A letter to the birthday boy

Dear Rowdy,
Five years ago today was three days before you were due to come into this world. Today was the day we planned to celebrate your big brother's birthday. We wanted to celebrate early because we knew we would be busy (and tired) with a new baby boy at home.

You had other plans.

This was the day you were ready to make your grand entrance. You let mommy know first thing in the morning but didn't seem to be in much of a hurry. So she showered, got dressed, cancelled the party, arranged for someone to come over to watch your brother. She even had time to pack her bag (which should have been packed weeks in advance) and to put the birthday cake in the freezer.

Daddy and I arrived at the hospital with smiles on our faces. I knew I could handle anything as long as I had some pain medication and since you didn't seem to be in a hurry, there would be no problem getting it.

I was wrong.

You had your own agenda. Just like you do now.

You came out on your own terms and have lived life ever since just like that...on your own terms.

An hour later, while mommy was still in Triage, she was begging for a room.......begging for some pain medication. By the time they got her in a room she was letting them know you were not going to wait any longer. When the nurses let her know that there was no time for pain medication, a few terrible words came out of her mouth. Ok...alot of terrible words came out of her mouth. Enough to make the nurses somewhat ticked.

You arrived before the doctor arrived.

Since that day you have brought excitement and joy to our lives. You have shown us that you make your own decisions when you want, where you want and how you want whether other people like it or not.

You have taught us that parenting is not that easy after all. What we thought we knew before you arrived has all been thrown out the window because you are unique.

Very unique.

The yelling. The screaming. The stubbornness. The cuddles. The "I love yous". The "I hate yous". I wouldn't change a thing.

Making cold Zoodles. Making cold pizza. Putting sprinkles on your yogurt. Buying Sunny D by the case. I would do it all in a second just to see you smile.

All of the dirty diapers/underwear.....until you were 4 1/2, was not fun and did make me angry at times. I am sorry for getting angry. I should have known that you would stop pooping in your underwear when you were ready. You do things on your own terms. Shame on me.

All of the time spent trying to teach you your numbers was similar to the time spent teaching you how to spell your name. Until the other day, when you printed the numbers 1-10 independently and even knew what each of the numbers were. Another one of my favourite moments ever!

In your short 5 years, you have taught me so much.

It is ok to say "friggin" and "damnithead" in the same sentence.
Wearing two pairs of underwear at the same time is better than wearing no underwear.

It is ok to eat an entire bag of Skittles for lunch.

Yelling can get people to pay attention to you.

Spanking people on the bum hard is a sign of love and affection.

Changing your clothing 3 times in a day because they "aren't cozy enough" is just fine.

Drinking an entire pitcher of orange juice in a morning is ok because "oranges are fruit and fruit is good for you".

Punching and kicking is allowed because you are just "learning how to be strong". How could you get big muscles if you didn't wrestle?? Hmm........

Opening and drinking an entire bottle of cough syrup at 3 years of age isn't as scary for little people as it is for their Mommy's.

Peeing on the neighbours lawn is ok because "dogs do it".

We love you Rowdy. We couldn't imagine our life without you in it. You have brightened our days. You have made us smile. We love you more than you will ever know.

Happy birthday 5 year old!!!!!!

Love Mom

xo