Garrett: Nine Years!

 

Age: 9

Height: 4 feet, 1.8 inches

Weight: 58 pounds, 3.2 ounces

At eight, Garrett was almost a full inch shorter than William was at the same age. Garrett worked on closing that gap though, and is almost the same height William was at nine. And thanks to a massive 6+ pound weight gain, Garrett weighed in heavier than William did at nine, which I think is the first time he's ever outweighed William.

What is your favorite color? Blue

What is your favorite animal? Red Panda

What is your favorite book? Pokémon

This kid's day was made when Uncle Mike gave him his old baseball card sleeves and he found out his Pokémon cards fit in them perfectly. He and William have spent countless arranging--and rearranging--the cards 

What is your favorite song? Celebration

What is your favorite sport? Soccer

Garrett played on an organized team for the first time this fall and LOVED it. And I know every parent thinks their kid is the best, but Garrett is seriously a bit of a terror on the field. He is quick and can keep the ball at his feet, which at his age is really all that's needed to take the ball up the field and score. He's also the sweetest little player though--he's good about distributing the ball to teammates after scoring a goal or two, and he genuinely feels bad if his team massively outscores the other team because he worries the game isn't fun for his opponents

What is your favorite thing to do with Mom? Play Yahtzee

What is your favorite thing to do with Dad? Play football

It's not football with Dad, but you'd better believe this kid was thrilled when one of the players we know on the local college football team tossed a ball up to him during half time

What is your favorite thing to do outside? Bike

As close as we can get to biking in the winter!

Where is your favorite place to go? Thunder Road Arcade

He picked the arcade for his birthday outing last year, and we went there again for his birthday outing this year 

What is your favorite fruit? Tomatoes

What is your favorite vegetable? Cauliflower

What is your favorite cereal? Mini Dino Bites

What is your favorite treat? Fun Dip

What is your favorite meal? Tacos

I don't think he's cutting these peppers for tacos, but he does definitely help with peppers (and tomatoes and avocadoes) for that meal as well

What makes you happy? Going to the Thunder Road Arcade

What makes you sad? People teasing me when I lose a soccer game

Who are your best friends? Pravash, Jayse, and JC

Garrett and one of his friends at their 2nd grade music program last spring

What do you want to be when you grow up? NFL quarterback

What was your favorite part about last year? Going to the Thunder Road Acarde

What is one thing you want to do this year? Go to the Cat Cafe

I'm not sure why he thinks we need to go to the Cat Cafe when he has a knack for finding cats no matter where we go, but whatever

As evidenced by his ability to find cats wherever we go, Garrett continues to be my animal and baby-loving boy, in addition to loving all things plants and gardening. There's just something about caring for another living thing that is innate to his personality.

He loved getting to ride the horses at the circus

Anytime we dog sit he is in heaven (just as long as he doesn't have to clean the poop)

He loves helping out with younger cousins

As a school project they planted marigolds for Mother's Day, which he transplanted into one of our planters and needless to say they thrived (and he also saved the seeds to plant some again this year)

He got a fish tank for his 8th birthday, and while it's not as fun as other pets (and it has definitely been a learning curve for Mom and Dad) he does enjoy watching them and caring for them

I suppose catching fish (especially to eat, like they do at the beach) isn't exactly "nurturing", but it's worth including because the pieces of his personality that lend themselves to caring and nurturing also translate into his being a patient and successful fisherman

Honestly, I'm so far behind on this post and given that Garrett is closer to 9.5 than 9 at this point I'm having a hard time separating current happenings from things that happened leading up to his birthday, so I'm just going to dump a few more pictures of my favorite Garrett and call it good!

At the PTO Fun Run--I can always count on Garrett to be willing to take a picture with me!

Sooo many lester lace creations. This kid loves starting arts and crafts projects--but it's the follow through to get them finished that he lacks

Another summer, another year of Grandparent Camp in NC for a week. Lots of fun exploring with William and two of their cousins, and not nearly as much homesickness as he had the first year!

I know it's super hard to tell in this photo, but Garrett tried skiing for the first time last summer. It wasn't super successful, but we were so proud of him for trying!

As if Darrell needed to teach the boys more ways to be dangerous

Loves getting to carve his own pumpkin!

Last fall marked the start of piano lessons for Garrett, and he has blown us away with his progress this year. He's a little shy about performing, but we're working on having the confidence to do it even though it makes us feel nervous

Pokémon and that Vikings beanie pretty perfectly sum up Garrett in the early spring of 2024. I can't wait to see who he'll be--and what he'll be into--at ten, but I know a few things will remain true: he'll still be a lover and still have a kind, compassionate heart