Leo's Birthday

We celebrated Leo's birthday this weekend.  I can't believe that our boy is four.  For the party, I hung up a bunch of pictures from throughout his life.  I hardly recognize his sweet little two year old face and the newborns, well, it just seems like a lifetime ago.  When did he become not that little boy anymore?  When did he start telling me stories?  When did it all change from toddlerhood to this boy?

I said that I wasn't going to throw a party this year.  We'd thrown a big one last year and the year before and with it so close to Thanksgiving, it wears me out.  About two months ago, Leo started talking about what his party was going to be like, that there would be a blue cake.  How could I not throw a party?

He has been really excited about the movie Planes lately and asked for a Planes party.  It was actually pretty fun to sit with him and have him look through pinterest with me and to point out what he'd like for his party.

For the first time in my life, I bought a cake.  I'm not sure why it's taken me so long to buy one but usually I throw together some cupcakes and call it good.  When Leo started asking for a Dusty Crophopper cake that was blue (and the fact that we've been hosting company all week and had a horrible cold), I knew it was time to call in reinforcements.  So, we ordered a blue cake. 

We continued on with our new tradition of birthday boxes.  I ran onto this idea on a blog and thought it was so fun.  In a box, you put some little presents and special treats.  Leo's had fruit loop cereal, a carton of little goldfish, a couple cars and of course a small Dusty airplane.  It's been a fun tradition to think about and he loved the box even more than the big birthday presents.  I think we'll keep doing this.

On the birthday day, we invited some friends for a playdate.

In four years, so much has happened.  Leo is our joyful, excited guy.  He is so happy to be alive and takes such joy in the simple things like driving his cars.  We were lucky to have his Grandparents in town to join us for the celebrations too.

The Moms.

Since being in Utah, I have been doing a lot of thinking about Virginia.  I think I'm trying to process all of the changes that have happened and that are coming right up in my life. 

When we moved to VA, it was really a challenge for me.  When the opportunity came to move to VA, we had about 24 hours to decide what we wanted to do.  Immediately we felt like it was the right thing for us.  That doesn't mean that it was an easy experience.  I had been so busy with school and work that when we moved, I felt a bit lost.  I was about 6 months pregnant and was not only making the transition to being home (which we felt was the right thing for us) and to motherhood.  Becoming a mother is one of those really challenging things.  Not only was I learning how to care for a baby but I was also trying to frame out who I wanted to be in this new role.  I wanted to be an intentional and good mom.  I also didn't want to lose myself.  I still wanted to have interests and aspirations outside of my role as a mother. 

There were several pivotal things that happened.  Finding the glass community was first.  The miracle was that they were 5 minutes from our house, which is truly amazing because they are the only facility for about 50 miles.  A real tender mercy in our life.  The second was finding the moms.  I know I've talked about them before on the blog but they have had such a huge impact on my life that I want to talk about them again.  

I found the moms through a New Mom Group at the hospital.  I started attending and learned about being a mom.  Slowly we formed this core group of people who have stuck together.  These moms are intentional mothers who think deeply about how they are helping their little ones to grow.  I can't tell you how much I've missed getting together and I know that Leo has too.  He loved to play and interact with his little buddies.  These moms really took care of us and helped us out when we needed them.  They are some of the most generous, kind people that I know.

Here we all are with our boys.  Only missing Daisy and Lila. 

Leo and most of his buddies at a brunch.  Amy threw us a brunch for all the kids, moms and spouses.  They really were happy to be there.  This is what happens when you try to get 5 almost 2 year olds to take a picture together.  Notice that Leo never smiles in pictures anymore?  Guess it's not just him.

Amy (left) was the one who threw the brunch.  She has been such a good friend.  Tabatha (on the right) was one of my first mom friends. 

 

 

 

 

 

We went out for one last girls night out before the move.  Of course, we had to go into the city together and go to Georgetown.  

I think that they are the loss I am feeling most keenly.  As with any major change in life, there are good things and bad things.  It's good to be here in Logan and closer to family but it's hard too.  I know that I will forever be a better mother because of them.