the boy

 

I woke up a whole new mama today.  I had a bad case of the frumps all week.  The frumps and the angsty at bedtime and the woes me work is so exhaustings.  Not my best self.

But I woke up this morning, now that my boy is actually two, and I was back on my game.  I didn't realize how much was going on inside of me as I thought about his birthday.  When Elie turned two, it was all so clear.  It was all about her then, all about a milestone, all about my baby no longer a baby.  But Soli's always been part of the bigger picture.  I reflect on him, but it's a reflection on us all.  Eliana was a looney tune this week as she navigated her feelings about her brother being celebrated.  She was in control of all things birthday in an attempt, I imagine, to have some control over her emotions.

I think I may have been doing the same thing.  Because the highly effective mode of my birthday brain was a force.  I was in total control until I wasn't.  Like managing the sudden bursts of spring rain or cold weather.  Or knowing exactly how many cupcakes to bake.  How many packages of penne?  It was annoying.  I was glad to wake up feeling a bit more settled in my me-ness.  When I play highly effective turbo charge mama, it's not really the gentle-ist, most fun-loving gillie t.

But, even if I was turbo-charge, Soli's birthday was lovely.  We woke up and had birthday eggies and opened presents.  Soli got an arsenal of new instruments, a banjo and accordion from Gran and a guitar from mom, dad and el.

 

 

He was in seventh heaven.  His new favorite word is banjo.  He carries his banjo around like it's a second Softie.  He slept with his banjo.  His new banjo, his new plastic football and his new little elmo, all curled around him in their wooden, plastic, cumbersome goodness.  I love that boy.

I then turned him over the the birthday fairy, Caroline, who I know gave him nothing but extra love all day.  When we pulled up, all his little buddies were lined up, peering out the window of the door, waiting for us to come, waiting to celebrate their little Soli.  He was off with a flourish, off in his land of trains and books and balls.  And Caroline got a new piano.  Watch out.  Soli loves him some piano.

After an insane in the membrane, highly turbo charged work day, El and I raced home to decorate the cake.  Birthday boss insisted (that being, uh, her...).  After I tried not to get too type A as Eliana made orange blobs with icing all over my beautiful, made from scratch, trying to be too perfect mama homemade cake, we managed to move on to pick up.  Caroline does a tremendous job celebrating each child on their big day.  She makes them the cake that they want with nothing but the best ingredients, quinoa flour and organic fruit, perhaps a tiny hint of honey.  Soli wanted a football cake so Caroline rigged up an awesome football with nutella and some all-bran cereal.  It was incredible.

So we sang birthday song number one, ate birthday cake number one, and had birthday party number one.  Then we raced back home so mama could make noodles and salad and get frantic again.  Sweet Melissa talked to me in the heat of my birthday mania, got me to chill out, breathe, relax.  Thanks, girlfriend.  Then it was on to the park.  The sun actually managed to come out and a few friends gathered to celebrate Sol.  We set up a card table under a tree and had a little picnic.  As Jeff said, there couldn't be a more perfect place for Solomon to eat his dinner than off a big boulder in the park.

 

The party accelerated as the dark thunderhead above moved in.  We sang song number two, blew candles number two, ate cake number two.  Sol got some beautiful gifts and felt lots of love from his peeps.  We were all more than ready for bath and books and bed when we returned. 

I was more than ready to take a really, really long bath, finish, my novel, and sleep hard for the first time in a few days.  Until, of course, Soli joined me.  And then El.  So we did our night time shiftaroo, Sol with me and Jeff in the twin bed with El.  Lucky Jeff.  He's a good sport.

I loved waking up and knowing that I was on the other side of another mega-moment.  Life is pretty much one big, mega-moment these days.  So I took a cue from my lil guy.  I took a deep breath and dove right in.