Bubbles in my think tank

Infant, Baby, Toddler, Child, Boy,

Preteen, Teen, Graduate - Man....

My Nephew - Pooh Bear

My main focus lately has been on my nephew's graduation. I wrote in an earlier post that I had moved in with my sister, Leigh Ann, when Ben was born. He was our first baby in the family and I had to be close to him. I have always considered him one of my very own because I was REALLY involved in his 'growing up'.

As I sit here writing (and still crying) he is at home on the couch asleep. He graduated last night. Watching him walk across that stage and taking his diploma was the most wonderful heart wrenching thing in the world. I don't have any idea what I'll do when one of my very own children graduate. Leigh Ann was, of course, emotional but a pillar of strength as always. When Ian graduates I will be on the sidelines in my own hospital bed with oxygen attached!

We've always called Ben 'little Ben' because my husbands name is also Ben. We have 'big Ben' and 'little Ben'. He's not so little anymore and he's WAY taller than 'big Ben' now. My nickname for him was Pooh Bear...I have no idea where we got that but I have ALWAYS called him Pooh Bear. He doesn't much like it now but I just can't resist...he will always be my Pooh. After I moved in with Leigh Ann and Todd and Ben, I used to sit with Ben in front of the tv watching MTV for hours. Him in his little bouncy car seat. I wagged him around like a baby doll. I put him down for soooo many naps and I remember telling him it was 'sleepytown time'. He has always been just gorgeous but when he was a little boy he had the sweetest little expressions. It's so hard to explain his precious little face when he was sad or happy or excited about something. I'll just let you see them in pictures. Anyway, he has grown up to be such a wonderful human being. They moved a lot when he was young because Todd was in the Air Force but that didn't phase his life at all.

When they finally settled near where he was born he started helping his Papaw, my dad, take care of my grandfather, Willie. He has done this since he was probably 8 or 9. They got so attached to having Ben there to just sit and talk and he has always made them understand that they are so important in our lives. Even when 'we daughters' (me, Leigh Ann, and Gina) couldn't be there for raising our own brood. Ben has ALWAYS been there for them. That is one of the things that made him the wonderful, loving, kind, compassionate man he is today. He's calm and patient. Generous and unselfish...and I'm honestly telling the truth. I'm not saying this just because he's my nephew. We really are lucky that our children, although seemingly spoiled rotten at times, are very good kids. They all know who their maker is and they live a life that Christ can be proud of. Ben is our first to 'fly the coop' so to speak. He's still at home but the point is that he is a grown man now and can go where ever whenever he wants, although Leigh Ann probably wants him to stay with her as long as possible. I would...will. Ha! IT'S JUST CRAZY TO THINK ABOUT!

His Nana says, "I remember when Leigh Ann told me she was going to have a baby, of course I thought she was to young, and I REALLY thought I was to young to be a grandmother. But of course I fell in love with that little bald headed smiling face. I just remember what a joy he was to all of us. The first baby in our family. We made fools of ourselves just to get him to talk and laugh. He was our little prince."

His Aunt Gina says, "You can see in his eyes the kindness. He is one of the few teenagers I know that cares so much and has such a big heart."

Some things about Ben (at any point in his life)....

*loves family

*loves MTV

*is afraid of water

*goes no where without his teddy bear or the world would end...

*couldn't say 'truck' for the longest time

*used a really bad word that rhymes with truck instead(he thought he was saying it right)

*loves to swim after he gets over his fear of water

*enjoys Karate

*called 'Bud' and 'Dickett' by Papaw

*hates attention

*loves video games

*is goofy

*loves, loves, loves tractors

*loves semi trucks even more

*loves wheels even more than semis

*used to watch wheels while we were

on the road..not the vehicles but the wheels..

that would make me dizzy

*loves being surprised

*doesn't like his sister

*loves his sister

*likes to snuggle

*is quiet

*likes to be read to

*loves the simple things in life

*does NOT like getting a haircut

*hates school

*loves Power Rangers

*is serious

*loyal

*loves to ride his bike

*still hates attention

*is mischievous

*couldn't wait to go to school

*wants to 'drive a truck' (a semi) when he graduates

*is a faithful fan of UT Football

*helped buy his first truck

*loved to sing when he was little
*loves Def Leppard and Southern Rock
*bashful
*video game whiz
*enormous heart
*handsome
*at 15 he got this really deep voice like a grown man
*could read when he was 4
*precious blonde curls
*called his toes “Kabbees” (he was trying to say piggies)
*last one in and first one out
*likes welding
*polite
*read the newspaper with Willie
*took care of Willie

So, my nephew graduated from high school last night. He walked across that stage and made himself a member of society. Still a son, a brother, a grandson and a great grandson, a nephew, a friend, a graduate, a man. And ALWAYS my Pooh Bear.