Happy birthday!

S.D. Conference, Independence Day and Brian's Birthday


The last week of June we were preparing to leave for San Diego, to attend Jeff's conference. A doctor's appointment the Friday before we left was heart-breaking for me as that is when I learned that my pregnancy wasn't progressing normally - it would end in miscarriage.


I didn't care to go Southern California but I didn't want Brian to miss the trip because we don't get the opportunity to go on trips often.


So it was that we made the long drive to S.D. in the last week of June. Brian enjoyed his first visit. We had a nice room in a hotel on Shelter Island. While Jeff was at conference, Brian and I were on foot, usually in search of food. While it was nice to be in S.D. it was uncomfortable for me because I had to walk everywhere I went, pushing my son in his stroller and it was hot there that week. None the less, I was glad that my baby had a good time. Brian was able to go to Sea Port Village and Old Town S.D.


After conference we went to visit my sister and her family. Once again, Brian's cousins were ill with HFMD. I considered skipping the visit altogether but we see them so rarely that I thought we'd have to risk the exposure and hope Brian didn't get too sick.


Luckily, Brian had a great time with his cousin. And, although he contracted HFMD, he wasn't very sick from it.


On July 2nd was Brian's birthday photo session. He didn't tolerate very much before he became fussy and uncooperative. Again.


July 4th weekend we were at Ethan's house. It was there that Daddy pulled the sparklers out for the boys. The boys and their Daddies went to the backyard to light their sparklers. While they were playing with the sparklers, Brian started crying abruptly. It was later, while I was helping him get a drink that I realized that he had been burned. He was injured on his hand, in between his thumb and index finger. Daddy said that it must have happened when Brian reached to grab the sparkler.


On Monday, July 4th, my sister was going to join friends at the local park for the firework show. Before my sister left for the park, we shared a small birthday cake in honor of Brian's upcoming birthday. My sister left for the park afterwards and I chose to wait because it was a very hot day. We joined them in the late afternoon, however, where they had a party set up. We were given hotdogs to eat. Uncle Vic bought the boys light sabers and we waited in the cool evening for the fireworks display. The park was crammed full of visitors, a band played music and everyone seemed to be having a good time. The fireworks were great to watch and Brian was able to watch most of the display before losing interest.


We packed to leave for home on Tuesday, July 5th but I was sick  that day and we had to return to my sister's house. We left for home on July 6th.


Brian's birthday was on Wednesday this year. It was a terribly hot week here at home. Jeff left for work and Brian and I were left alone to get some errands done before Jeff returned. We made the long drive to the Sprouts shopping center. I spotted a teacher's store so Brian and I went in there first. He was happy to have found a set of train tables to play with. He didn't want to leave the store but I told him that we could return for a visit at a different time.


We picked up a small cake at the grocery store and then made our way to the party supplies store where I bought him a balloon bouquet. They were out of the Thomas the Train foil balloon in standard size so I had to buy a jumbo balloon and it was a challenge to secure it in the car, in a way that would allow me to drive safely.


My poor son had not had anything to eat save for a snack before we had left for the day, but it was late by the time we made it back home so I gave him another snack while we waited for Daddy to return from work. Once he arrived he suggested we take Brian to John's Incredible Pizza. We drove to the shopping center where Daddy bought Brian a used Tonka police squad from the second-hand children's store. We then made our way to John's where we had dinner from their buffet and then helped Brian play a few of the games.


At home, we shared Brian's birthday cake and helped him open his presents. His Grandma Parsons and his Grandma Karen had each mailed him a birthday card that week and Ethan had also handed Brian a birthday gift at his house, while the boys were together in his home.


Despite the relentless heat, July was a good month for Brian. One filled with fun. And I feel incredibly blessed to have this precious boy in my life.