Lucas is another year older. My baby is only one year away from double digits, and I won’t pretend I’m not a little sad. But he still gives me hugs, and tells me he loves everything about me (except my scoldings), and has a cute little-boy giggle.

That might be all that’s left of truly little-boy qualities, though. He adeptly plays any and every game his older siblings play. He follows after his big brothers as they climb trees and do push-up contests (which he wins) and do house projects and create with LEGO. He likes to cook and paint and ride his bike and play baseball.

Lucas is still a whirlwind and leaves a lot of messes in his wake, and it’s a challenge to rein him in long enough to address those messes. He also still has moments of lamenting math and laundry folding, but they are fewer than they used to be. And he has started to enjoy writing short stories. They lack refinement in punctuation, spelling and the like, but I’m happy to see him getting excited about another creative endeavor.

Lucas continues to be two handfuls – and then some – but he is so full of energy and ideas and personality, it’s hard to want to restrain him too much. He is smart, creative, determined, funny, thoughtful and kind. He fills our days with questions and sunshine and storm clouds and wonder. I’m so thankful for my littlest kiddo who is growing way too fast, and I love him with my whole heart. It is a privilege to be his mom and celebrate his 9 years today.