Little Boys and Birthdays

 Birthdays are a pretty momentous occasion in a child's life. New clothes, new toys, loads of birthday cake, and enough ice cream to give an elephant brain-freeze, but I think the first birthday is probably the best. Especially for parents. I had more fun planning Ethan's birthday party than I've had for any of my birthdays and he'll never remember it--except through pictures in an photo album.

I think 1st birthdays are as much a celebration for the parents as for the child. It's a pat-the-back, the sigh of deep relief, and a feeling of accomplished pride that marks the first year of parenthood.

Congratulations! You made it.

One year down, lots more to go.

Despite the lack of sleep, the ever-present spit-up that adorned your outfits, the diaper changes in the most conspicuous places, losing your hair to little hands that won't let go, you succeeded. Go you!

And you never celebrate alone.

Dan's parents, Jim & Gloria, flew in from Texas for their annual Utah trip especially for Ethan's birthday. Since we only get to see them 2 or 3 times a year, this was pretty special.  Ethan is probably the least shy baby ever and even though he hasn't seen them since Christmas he had no problem being held or being near Jim & Gloria. It's been really fun having them here to visit.

So the the whole time they've played together, gone on walks with Grandma, read stories with Grandpa...

And, of course, spending time with Daddy.

 We went down to Salt Lake on Friday to go to my brother-inn-law Cody's dentist office for our check-ups, we went out to dinner at Outback, which Ethan thought was incredibly fun and charmed all the waitresses with his little smile and antics.

Then we headed out to my brother Kevin's house in Eagle Mountain to celebrate birthdays for Kevin and his daughter Mckenna. Kevin's birthday is the 17th, Ethan's the 18th, and Mckenna's the 19th--so we celebrated a lot of birthdays this weekend.

Remember how I said Ethan wasn't shy. Well, he isn't shy or scared of anyone--except with one person. And then it's not shyness. It's panic. We really really tried to get Ethan to bond with Uncle Cody again.

It didn't work.

It just got worse the closer Cody got...

And worse...

And even worse...

Ethan just about had it by this point and it took awhile for us to calm him down.

 Poor little guy.

Doesn't he look just like his Daddy?

The next day, my whole family trekked up to our house in Logan for Ethan's birthday party.

 

See Part 2 for Ethan's Alligator Party

(otherwise this would be an uber-long post)