The boy who made me a real life mamá turns five today. So buckle in, grab some tissues and let me brag about my sweet boy for a while…

Eight is my lucky number. So you can imagine my excitement as I realized I gave birth my first baby in room 8 at 8:08 pm! He put up quite a fight…25 hours of labor, but finally after only 3 or 4 pushes he was here and was the sweetest thing from the second he popped his left eye open. 

From that moment on, he’s been our biggest joy, great entertainer, sweet little leader of the pack. He didn’t even make it to his first birthday, without a sibling. While pregnant, id ask him “Where’s Max?” and he’d smack my belly. When he met it was like reuniting with his best friend.

Our music loving, adventure seeking old soul cuts through to the heart of each matter. No matter how serious we want him to be or take himself,  he has fun and demands all around him join in…because what is happiness if not shared, right? He’s the king of the castle, but is happy to share the throne. 

His crown, though, is a heavy one because he has the task of being a special needs sibling. If only I was able to view Max through his eyes, I’d cry a lot less! He doesn’t see Max’s autism the way we do. He sees his brother first and foremost, not his autism. And his intuitive nature really helped this stressed out over-caffeinated momma when he’d be the mellow companion next to his brother having a full-blown sensory overload meltdown. At home, we may have to give into Max’s demands, but every time my husband and I are too tired to endure another punch, bite, etc. Ocho will remind that he is the big bro, and demands that equal treatment, or as close to it as possible. 

He’s been bitten, bruised and made more sacrifices than any other 5 year old should have to, and he’s done it with the cutest smile you’ve ever seen. He happily absorbs all of the kisses his brother has smacked away  and allows me to overload my affection I miss out on with Max (thanks to sensory processing disorder ) and reminds that there is ALWAYS time for kisses and hugs. No one can rock out harder on air guitar or throw a pokeball like this kid. And those curls! *gasp*

I just can’t enough of him. 

Feliz Cumpleaños mi’jo hermoso!