happy 5th birthday, parker!!!

This particular birthday, the big five, could also be considered the year of the boy. I never thought of myself as someone who would jump on the superhero bandwagon (as it is, he doesn’t take those books out at the library, doesn’t watch those shows… so where, pray tell Parker, are you picking up on the superhero culture?!). And yet, in his gift loot–both purchased and wrapped by yours truly–was a Spiderman costume, a Captain America shield, and a Captain America figurine. So, I guess we’re here, I’ve arrived. The mother of a five year old who loves superheroes. I do recall, though it’s been years, a young William–six or seven–tooting around the house in a superhero costume as well. I just don’t remember how we came upon it, who purchased it, whether it was a Nathaniel or Jordan hand-me-down. Now it feels really official. I clicked checkout on that superhero-filled Amazon cart myself. And a certain someone is delighted.
The day began as it does every birthday for the Hunt kids: breakfast in bed! He picked pancakes and raspberries (last year was pretty similar; he likes what he likes.). For dinner? Steak and raspberries. “You sure you don’t want something else? Like string beans or potatoes with your steak?” “Steak and raspberries.” I reinforced several times to him how the day is his and he gets to pick what we do and what he eats so steak and raspberries it was!  Between one trip last week and the next coming up this week, I didn’t have it in me to plan a big birthday party for him. Last year, when given the choice, he said, “just family.” I felt like I should’ve planned something this year. Five! Summer birthday! He really didn’t seem to care, but the guilty Mom in me wished there was a big party for him. Even so, the smile didn’t leave his face all day. He’s a homebody, and likes when everyone is around best. I guess it’s fitting that his birthday be spent being the homebody that he is–plus a few new toys. And a giant balloon which, I see now as I load these pictures, was front and center all day. He was so surprised by it when I brought it in for his breakfast in bed. (Amazon! And then I took it to our local grocery store to have them fill it with helium once he went to bed the night before his birthday.)
Here he is showing you his Spiderman costume. He’s asked that I not even call him Parker when wearing it. I think he prefers it without the mask (can you blame him? That thing has swampy claustrophobia written all over it.). After his breakfast and presents (normally, I like keeping presents-opening till later in the day, but I wanted him to be able to play with them on his birthday, and since I was all about the “the day is yours! you make the decisions!” he decided to open just one at breakfast time. Then he’d look at me. “How about one more?” You know how this went. All presents were open before noon.) A Brady jersey, of course. Somewhat of a “superhero” I guess–if you’re living in the Boston area anyway. While most presents are bought by me, that one was Steve and Steve alone. We decided on a campout. The plan was to sleep in the tent all night long with Dad (and maybe William). But when thunder and rain rolled in around 7, the tent got put away and we went inside to watch The Good Dinosaur (good, but a little too much action for my liking; and some scary birds in it. Parker buried his head in Steve’s neck towards the end and cried when the dinosaur and Spot parted ways. Tender soul, that boy is!). Parker didn’t really mind. He was a little tentative about sleeping in the tent anyway, which I thought was funny. We had ice cream cake too. Store-bought! I really went low-maintenance this birthday, didn’t I? Splashing in the pool in full clothes and a (non-swim) diaper. I already see such differences between him and Parker. He’s like face in the water, splashes in the eyes, Anders-badger do not care. Parker still prefers that his face never go in the water! It would be really hard for me to explain what this boy means to me. Language of the heart! There simply aren’t words. The night before he turned five, I held him in the kitchen and told him how my belly was so big with him this time five years ago, and how I was so excited to meet him. I told him how when he was in my arms I looked at him and knew I’d love him forever. He listens so intently when I talk about him as a baby, or when he was in my belly. He loves hearing those stories. He’s just such a love. He did this end-of-the-year celebration at his school and his part was, “I’m as tough as a rhino, I’m as gentle as a lamb.” Pretty much sums you up, buddy. He can play hard, and he loves really hard too. He’s always cuddling Steve on the leather chair if he’s sitting, even for a moment. He is free with his love in words and action. We just think the world of him. Life wouldn’t be complete if he weren’t in it, that’s for sure. We also gave him walkie-talkies. “Real” ones, as he likes to add (though it still sounds a little bit like “weel” when he says it; those little speech issues are evaporating by the day and I’m going to miss them when they’re gone, to be honest! The way he says hospital is my favorite right now: hostable.). He loved these. Everyone already has a code name: William is Delta 1, Lindsey is Echo 2, Steve is Tank (chosen by Parker; Steve wanted to be Maverick.), I am Goose, and Parker is Eagle 7. The house is the Eagle’s Nest and the garage is the Wolf’s Den. William sounds so official on it. “Hearing you loud and clear Eagle 7. This is Delta 1. Abort mission. Do you copy? Over.”  In closing, a little message to my five-year old (or a one day, much older boy reading back on his mother’s words!): Parker, we love you. You make our hearts full every single day. You are funny and sweet and tender and brave and our lives grew immeasurably the moment you joined our family. Thank you for being you! We’re glad you’re ours. Happy birthday!