Birthday Week!

Last week was birthday week in our home!  Eli (would have) turned two on Sunday the 4th and Logan turned 25 on the 6th.  It has been a fun week with a few tearjerker moments and a lot of opportunities to remind ourselves how much we have to be grateful for.  It's definitely good for me to have those reminders during tougher times like these.

I can't believe my baby would be two.  Eli's first birthday wasn't too crazy for me to wrap my mind around but I really have a hard time believing he would be two.  I would give anything to see him running around, learning to talk, playing sports, and who knows, maybe even potty training!  I know we would have had so much fun this Christmas as he understood a bit more who Santa was and probably cared more about the presents than the wrapping paper and boxes.  Thinking about all of those things is difficult, of course, but I try to remind myself that we will get to see those things, we just need to wait awhile.  Obviously we would give anything to have Eli here with us but there have absolutely been moments that we've gone through something difficult unrelated to his passing where I knew he was with us and was so grateful to have him on the other side because I know he can work miracles where he is that he wouldn't be able to perform here.  We will continue to cherish having such a perfect guardian angel and do our best to remember that we will get back all of this lost time with him.

It's hard for me to know how much to celebrate the birthday of a child that has died so the last two years we've just played it by ear and done what feels best.  I would assume some years we'll make it a big deal while other years we won't do too much.  Last year was definitely tough and felt pretty somber so I wanted this year to be as fun and happy as possible, even if we didn't go all out.  I feel like we accomplished that!

When Logan and I were with the Jorgensens on New Year's Day, a lot of my family went to visit Eli and sing to him.  They sent us the sweetest video of them singing and it made me so happy but I also shed a few tears as well.  I'm sure he was right there with them!

On Eli's actual birthday we went over to my parents' for a delicious dinner and had a mini party for our boy. We sang Happy Birthday, ate a yummy cake, and of course had to open a present.  Last year my parents got me and Logan each a special gift from Eli and this year they gave little Austin an adorable outfit from his older brother.  Hopefully Eli doesn't mind giving rather than receiving on his birthday :)

I initially loved the the thought of Logan and Eli having their birthdays just two days apart but now it makes me nervous that Logan's special day will get lost in the remembrance of Eli.  I'm determined to make sure Logan has a HAPPY birthday each year so I hope that was the case this year!

Logan had never eaten at PF Changs so we went there for dinner and he loved it!  The highlight of the dinner was definitely the Banana Spring Rolls Dessert.  It is to die for!  The ice cream is coconut pineapple and it is heavenly.  Add fried bananas topped with their caramel/vanilla syrup and fresh fruit and you really can't get any better!

Logan claims he felt very spoiled on his birthday so that made me happy.  Everyone from his co-workers to both of our families and friends made him feel extra special, just like he deserves!  Happy 25th, Rico!  I sure love you and hope you had a special day!