Ian is 11

This boy joined us 11 years ago. I woke up at around 5 am and knew it was the day. We had been preparing Brooklyn for her little brother and told her he'd come around her birthday. We just didn't expect such perfect timing. He was born 6 hours and 3 minutes before Brooklyn's 12:06 am birthday on August 9. I guess he wanted his own day. He entered the world at 6:03 pm, 8-8-02.

He came quickly and too quietly. He came bruised and unable to breathe. He came burdened with mortality; it hit him the hardest of my three children. He was bald, blue, and so lovable. He remains lovable.

This morning he woke and opened his present. A Perplexis Epic. If you are not familiar with this toy, you do not have a child between the ages of 9-13. It has my full endorsement as it is not digital, nor does it have a screen and kids still like it.

We took the family out to breakfast at Kneaders. Yum. All the breakfast goodness you can imagine and I wasn't hungry for the rest of the day.

The Party!
Ian's buddies met at our house at 1:00 and then we headed to the Columbia Village Pool. August birthdays are perfect. If I had to have two kids in one month, August was the right month to do it.

After swimming we returned to our house for cake and presents. Ian chose a strawberry cake and then I added a layer of lemon for good measure. Three layers of deliciousness.

Quickly devoured.

I guess when it's your birthday you're the one who gets to sit on the table. 

Ian, you are tender. You are intelligent. You are irreplaceable. 

You are loved. 

Happy birthday.