9: Happy Birthday, Dear Grant

Lingít Aaní Kinaak, Age 12 (as of today)

Happy Birthday Elias Grant Henry Bolton!!

Grampa used to tell him, "Go see your other mom."  I was his other mom :)  

I babysat Grant when he was a baby.  I loved to love him, to snik him ('smell his nose', an endearing sharing of breath).  He was a GOOD baby.  He used to love coming by me, and being happy with me, and loving me :)  I really was his tláakw', (literally, 'little mom').  I stayed with him a lot during the first few years of his life.  I was even a 'live-in sitter' for a while.
For some reason, when he got older, we spent less time together.  He started to drift from me, and it seemed so rapid.  I saw him less, and he wasn't excited to be by me as much...yes, things were different. But it made me cherish our first years together, and it still makes my heart melt thinking about it and it puts a big smile on my face :)

Today, Mr. Grant turned 12!!  He's still quite the character too :)  For example, he just left me a message whispering "Hi Auntie, it's Grant.  I was just calling so you could say 'Happy Birthday' to me."  Haha...what a guy :)  He sounded jovial and full of SUGAR :)

This photo is how I always want to remember him.  

Sometimes he's a quiet boy...and that, when with me, can be a little awkward :)  But this day, it was good.  I had just gotten back to Anchorage from my first year of school here in Juneau.  The kids were still in school, and had just gotten out for the day.  They came in and talked my ear off as we sat around the table at their Gram's, probably snacking on something.  
Grant started telling this vivid story of his mom's reactions to things.  His facial expressions were on point :)

This is one of a few photos I captured of him, mid-laugh.  His youth and innocence are so evident, and so real.  <3

Happy Birthday Grant,

Love Auntie Nae