Happy Birthday Jacob!

Today is the seventeenth birthday of my son, Jacob. 
Often the subject of my blogs, Jacob is a real treat.  On a daily basis he brings new and interesting ideas into my life.  And by new and interesting, I mean odd.  He infuriates and entertains.  Jacob is truly one of a kind.
In his seventeen years, Jacob has not always been the center of attention.  In fact, he as often been the one in the background keeping it all together.  I will forever remember that little guy of nine that took such good care of me while Danny was in Iraq.  He would stand on the bottom step so when he gave me a hug, I could put my head on his shoulder.  Now when he gives me a hug, I have to get on my toes to put my head on his shoulder.
While Ashlyn went through treatment and Hayley geared up to save her, Jacob never acted up.  I know that it had to be hard on him to be neither sick or savior, but his good behavior was a Godsend in such a time.  I would not have been so sweet.  I would have clamored for attention, good or bad.  Jacob took care of what he could the best he could.  A real stand up guy.
And now he is in the thick of his teenage years.  Jacob is beginning to give his future some semi-serious thought.   The world is wide open for kid like him as long as he isn't afraid to give it a sot.  Jacob is funny and smart.  He says ridiculous things all the time.  He is pretty good with numbers.  He does not serve idiots well.  I think he ought to be a game show host or a therapist. 
So we celebrated his birthday today with gifts and dinner, a movie and cake.  Jacob wanted a Lego cake, not a Megablocks cake.  I haven't made him an actual birthday cake in several years and now he wants a theme cake!  We went to Abe Lincoln, Vampire Killer.  It was a historical fiction.  Dinner was at Lonestar.  The presents, two foam rockets from Harlow.  A 12 pack of Hawaiian Punch from Brett.  A banjo from the rest of us.  He was very excited for all of it.  I quit buying the canned HP so that was a real treat.  Jacob has already been learning the opening of Rainbow Connection on the banjo.  As one of the girls so nicely stated "if a frog can play it, so can you."  It was a good day.
Being Jacob's mom has been a tremendous treat.  I hope he realizes that.  I hope Jacob knows that all those I love you's are true and real.  I hope he realizes that even though I am kicking him out of my room and serious about it, that secretly, deep, deep down, I feel so very blessed that my boy still wants to play opossum here instead of wanting to sulk in his room. 
Happy Birthday Jacob!  I love you.