A Very Merry Un-Birthday

Or rather half-birthday.

Firefly is a Christmas baby, having been born within a week of this most fabulous and all about full of presents holiday.

Having a brother born in December, I've seen what it can be like to have a Christmas time birthday. My brother always got so upset every time people lumped his special day with the holiday and tried to combine gifts not that he didn't try to finagle larger gifts for himself by proposing the idea.

That being said, I realized while I was shopping for both Christmas and Firefly's birthday that he was going to miss out on certain gifts because they just weren't available or practical to buy in the middle of winter and every little boy needs a bike or toys for the pool. So I decided we were going to celebrate his half birthday.

Just something small, no parties or cake, but he was very excited! (and I may have put half his birthday presents aside for this purpose because he's only one and doesn't know any different)

Just what every boy wants. New shoes!

He was so excited about his new ATV that I couldn't hold him back while Husband was trying to open the box. He managed to squeeze his little butt onto the seat though!

He loves just sitting on it and pushing the buttons for the horn and engine. Have you learned the trick of putting tape over the speaker to make it quieter? because we sure have!

He was thrilled and he got some things that he can or can't because holy hell its hot out there play with outside. 

I took this idea from celebrating the half birthdays of summer babies during the school year and this is something that I want to continue as he gets older. Though, I definitely want to keep the celebration and gifting on a small scale.

What would you do to help keep a Christmas baby from resenting their birth-date and keep the holiday and birthday separate?  

Seven Years of Luck

Happy Anniversary to my wonderful Husband!

Today we have been married for seven years.

But all of this started well before that, when we were both 15 years old. We have been lucky enough to grow into adults together, find our way in the world together and support each other through the lowest of lows and the highest of highs.

While I hope that all of the lows are behind us, I know that we have yet to reach the highest of the highs.

The last year has been full of record setting highs that have surpassed both of our imaginations:

• Our Firefly has brought us to a new level in our relationship and our lives. He has been the most amazing gift that we could have ever given to each other. He is our combined heart. 

• Husband is finally finished with medical school and completed his intern year as a psychiatry resident. I am so proud to watch him thrive in his field and find such fulfillment in what he does every day. He has become such an amazing man.

I can't even tell you how many pictures I have like this of Husband. I'm thinking of doing an entire study on the many faces he has for my camera

• Our plans for the future are getting closer and closer to being realized. We are just months from seeing our more short-term plans coming to fruition and it is an amazing feeling.

I love this picture of my boys.

So, to the man who is my strength, the one person to truly knows and understands me, I love you.