Eating breakfast. Remember this is how he smiles!
We decided we would spend his birthday morning riding the carousel and train at the park. When we arrived we were all smiles. He decided that he wanted to ride the carousel first, so we got in line with our ticket in hand!
He had so much fun riding the carousel for the first time without help from Daddy or Mama. I was a little bit nervous (those horses are higher than you think!), but he was a big boy and did an excellent job!
Next up? CHOO CHOOOOOO! It's time for the train! Let's go get in line and pick our seat on the wonderful train!
The excitement of being on the train was more than any of us could handle. We just wanted to pee our pants we were so delighted. We patiently waited for the train to take off and before we knew it the whistle was blown and we were off on an adventure!
About five minutes into the fifteen minutes train ride Eli decided that he no longer wanted to be on the train. At first, he was very polite about his request to be done with this adventure, but once I explained to him that we had to stay on the train until it stopped, he grew impatient. He started misbehaving; standing up, sticking his arms outside of the train, sitting on the floor, and putting his feet in the air. I consistently and patiently reminded him that he needed to sit on his tooshie with his arms inside of the train but he didn't care. He was done and wanted to get off. He started to cry each time I forced his butt down on the seat and eventually bit or pinched his sister's foot out of anger. At this point, both of my children are crying, screaming actually, and I have no way to escape the train. I JUST WANT TO GET OFF OF THE TRAIN! I held him close to me, in a buddy hug sort of way, the rest of the train ride. He screamed, kicked and pushed me away. All the while, his sister screamed from the baby backpack that was strapped to the front of my body. ARE WE HAVING FUCKING FUN YET? The tantrum didn't end when we actually did get off of the train. He continued to act his age, throwing himself down on the floor. People are looking at me like I'm the worst Mom in the world as they step over my screaming child. I eventually pick him up and throw him over my shoulder, all while carrying Sunny in the baby backpack and we walk our happy asses to the car. That was the longest walk ever. Well, except the 40 mile Avon walk I did a few years back. This was the second longest walk ever. I put him in the car first and then Sunny. I finally sat down in the car and turned around to look at him. He was still crying and I really wanted to be mad at him. I wanted to scream at him for embarrassing me. For ruining my day. For ruining his birthday. But instead, I offered him my hand, which he held, and we just stared at each other until he calmed down.
Once up from his nap, we went to buy his birthday present. A birthday present we've been talking about for awhile now. He was so ecstatic!
He picked out his bike and his helmet, and we were so happy with his choices!
Soon it was time for singing and cupcakes. So we sang and ate cupcakes.
He went to bed that night as happy as a little boy can be. He didn't remember the tantrum on the train or the long walk back to the car, he only knew that his Mama continued to love him and be patient with him the whole day, and tried to make his day as special as she possibly could.
Here's to next year and many more years. I love you Eli.
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