Birthday Boy

Oh this boy. I don't even know where to start . . .  so, the facts of celebrating Judah will begin the gush.

Festivities started the day after Christmas, thanks to Gma N - we were in Fargo at a fun hotel and it was subzero and so cozy. Swimming, Space Aliens brought in, and a party in their room with lego plates and cupcakes and ice cream and presents and singing. He clearly was feeling the love.

Celebrations continued at home in a unique way, dear Karis got what seemed to be influenza and was on the couch for Judah's birthday. Which in its own way, gave Judah reign of the house and put him in charge of whatever he wanted to do: play with all his new toys! It fit his personality and I'm grateful, his expectations are sweet and small. We did the special plate, Ps. 139, long weird balloons (inappropriate picture not included of how he very innocently put them in his pants and walked around), cinnamon rolls . . . looking at old pictures and telling stories, tried to make a nice dinner and he didn't eat it, because . . . flu hit him the next day. Mercy be, spared on his actual birthday, a gift.

For the first year, Judah's been to some super birthday parties and so for the first time a friend party was gonna happen (I know, 5! Post Christmas baby, what can be said). What he wanted for his party:
- Watch "Mater Tall Tales"
- Eat cookies
- With: Ted, Mitchell, Leif, Josh

Sweet and easy! So we also picked up Wendy's for the crew, which they watched during Mater. Some punch balloons, remote control cars, gifts . . . the time was wild and wonderful.

And then preschool honored his day with a crown, prayer, singing, "lighting" a birthday cake, and having Trevor read a story (Pig in a Wig).

Trev's parents were in town shortly after and kept the party going with donuts and monster truck movies (with encouraging messages, who knew?)

Judah continues to be tender (can also be tough - "I'm okay I'm okay!" he assures us when he gets hurt). He is hilarious and makes us laugh by hiking up his pants and running around. He loves to cuddle and read books. He adores his friends and school, and also needs his alone time (ahem, like his mom). He's wise and reflective, curious and attentive. If he doesn't know people, he hides behind my legs (or puts his hood over his head). He pushes his "SEEster's" (how we say that word around here) buttons (read: for a while was hiding her toys and watching her be miserable trying to find them, before days later confessing). He has a quirky and hilarious sense of humor. Sometimes he puts on ALL his socks at one time, and lately also tried to put on ALL his pants and underwear (partially succeeded). He's content, and I've noticed how happy he is for others in their joys. Salty stories will wait for another day.

I feel less emotional than usual about Judah growing up - savoring the memories and treasuring his growth in so many ways this year. Or, just in denial. He's a delightful buddy and getting to know him is a gift.

Judah's fave things: 
Friends (Poppy, Ted, Mitchell - most talked about)
School ("Do I go to Calvary after this day?)
Monster trucks, hot wheels, mad matter (so fun), markers, paint
Books (esp. Shirley Hughes' Alfie books right now, Yak and Gnu, Snip Snap & Snur, That's Not a Hippopotamus!, Mr. Magee books, Comic Bible)
Still likes to eat lunch in my lap while I read to him
Cheesy peas, biscuits (belvita!), McDonald's ice cream, banana snack cake, hot chocolate, pannekuchen, candy
Sleeping in his tent
Playing "tickle monster" and hide and seek with me during the days
Making forts - everywhere. Even out of luggage in airport terminals
Cuddling
"snuggle forts" (lots of blankets piled up anywhere, esp. behind the couch)
Tractor shirt and Grandma Nancy pants (lays them out at night for the next day)


Judah's birthday jabbers: 

"I'm five years old!"
"Is it my friend party today?"
"My cough is all better for my friend party!"
"My favorite clothes are CLEAN!"
"You and Santa are besties!"
"Did I gulp the words out of your mouth?"
"Mommy when I'm as big as Goliath, I'll like fruit"
"Fat chubby professor!" (no idea where this came from, he hikes up his jammy pants and walks around like Urkel - remember Urkel?)
"Fat chubby books"
"I'm happy for you too!"
"I can help!"
"You are breaking my heart!"
"I don't really know" (the answer to many of my questions)
"Me and Caleb made fire muffins!" (he loves preschool)
"Or you can pull the red cord when you need to be in the arms of your grown up" (said while in the bathroom with Trev at the nursing home . . . big heart melter)
"I'm gonna fill you up with love!" (what we say when we hug)
"Can we go home and you can fill me up with love?"
"Sure I can!"
"Isn't it neat how everyone was five? I didn't know YOU were five Mommy!"

The Louise Ames Bates/Gessell Institute developmental books I read every year for both K & J have some wonderful things to say (and I agree to) about 5 (the book title: Your 5 Year Old: Sunny & Serene):
- "'My own best mommy' is what he often calls her" (seriously, he will run up to me and say this and of course it's the best! How do these people know these things?)
- "They like to hear how much their parents love them" (well, who doesn't, right?)
- "They sometimes overestimate her ability to read their minds, often quick and impatient and don't always give the necessary clues as to what they're talking about. Then they get angry if she doesn't pick up on their story at once. It takes a quick wit to be a mother" (well, yeah)
- "And admittedly, if things go wrong, children will sometimes take things out on mother" (sometimes? Try, always)
- "Most fives are very fond of their fathers, proud of them, and love their company . . . it is more likely that the five will take an outburst of temper out against his mother than his father. And in the insecurity of the night, it is mother whom he wants" (of course)