Happy Birthday Joshy

Joshy is 5. Not quite sure how it happened. He was my sweet baby boy such a short time ago and now is a preschooler with a big heart and gentle spirit. He brings so much love and laughter to this house.

Friday he came home from school early after getting sick in the classroom and then in the hallway and again and again through the night. He seemed better the next day so I packed him in the car, as we do on birthdays, and drove off towards Toy's R Us. It is the one day out of the year where the boys get to just run free in a store full of toys and pick out whatever two or three things they want. Half way there, I hear the all too familiar crying from the back seat and tear off the road, pulling him out of his car seat just in time for him to throw up all over the pavement. At the end of it all, instead of tears or any complaints, he looks up at me and thanks me for rubbing his back. When we did finally make it to the store later in the day, he was quite selective or, in other words, took an eternity deciding what he wanted. When we finally checked out, they asked if he wanted to be in the birthday club. It was free, so I thought, sure, why not. I rethought this when they then come walking towards Joshy with balloon in hand. You know, some people have balloon fears and it should be cleared with said people before giving their child balloons to take in cars. I am just thankful that he had been sick and therefore was tired and easily persuaded that balloons had to travel in trunks. This morning he was up and sunshiny, so given to redo, it would not be an argument so easily won. I hate balloons. It is like the haunted house where you know the man earning minimum wage in the mummy suit is about to halfheartedly jump out but not knowing when, still leaves that edge of fear. You don't know when the pop is coming, but in the hands of a five year old, you just know it is. The sound of fingers on the latex makes my skin crawl. I would rather sit in a vat of spiders than have to blow one up. Well, as long as they aren't the kind that crawl up your nose and eat your brain.

To make things more palatable to Ben, I got him a Wonder Pets sticker book with over 700 stickers, all of which I believe ended up on him, papa, the floor or any other surface he could get them on to. He slept with the book and woke up covered in stickers of Lenny, Tuck and Ming Ming, too. He is in full swing two year old grumpy when he doesn't get his way but his idea of a fit, crossing his arms with a pout, just makes me smile for its adorableness. Much easier to not acknowledge than the screaming fits Joshy performed at the same age. Memories of walking through the mall with a screaming child in a stroller are all coming back.

Joshy ended up with two helmets. One of Iron Man and one of a Storm Trooper. Of course, as with all of Joshy's toys, soon after opened, they were being shared by B and Ross. They were shooting the darts at the storm door, wearing the helmets and displaying their skills with the light up light saber and ninja sword.

It was a fun night and my cake I baked, which normally turns out iffy, stuck to the pan or dense, actually turned out good. I can say this because I helped myself to two pieces. I just wish that Joshy had felt better and could better enjoy every one's company. Although, from the sound downstairs, he is making up for it this morning.