Birthday Craziness: Part II

       Ashton has a wonderful and distinct personality that can be quite well characterized by the way he initially chose to make his entrance into my world.  I woke up one Sunday morning, a month before my due date, feeling ever so slightly...odd.  Nothing out of the ordinary, I thought, for a woman who was eight months pregnant.  So I got myself and my little one ready for church and headed out the door at the appropriate time so as not to be late.  I was the ward organist and had to be a little early.  I don't recall if I made it early or not, but I do remember that the odd feeling I had been experiencing had suddenly begun to intensify the moment I settled in to the organ bench.  I began playing the prelude music and for the first time that morning noticed that the weirdness I was feeling had become quite painful in fact, and was coming in waves.  Now my first baby had to be induced on my due date...cause he was ginormous. So I had never actually experienced going in to labor naturally.  I had no idea what to pay attention to.  And since this baby wasn't due for another month, I assumed I was having those Braxton Hicks contractions I had heard of.  Mmm...Nope! A few cacophonous chords, to the delight of the congregation, and four hours later I had an 8 lb 3 oz baby boy in my arms.  I was not ready.  But he certainly was!  So came he did, and I just had to immediately adjust.  It certainly helped that he was the sweetest, roundest, most lovable little man-baby ever (seriously, he could have been born with a bow tie and loafers on and it would not have seemed at all out of place). 

       My wonderful Ashton has kept me on the edge of my seat ever since.  He is, by far, my most active child.  Active, as in: "alive, astir, bustling, hasty, impelling, in force, in play, mobile, moving, operating, pushing, rapid, restless, running, rushing, shifting, simmering, speeding, swarming,"...you get the idea:).  So multiply this by 6 and you have somewhat of an idea of how his friends party went.  C.R.A.Z.Y.!!!  But he was absolutely delighted to have his friends over to celebrate with him, which made it all worth it for me.   

Honestly, I was just so grateful that kids showed up!  Maybe it's just my chronic proclivity towards worrying, but I was feeling so nervous before the party was to start that kids wouldn't come! With every door bell sound I felt more and more relief:).  Open play as all guests arrived...

 My attempt at making it look like a party...

Should have used a runner of some kind.  Oh well!

One of his friends is named Seth...Such a cute name, and he happened to be our favorite guest:)

 We decided on classic yard games for the activities.  Here we have water balloon toss.  I'm not sure they loved it.

Singing and cupcake time.

Gift opening.  Always so awkward.   Can we do away with this tradition please?

       I was glad we did this party for Ashton, and not just because it made him happy.  It was actually quite illuminating.  We discovered that some of the behavior we often attribute to Ashton's very real challenge of having ADHD, is shared by many nine year old children.  That was an exhausting two hours!

       We also celebrated Ashton's birthday on his actual birth date, with just family.  Quiet dinner of his choice, gift opening and cake.  I like calm:).  

I love this picture of Ashton.  I love how his feet barely touch the ground in this adult sized chair.  It reminds me of how much he is learning and growing as a now 9 year old, always striving to be viewed as "big enough" to do more things and have more responsibilities.  

His favorite book series right now...

His request for cake this year: Chocolate strawberries and cream.  It was SO delicious:).  Don't mind the sloppy writing.  I'm working on it!

       Ashton is going to be a force to be reckoned with when he grows up.   He has challenges that most kids his age don't have to deal with, and he is developing an indomitable spirit because of them. He is loyal, loving, funny, deep thinking, and bright.  I regularly marvel at the amazing soul this child has and feel ever grateful to be his mommy.