightly skewed view came because both he and I were traveling through territory already occupied by four others before him. He watched (and continues to watch) his older siblings intently, trying to see what to expect and how to behave. As for me, I could pretend to be jaded by now, but in truth every child is so different that going through an experience with one scarcely qualifies you to go through it with another.

Baby of the family. Aw!

Over the years, Handsome Lad has given me so many good times. He is very smart and funny. Nowadays, he seems to be focusing on the funny and using the smart to avoid all but the most passing glance at boring, boring school work. He fancies himself a man of style, an auteur. He remains commitedly hipster. He's actually pretty awesome, but also pretty frustrating. Hoping the next few months will bring some maturity that will aid him in finding his path...

Here is is from a distance, hanging out with his girlfriend.

So, here's to my baby, my Handsome Lad, the light o' my life. Happy 16th Birthday :)