It really does seem like just yesterday that we brought home this new 9 lb., 4 oz. baby boy we named Ian with no clear idea what we were supposed to do with him once out of the hospital. Yet, in the blink of an eye (plus two houses and one cross-country move later), this past Saturday, January 10, he turned three years old. All I can say is, Wow - already?Of course one of the many things about parenting that you don't learn until you actually experience it for yourself is how celebrating your child's birthday has this whole extra meaning attached. Because really, to you, it's not just the joy of your child's birthday but it's also an anniversary of sorts. That is, an anniversary of the day that your life drastic
ally changed forever. Of course this phenomenon is really pronounced on the first birthday since in all honesty, the kid has no idea what's going on - but for you - you remember exactly what you were doing one year ago on that day. It wasn't pretty, but it was definitely special. And three years into this whole parenthood thing now, I can definitively say that there's been no better gift than to have a front row seat in watching Ian grow and develop - learning a new word, expression or phrase one day that he didn't seem to know the day before. Each year has gotten more fun than the one before, so undoubtedly we are looking forward to what his fourth year will bring. (Of course not that I'm spending any time thinking about how I've heard from many that the "terrible twos" are more often the "terrible threes" these days...)
ally changed forever. Of course this phenomenon is really pronounced on the first birthday since in all honesty, the kid has no idea what's going on - but for you - you remember exactly what you were doing one year ago on that day. It wasn't pretty, but it was definitely special. And three years into this whole parenthood thing now, I can definitively say that there's been no better gift than to have a front row seat in watching Ian grow and develop - learning a new word, expression or phrase one day that he didn't seem to know the day before. Each year has gotten more fun than the one before, so undoubtedly we are looking forward to what his fourth year will bring. (Of course not that I'm spending any time thinking about how I've heard from many that the "terrible twos" are more often the "terrible threes" these days...) Just like the holidays this year, this birthday also felt very different from his first and second because it was the first one where it was very clear to him that this was his special day. And he didn't let us forget it. Last Friday I dropped him off at school with some special birthday blueberry muffins (he picked out muffins over mini cupcakes...go figure) to share with his classmates and teachers during snack. He must have asked a million times on the way there, "Mommy, tod
ay is my birthday?" I think I finally gave up on trying to explain to him that the next day was his actual birthday but today he was celebrating with his classmates. So it's very possible that he believes he has at least two birthdays in a row now. Whatever floats his boat, is what I say. By the time I picked him up at 12:30 p.m., to say he was beside himself with birthday excitement is an understatement. He ran toward me wearing a big purple crown that said "3 - Ian" in big gold glitter writing on the front. It was accompanied by a book that the class had put together for him with pictures colored by each one of his classmates. Teacher Stella and Teacher Liz said he had been beaming from ear to ear all morning long. He barely removed that crown the rest of Friday - not even while catching up with Big Bird.
ay is my birthday?" I think I finally gave up on trying to explain to him that the next day was his actual birthday but today he was celebrating with his classmates. So it's very possible that he believes he has at least two birthdays in a row now. Whatever floats his boat, is what I say. By the time I picked him up at 12:30 p.m., to say he was beside himself with birthday excitement is an understatement. He ran toward me wearing a big purple crown that said "3 - Ian" in big gold glitter writing on the front. It was accompanied by a book that the class had put together for him with pictures colored by each one of his classmates. Teacher Stella and Teacher Liz said he had been beaming from ear to ear all morning long. He barely removed that crown the rest of Friday - not even while catching up with Big Bird. Saturday morning was like another mini-Christmas. He came downstairs to a table full of presents that we opened with him after breakfast. He was in heaven with another round of fun new books and toys at his disposal. (As were his parents since he 
is more than occupied with all his new stuff these days!) A couple of special birthday calls topped off the afternoon and that evening, our neighbors and a couple of other friends joined us for dinner and cake to celebrate our new three-year-old. Even though there were just four children, semi-organized chaos is how the evening might best be described. Luckily there was sufficient alcohol available to the adults in attendance who desired or needed it.
Ian had requested a "train cake" for his birthday, which in marketing terms to any entity who sells children's products, of course means you get Thomas the Train. So, there you have it. We had what I would call a semi-Thomas the Train theme of which the centerpiece was an adorable and always super yummy cake from Beaverton Bakery. And for the record, I believe that we are now three for three in Ian not taking one single bite of his birthday cake or ice cream. Oh, and I learned yet another valuable lesson of parenthood - which is that even though those blow horns (with the things that unravel when you blow them) may have their place in life - New Years Eve, for example - they do not belong at a young child's birthday party. Enough said there.
is more than occupied with all his new stuff these days!) A couple of special birthday calls topped off the afternoon and that evening, our neighbors and a couple of other friends joined us for dinner and cake to celebrate our new three-year-old. Even though there were just four children, semi-organized chaos is how the evening might best be described. Luckily there was sufficient alcohol available to the adults in attendance who desired or needed it.Ian had requested a "train cake" for his birthday, which in marketing terms to any entity who sells children's products, of course means you get Thomas the Train. So, there you have it. We had what I would call a semi-Thomas the Train theme of which the centerpiece was an adorable and always super yummy cake from Beaverton Bakery. And for the record, I believe that we are now three for three in Ian not taking one single bite of his birthday cake or ice cream. Oh, and I learned yet another valuable lesson of parenthood - which is that even though those blow horns (with the things that unravel when you blow them) may have their place in life - New Years Eve, for example - they do not belong at a young child's birthday party. Enough said there.
And if he wasn't tired enough by Sunday morning, that afternoon I took him to a birthday party for a four-year-old that is worthy of mention here. We went to this place called Pump It Up, which is really code for "How to Make Lots of Quick and Easy Money off of Parents". Specifically designed for birthday parties, this place is a money-making machine, let me tell you. It's located in this nondescript building in an office park off the freeway. You go inside and immediately you're directed to drop the presents in a bin. One signed waiver and kids' "safety talk" later, the group is whisked through a door into this large and again - somewhat nondescript - room with huge inflatable bouncy things. One has a slide, one has basketball hoops and I'm not even sure what the third was. The point is - the kids jump and run around like mad people while the parents sit on the sidelines with a dazed look on their faces commenting to each other about how they wish they had thought of this business idea. After a half hour, the whole group is herded through a door into an adjoining room with yet another set of huge bouncy things. Rinse and repeat for another half hour. Once that fun is over, shoes go back on. Everyone gets squirts of hand sanitizer and you go through a third and final door to the all-important party room where magically the gifts, along with pizza and cake, appear. Oh, and don't think that if you look through the window of any of the doors that you previously went through - or the ones ahead of you - that there isn't another birthday party already in progress. So in other words, it would not be misleading to say that birthday parties are literally herded through this place nonstop, all day long. But back in the party room - the first five minutes, kids eat Goldfish from bowls on the table. Distribute and eat pizza - next ten minutes. Light cake, sing, blow out candles, distribute and eat cake - another ten minutes. Last five minutes - take balloon, say goodbye and you are on your way home a total of 1.5 hours later, complete with kid in the backseat begging to have their next birthday party at Pump It Up. (Well, for the record, Ian didn't ask that...but I suspect it may just be because he hasn't caught on yet.)
And so, that concluded our three-day birthday celebration. I'm already exhausted thinking about next year.Until I write again.
WONDERFUL!
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