Happy 7th Birthday, Griffin!

It's true. You are SEVEN! AAAHHH!!! STOP GROWING UP SO FAST!!!

Okay, now that my rant is out of the way, let me tell you a little bit about why you are so special :)

This past year has been a whirlwind. You have grown in so many ways... there are literally times where my breath catches in my chest when I think about all the little ways you have grown up this year. All the little accomplishments. The lessons. The joy you bring to this family.

Currently you are still proving to be a fantastic reader. At the end of the year, you tested at a DRA level that put you past the end of 2nd grade. You have been reading chapter books all summer, and you are currently in the middle of a 200 page book! You enjoy reading, but you are definitely reaching a stage where it isn't your go to activity like it was before. I have enjoyed many coffee dates with you this summer at Caribou while the two of us read our own books and chat about life. Your questions are becoming harder to answer. For example, the answer "From God" no longer works when you ask the question about where babies come from. Your daddy and I are still trying to figure out how to appropriately have this conversation :)

Your faith is getting stronger every day, and you are definitely my little evangelist. You set up a church camp during recess at school!!! And just the other day you chose to sing a church song for the talent show at Play Net. It is obvious you like sharing Jesus with those around you.

Tennis is still your sport of choice, and man, it brings a smile to my face when I watch you play with your daddy. You actually played your very first set the other day...serves and all! I was so proud because you had great sportsmanship. You do super well with the older kids, and you adore your coach. We are lucky to have found a program run by Gusties!

You and your brother are definitely the best of friends. While you can argue with one another, and both of you know how to push each other's buttons, at the end of the day, you have each other's backs. You look out for each other, and you can spend hours playing together. It truly is a joy as a mother to watch the two of you play together.

Your ability to sense that something is wrong and your ability to care for someone else is what I admire most about you, Griffin. You love taking care of little kids, and you offer to help Mommy do many things. You also know when Mommy gets upset, and you are the first to apologize for things that sometimes you have no control over. For example, you were recently sick and up in the middle of the night. You must have heard me talk about not sleeping, and you came over to give me a hug and apologize for keeping me up. Your heart is really in the right place, and I simply assured you that it is MY PLEASURE to take care of you. It is honor to be your mother and help you through life.

It's also becoming obvious that you have a little drama in your blood. You love to perform tricks, dance moves, or make silly faces for anyone willing to watch. Your zeal for life and your passion for entertaining others is apparent in almost everything you do. The pictures above are just a snapshot of your daily energy.

Allergy shots are still part of your regular routine, but we have been able to back off on some of your daily medicine. You are able to be around dogs without getting sick, and it is obvious your breathing is much better than years past. You are still a bit on the small side because your medicine is apparently stunting your growth, but apparently that is par for the course in the Dunigan Family. You and your little brother are destined to be little dynamos :)

Happy Birthday, my little man. Words are not enough to even begin to describe the love and joy you bring to those around you. You amaze me every day, and I am so thankful God has allowed me to be your mommy. May your light shine even brighter this year!