Happy Birthday

My brother, who turns 23 today, sent me a text this morning asking “Hey.  Are you in labor?”   It was almost two years to the minute from the day I called him, on his 21st birthday, to wish him happy birthday and tell him he was an uncle to a sweet little 8lb, 3 oz princeling.  I laughed at his message, and texted a reply: “Nah.  I’m trying to hold this one in til May 26 so I can steal Middle Sister’s birthday too.”

My brother is spending the day with our parents and his girlfriend, exploring Memphis, which will soon be his home.  My son, the littlest birthday boy, is also spending the day with his parents, exploring the park, and losing his mind with excitement over the balloons The Professor blew up as a decoration.  I agonized for a while over what to do to celebrate this day, so precious to me (and one day to Jack, when he’s old enough to figure it out).  It seemed very inappropriate to let it pass without a big blowout . . . but here we are, with a small family party (family being the three of us and my sister and her boyfriend, in town for Jazz Fest).  I made a cute cake that looks like an aquarium.  He has lots of presents to open, and has received a phone call from each and every family member – so thus far, he’s rating much better than I usually do on my own birthday (someone always forgets to call me).  He’s two, he doesn’t go to preschool yet, so he really doesn’t have friends for us to invite to a kid party.  And most of my friends, like me, have an exam tomorrow, so if I had an adult party with beer and burgers, nobody would’ve come anyway.

I’m pleased with my choice, though it was tough to let go of the idea of a nice cookout under the picnic shelter at the park.  We’ve had a nice day, I’ve had enough time to get in some studying so I’m not worried about tomorrow’s exam.  I don’t feel rushed or stressed – just happy to spend the day with my happy son.

Happy Birthday, wonderful little man!  We love you.