Today, I reflect back 29 years.... I was mega pregnant! The doctor told me you were due to be born around the 1st of April, but I guess you enjoyed April Fool's day even then! Since you held out until the LAST day of April to make your grand appearance!
It was before the days of everyone having ultrasounds to find out what they were getting so we didn't know we were getting a son until you showed up! And we were thrilled! It was a long 9 1/2 months! There were many stays in the hospital. Many times we wondered if you would even make it here. Many prayers were offered and blessings received and finally, we had a SON!!
You were such a good little boy! You were very mellow and quiet. Little did we know, you were so quiet because you COULDN'T HEAR! When you were 14 months old, you had your tonsils out and the first set of tubes put in your ears. You would go on to have surgery on your ears TEN more times and you were a trooper through all of them!
This is one of my favorite pictures. You can see my hand "holding" you in the picture!
Once you had your ears on the mend, and could hear the things around you, you excelled in your speech and enjoyed talking and talking! What a cute little boy you were!
You loved horses from the start and were the cutest little cowboy ever! You had your first horse ride the day you came home from the hospital. You also had your first taste of biscuits and gravy that day! Both must have made a lasting impression because riding horses and eating biscuits and gravy are still your favorite things!
You and your horse Belle had many adventures over the years!
I can remember you coming home from school and putting on your 'cowboy' clothes and bringing your horse up to the porch steps so you could get on and ride until dinner and bed time.
You have always been a Broncos fan!
But what can I say.... you're partial to DONKEYS! (sorry, I couldn't pass up the chance to slam the Broncos!)
You have always enjoyed your A-1! You even had to have it when we went camping!
(I can't believe how much this picture looks like Kolby!)
Once you got to high school, your interests grew to include football. You made your mark in the local history books when the Wolverines beat Star Valley for the State Championship!
And then came college! While you told us your degree was in Equine Science, I think you majored in horses and fun! They even had to rewrite the "Barn Rules" book from a small paper handbook to a full-fledged BINDER full of rules! I'm sure they never thought that the day would come that they would have to make the rule that you can't stand up on your horse in class. But then again, they had never met YOU before!
You always made your own FASHION STATEMENT!
Yet you still managed to get Robin to go out with you.
ROBIN was the catch of your lifetime!
You even shared your knowledge of table manners with her!
Of course we all knew your wedding would include your horse!
Your love of horses goes back several generations in our family
and you have passed that love on to your own children
You are a wonderful husband and father!
We are so proud of you!
Just remember to slow down and rest sometimes!
MY SON
You are my son, my pride and joy. You are my one and only baby boy. From the time I carried you beneath my heart I knew you. My love for you grew stronger with every heart beat. When I first saw you, my heart was overwhelmed. I want you to know there is nothing more precious than to bring forth a life that has been lent to us from a gracious Heavenly Father and to watch it grow and thrive. It hasn't always been easy, but I cherish the honor of being your mother.
You did not come with an instruction manual. It was strictly learn as you go. I remember the first time you crawled with your army crawl. And when you took your first steps. Holding on to your overall straps for balance. Great Grandma Hart called you her mountain man because she said your name reminded her of a mountain man.
You had a smile that went all the way across and you knew how to have fun! I can remember the middle of the night water fights, the moving vehicles around the school parking lot, all the practical jokes and wise remarks!
You were the middle child with a sister on either side. You were the perfect brother. You were always there to take care of them, teach them, protect them, and yes, even annoy them! You inherited a wonderful gift of laughter from your Grandpa Cole and have been a delight to everyone since day one! I could never stay mad at you because you would look me in the eye and say something to make me laugh like, "but you love me right?".
As you grew, we tried to teach you the values that you would need to carry you through life. We showered you with love, and comforted you when you were sad. We shared with you all that we knew (which wasn't much since we were so young!) and gave to you all that we had so that you could become the man you are today. You turned the tables on us and became the example of what WE wanted to be! Your faith and testimony are so strong! You were the example that kept us all on the straight and narrow!
On your birthday, we wish you all the joy you have brought to us; all the success you have ever dreamed; all the hope the future can bring, and all the love you will ever need.
We love you for:
The little boy you were
The special man you are now
And the precious son you will always be
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SON. I LOVE YOU!!
