Happy Birthday Seryozha !

14 years ago I gave birth to an 11 lb. 12 oz. baby boy....naturally...almost died giving birth. He said that he completed the family, and that he did. At a year and a half he was drawing crocodiles with teeth, and Christmas trees with different color ornaments, and sitting down to 'read',(listen to Mom read w/a British accent), Barrie's original Peter Pan for extended periods of time.

If there was a pencil or a stick around, or anything long and slender, as a toddler he would give you one, and take one for himself, and start sword fighting. He was into Peter Pan and Hook, Wallace and Gromitt, and a Russian cartoon version of Winnie the Pooh, (Vinyee Pukh). He never watched regular toddler shows like Sesame Street,etc..

If he told you information, you could write a police report by him. He is so nearly often accurate. He was starting to read at 3-4 years of age, wrote and illustrated a book in Kindergarten, and is VERY independent. If you recommend one thing, you can almost be assured that he will choose another. He can be pretty darn stubborn.

He is a classic younger brother teasing and bothering his older sisters. While younger he was my bosom buddy, but about the age of 10, he and Dad became tight. He plays tennis, draws, reads, does art, games, plays ping-pong, mows the lawn, and grudgingly does the weeding. He feeds the cats, including vitamins, and takes care of 2 of their 3 boxes. He bakes and can make a few dinner items.

Girls love him, although he doesn't see it. He was on TV for 3 years at his middle school for the morning news., and is still constantly recommended for special programs for gifted students.He loves the camera taking shots in sports mode while jumping, and making his brand of humor on I-video.

He loves his cats and little ones/babies/and especially his brand new cousin Natalya. One day he will make a loving, nurturing, but no nonsense,tough Dad. He pays his own way, and pays people back before he's been asked. He says "No" a lot and needs a bit of prompting a lot, but he also does so much at other times, when push comes to shove, or when someone really needs the help.

I love this boy so, and miss the way he was as a little one, yet enjoy seeing him mature. His humor and intellect are active and refined, and is an astute observer of politics and the world.

Happy Birthday, 'crater dimples'-aka-yamochki boy. xo Love, Mom.