There is something about that first birthday. I know now a days we count all the months up until that first birthday with almost as much fanfare, but it is still one of the most memorable days of their lives for me because I will carry it with me through all the other memories. I know they will not recall the day and still I want it to be perfect or at least perfectly memorable.
For Brenton we did the big huge family celebration and a small celebration on the actual day which happened to be Thanksgiving. For Emerson we celebrated while at my parents home in NC. It was the day after Easter, so it felt like a week of celebration. It did in fact last two days because Brenton fell asleep before we planned to sing and have cake. Instead of disturbing a much needed slumber to do something that could easily be done the following day with even more excitement and a well rested preschooler, we opted out.
I know Emerson will never know his birthday really lasted for two days, but I will always remember. I will remember the look on his face as we sang to him and that moment he decided to shove the whole piece of cake into his mouth. He was perfect and it didn’t matter what day it was.
He had his party hat on and his big birthday balloons in his hands! He had no idea about the scheduling change and in the end I think it was even better to have an extended celebration. I think what a second child reaching the first birthday milestone has taught me is an exercise in not sweating the small stuff nearly as much as I did with my first born. As a result I believe Emerson is a more agreeable child. He goes with the flow.
His birthday celebration was small and intimate. Just the immediate family in a house on the Neuse river in the warm spring air the day after Easter and the day the day after Easter. I cannot think of a better place to be to capture the memories.
Gigi helped to buy some presents from Brenton to give to Emerson. A foam sword, a lizard and of course the balloons. He also got him a card. Emerson squealed and chirped and hit Brenton with the sword. He also ran with the balloons and giggled when they hit the ceiling if he let go of the string. Cause and effect is one of his favorite games. He was thrilled with the presents from his big brother.
Brenton sang Happy Birthday to Emerson for weeks following his big day. It was perhaps one of the sweetest brotherly moments I have seen from the two of them. Their strong bond is astonishing in many ways because they truly have a care and concern for one another that is clear and Brenton really enjoyed celebrating for his brother.
My special moment is telling Emerson all about the day he was born just before he falls asleep on his special day. He was exhausted and as his eyes gently closed I just finished telling him about how the doctors brought him to my chest and I cried big tears of joy that he was in my life forever. I snuggled his face to mine just as I did on that day and kissed him ever so gently. That is how I celebrate through remembrance. My husband had a different yet still tender and touching approach.
Rolston has enjoyed inventing another nickname for his younger boy who shares his name…the little oner. Because well, he is a oner and oner is funner to say! So we embrace it as the wee one turned one. He is running around now with ease. Although at times he loses his balance and collapses in a heap, he is no longer our wee baby. He definitely transitioned into a full scale toddler. He is our very own little oner!
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