It's Tom-Boo Day!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Thomas Stephen!

We love you tremendous amounts.

Thank you for always making us laugh! You terrify and astound us with your sense of humor. Your sensitivity blows us away. We are so proud of the little man you are becoming and couldn't be happier that God sent you to us!

Yesterday, at Mass, I think we got a clear picture of what life with Tom is going to be like for a while. I had brought a lone granola bar (really bad idea) to Church in my pocket. The children must have smelled it through my jacket and the wrapper, because as soon as they realized there was food in the vicinity, they promptly forgot about the seven course breakfast they ate just moments before.

The cries began. "Mommmmmmmmmmmm, I'm STARRRRRRRRVING!" Joseph started holding his belly and whimpering. So sad. Sarah put on her puppy dog face and maybe even poked herself in the eye so she would start crying, drawing immediate attention from the elderly woman in the pew behind us. Thomas began sniffing my coat and shoving his hands in my pockets. Nathan just hollered.

I split the bar into four miniscule pieces. The children seemed satisfied. The three older ones ate them very quickly. I think they were nervous that someone else in the church might be hungry too...and maybe they would have to share.

Nathan was savoring each and every tiny crumb. Thomas came over to me and asked if he could finish Nathan's piece. I told him he would have to ask the baby. Thomas swiped the bar from Nathan as he was asking, so nicely, if he could please have the rest. Nathan shrieked and received a quick escort to the back of church. Thomas gobbled the tiny piece down and I think I heard a stifled chuckle.

After Mass, Thomas said, "Mom, why did Mrs. Dreis have to take the baby in the back of church?"

I responded, "Because you made a very sad decision and took the baby's granola bar from him before he had a chance to answer you."

Thomas replied, "Oh yeah! That was AWESOME!"

As I said, he terrifies and astounds.

Mainly terrifies.