Baby is 5

Today is Todd's Birthday. He is five years old. He woke up this morning very early, he told me, but waited to get up until I was up. I got up around eightish, and as I was passing the boys' room I glanced in, thinking they were still asleep. Todd was laying quietly on his bed with a pleased look of accomplishment on his face. I said, My baby! Today you are five! He sat up and I hugged him and hugged him, and he said, is it true? Is today my birthday? When I said yes he started jumping around.

My kids just knock me out, every day. So pleased to be 5! His birthday party this year will be at the Great Lakes Science Center in downtown Cleveland. It's right next to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It will be a joint party with his cousin Juwanza, who is turning 6 in a couple of weeks. He is looking forward to it.

Later on today we'll rent a couple of movies and make popcorn and stay up all night, and I'll make cupcakes with chocolate frosting, too. We try to save most of the festivities for the party. It seems like I just had Todd, it really does, I sometimes still refer to him as my baby. Now, the baby is this big five year old who reads me stories and gallops about the house, who takes his job of feeding the cats seriously but not picking up his toys, who plays and fights with and worships his big brother and sister. I love him very much, and I am so proud of him.

Happy Birthday, Todd!