My baby boy turned 4! How did that happen?!? I honestly can’t believe it. It feels like yesterday I held him for the first time, breastfeeding and coddling him. As moms, we want them to get big and grow strong yet also stay small, so celebrating birthdays can often really be about us coming to grips with our babies getting older.
Watching Roman grow up this past year has been pretty incredible!
He continues to work with a speech therapist who praises him as a “star child” because he’s making so much progress. He’s a great talker now except occasionally struggling with articulation. I’m a huge advocate for getting involved in our children’s development. As I’ve said before, it’s not just about the work they do in therapy sessions but what we do with them at home. I’m always here to encourage my fellow moms to help their little ones become better talkers!
Roman also graduated preschool. A few weeks ago I watched him strut across the podium at his graduation ceremony. The pride I felt–I couldn’t contain myself! He and all his classmates demonstrated such courage, leadership, and growth. And when they finished the ceremony with singing “Skinnamarink”, the tears came down like a flood–Bart’s too!
In preparation for this 4th birthday, just after graduation, in early June, we first celebrated at The Robot Garage with his school friends and play friends, all wearing custom-made hats touting “The Roman Garage.” The kids had a blast! It was the first time I felt like I wasn’t throwing a party for a baby. He’s becoming a real human!
A birthday isn’t complete unless celebrated on your actual birthday, so of course that’s what we did! On June 21, a group of our closest friends and neighbors got together at our home for playtime, dinner, and cake. The night wasn’t complete though without a total disaster! While trying to light the number candle, the cake exploded! Literally exploded and fell onto the ground. Everyone thought it was funny, including Roman, but I’ll admit, I had to take a moment to myself inside, crying until I re-composed myself. I was so emotional about the birthday milestone, and I think all us moms want things to go perfectly and smoothly, so our kids enjoy them to the fullest. I had hired a photographer to capture Roman blowing out his candles, and that obviously didn’t happen, so I felt bummed about the lost opportunity.
But what a great reminder that the most important thing is all being together, healthy and happy!