my little middle kid.

This little dude is turning 8 here in a few minutes!  Aeden, being the middle child, has really been my kid who has gotten the shaft.  When he turned one, I was neck deep in some family issues that took me away from home for several weeks.  And then every birthday after that, he was forever a middle child.  Yet he rarely complains.  He is not hot and cold like my other kids.  He doesn't have things he is REALLY into, he just is happy.  His favorite thing to say when I ask him to tell me what he wants is to say "Surprise me!"  I am hoping to un-shaft him tomorrow with a really fun day! :)

Here are a few things you may not know about my favorite 3rd child:

1.  His name, Aeden, comes from The Garden of Eden, meaning "a place where God dwells."  I think most people who know Aeden always feel better about themselves after being around him, so the name fits well :)

2.  He has never known life without a dog, and it's a good thing.  He is an animal lover to his core, and is very loving to all 3 of our dogs.

3.  He is EXTREMELY smart!  His teacher begged me for the better part of the year to put him in the Spectrum program, but we ultimately decided against it because it would take him away from friends and family, but his mind is something to behold.  He can remember names, dates, events better than Google, and he is ridiculously talented at math.  It's almost like he sees numbers as art, like he gets them.  He has been helping his younger brother with homework lately, and it blows my mind to hear Aeden explain some of the concepts to him, I STILL don't have that good of a grasp of numbers :)

4.  He is very loving and sensitive.  Ever since he was a baby, he would cry when there was contention in the house, something he still does to this day.  I call him my little happy meter because I can tell how things are going at home just by looking at his face.

5.  He loves his brothers and sisters.  He pretends to not like some of them, but if any of them are not home for whatever reason, he doesn't seem to relax until he knows everyone is at home.  

6.  He eats a ton but is skinny as a rail!  He eats more than Zerin (who is 12) and that is saying something!

7.  He is a great cook!  Of all my kids, Aeden has enjoyed cooking since he was just a baby.  He loves to help Bryan or I anytime we are in the kitchen.

8.  He is a very hard worker and EXTREMELY reliable!  

9.  He is one of the most honest people I have ever met in my life.  I really don't think he has ever intentionally lied to me.

10.  He looks so much like my dad did when my dad was a child.  My Grandma Hugie has commented many times since Aeden was just a baby, how much he reminds her of my dad.  :)