Five

Dear Conor,

Today is your fifth birthday. Five is a big one, too. I remember turning five and holding up my whole hand while I proudly exclaimed, “I’m FIVE!” Now you can hold up your whole hand! But that isn’t the only thing that makes five big and I can’t help but look back at some of what that whole hand represents from this past year.

Last year we celebrated your birthday at a showroom for backyard playsets. There were dozens of slides, swings, trampolines, climbing walls, and basketball hoops. So many of your friends came to play and we filled the party room with your favorite snacks. Singing happy birthday used to make you anxious and upset — so we served cake without singing. It was the perfect party just for you (even if you didn’t really understand the whole birthday thing).

This summer, Laine’s 2nd birthday, was the first time you really started to get excited about birthdays. You loved singing to Laine and you still talk about her unicorn cake 6 months later. You lit up when we started talking about your birthday this year and have been asking about it for weeks now. Since we are still very much at the mercy of the COVID-19 pandemic, we celebrated five with a basketball cake, candles (especially candles), and lots of singing — at your request.

We brought you to daycare with treats for your classmates. You were greeted by a favorite friend who couldn’t wait to wish you a happy birthday. It’s moments like this that tend to have the biggest impact on me. You are a good friend. You attract the best of people and I pray that you are always surrounded by incredible people. Your teacher brought you around to other classes so they could sing to you while you stood in the doorway. You wore a crown! Your teachers and classmates did so much to make the day all about you and you loved every second of it.

I can hardly remember not singing last year because you love it so much now. You love balloons, birthday cake (well, you mostly love talking about birthday cake), and you really love candles. So tonight, on your fifth birthday, I think about how much things have changed this past year. I am grateful for the love that surrounds you and for everyone who made your birthday special and important. I am excited to watch you continue to grow, learn, and thrive and I can’t wait to celebrate all of your birthdays to come.

Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Conor. Happy birthday to you!
XX, Mom