Ode to Joy....or Gage

So its been months and I'm finally getting around to that birthday post.  Does this somehow disqualify me in any way for being "Mother of the Year"?  This is Gage this year for his birthday - if you need reminding it was June 21st...he turned 8!

Gage at age 7 is the next one and the swimming ones are Gage at age 6....& again at age 5

This is Gage at age 4.....

 This is Gage at age 3.  We were in Michigan at the Grandparents "cottage" and he caught this frog and wouldn't let it go....no matter what he was doing.  And that poor frog tried to play dead a few times but somehow Gage would shake him and he would come back to life!  (This really is true!)

 Gage at age 2 - He always wanted to be just like his "Best Pal" his dad!  He used to tell me "Mom, Dad is my Best Pal and you are NOT!".......makes a mother feel great right???  not so much.

 The start of the "Best Pal"

Here is when he was my "best pal" even though it was a brief best pal-ness!  I'll take it!  In this pic - Gage is only about 1/2 hour old.  I was still in the delivery suite....this was the start of it all!  Good Times!  And now my boy is 8......