Due to being on holiday for the week preceding your birthday this year it was celebrated with slightly less hullaballoo than usual. We had a ‘birthday event’ rather than a party in the field at our campsite, attended by several friends and your cousins. I think it was also quite symbolic as a mark of how you have changed this year that you were happier in a smaller group with established friends playing cooperative games than needing to be the centre of attention in a big group this year.
Ben 10 is your current passion although things get slightly less of a grip on you these days and you have more room for other interests rather than the single-mindedness of your early childhood when you had exclusive passions. It has still set the theme for most of your presents though – that and DS games which is your other big interest right now.
We celebrated your actual birthday as usual with family – your grandparents, great grandmother, uncle, your sister and us. We had a lunch of your favourite lunch foods and then at your request we went out to a restuarant that serves steak and chips on their children’s menu.
You all but saw your birthday in the night before – I think you just missed it by falling asleep at 1145pm but you went right through into the following morning on your actual birthday by staying awake after both Daddy and I – very ‘you’, you are real nightowl.
Last night while you and I grabbed a quiet few minutes together in the middle of the bedlam that was a meal out with my family and two very tired children I told you about how I’d tried to look into the future and imagine birthdays at each age on the day I gave birth to you. I explained how I’d had hopes and dreams for you at all ages and so far you have done an amazing job of surpassing all my highest expectations. At eight, which seems so very big I really couldn’t have wished for more. You are caring, kind, compassionate, happy, healthy, sociable, curious and thriving. I did explain that meant you had a challenge ahead to meet nine at such an impressive standard this time next year!
Happy 8 my darling – hope you continue to laugh, love and live shining brightly all the way through it. xxx