Happy birthday, Buddy

Ryan loves to party. He really, really loves birthdays and celebrating and everything that goes with it. Starting in January, he woke up every morning and asked, "Is today my birthday party?" The weird thing is that he hasn't been to a lot of parties in his three short years, but that didn't stop him from planning his own birthday party starting back in OCTOBER-- five months before his 3rd birthday. He had very specific, ever-changing plans and I found myself conflicted between making his little dreams come true, nervous that I wouldn't execute things to his liking, and remembering that I'm the parent and he doesn't call the shots on what I envisioned to be a casual party with family and a few friends at the park.

Party hats? Very important. Balloons? Also important. The theme? He started with Mickey but then switched to Paw Patrol, Blaze, monster trucks, Blaze again, and then backhoes (What are backhoes?). I genuinely offered to combine everything he loves: Mickey napkins, Paw Patrol plates, bulldozer balloons, etc., but he just laughed and said I was silly. I finally just took him to Party City and told him that whatever he picked was what we were going with, no backsies. Blaze it is!

Oddly, when I asked what kind of cupcakes he wanted, he simply said, "Regular ones."

Whatever, dude. You're a grown man trapped in a three year old's body and I don't know how to help you.

He asked that Katelyn and I wake him up on his birthday by singing Happy Birthday while wearing party hats. We gladly obliged, but I think he quickly regretted his decision. Apparently it was too early for song because he growled and quickly asked us to stop singing. Once he woke up a little, he was absolutely thrilled that it was finally his birthday and had a great day.

So happy birthday to the sweetest little man I know-- the one whose smile lights up a room and the lives of those around him. He is consistent, responsible, charming, ever the encourager, and--on most days--a true delight. He will lay in his bed for 30 minutes early on Saturday mornings and just sing... never fussing to get up, just happily singing.

He is so easy to love.

And may he always want to celebrate, because there is so much in life worth celebrating.