Oscar Valenzuela Roche- The big 10

Who's double digits today? This guy.... I am the oldest of three girls. After I had Siobhan and was pregnant with Oscar, I prayed for a boy. I did not know what I was having with my first two babies and I will never forget the moment Oscar was born and I saw he was indeed a boy. For those that were not around to know Oscar as a baby you may be surprised to know that he was a big baby. He was a Mamas boy and did not like to be held by anyone other than me. One day a week I would have to work in Siobhans preschool as part of the coop and he would stay with my Grandmother about 10 blocks away. He did not want to be held so when he was old enough to stand she would put him in her shopping cart. You know, the kind that is a big basket with wheels. He would stand in it next to her rocking chair and she'd feed him through the bars. Oscar was her baby and she adored him like no other. There are times that Oscar will let loose a little and when he does he is downright silly. He has an amazing imagination and can build anything out of legos. He draws up plans for different forts and clubhouses. He made a bank in our living room when I was in California. Pete deposited a dollar but was unable to withdraw it because he didn't have the dollar service fee for withdrawal. Oscar wants to be an engineer or an architect when he grows up. I think he will be great at that. He has scored above average on all state testing and receives straight A's in school. He reads a lot and next month will be competing in a "reading bee".
He is also a collector like his Mom. As I may have mentioned before, the kids at school call him Vacuum. He brings home anything he finds on the playground, floor or trash that he can use to make something. Last week he came home with 17 boxes of raisins because nobody else wanted them from the school lunch that day. The kids at school love him, especially the girls. This is his Achilles heel, he is after all a 10 year old boy and girls are strange territory right now. Awhile back while Siobhan was relaying a story at the dinner table there was mention of bra size and even though he was not a part of the conversation, Oscar got up from the table and started scratching his armpits and saying " I'm a monkey". Whenever he is uncomfortable he blurts out random things. A classic is chicken banana, a staple in early years that we still use daily in our house. I thank God everyday that he gave me the boy I prayed for. I never could have imagined what a joy he would be to me. Oscar is very independent and I don't always feel that he needs me but I know that I need him. He is a big help and we have a lot of fun together. I love you Oscar, more than I could ever say, Happy Birthday my boy, chicken banana! Love, your Mama aka Harry Blogger