{ 2007 07 09 }

Happy Birthday Ian

Today is Ian’s 5th birthday. If you had to describe Ian in a single word, it’s “charming”. He loves to impress people and make them laugh; he’s eager to please.

We tried for 3 years to have Ian. Fertility issues made it harder than we expected. We had just about given up and started looking into adoption, something I wanted to do one way or another. After years of me administering shots to Anna regularly and tests and doctors and me by myself in a room with a cup, at least a half dozen miscarriages, we figured it just wasn’t going to happen. And along Ian came, bottom of the 9th, 2 outs, 2 strikes.

I remember 5 years ago today. Ian was born in a hospital, unlike Alyssa who we had at a midwives’ birth center. Because of the fertility issues and the fact that Anna was 40, we decided hospital would be just fine. Like she did with Alyssa, Anna spent most of Ian’s labor in the shower, running hot water on her back. She pushed for several hours, and out came Ian, all squishy-faced and covered in silky vernix. The placenta didn’t deliver right and Anna lost a fair amount of blood during the delivery. She ended up having to be whisked away for an emergency D&C and a blood transfusion. Ian was fine and his face reinflated to normal shape pretty quickly. Anna spent a couple days in the hospital and we had a big sister party for Alyssa and her friend Katie at the hospital. What a joyful time. I wish Anna were here to see him now. He woke up this morning and said “Dad, you know - it’s a special day today. It’s my birthday!” Ian is a big-hearted boy, so earnest and eager. Yeah, he has his moments, but he consistently makes me proud and I’m happy with how he’s developing. I told him tonight how proud I was of him. We talked about the fact that last year at this time, we were celebrating with Anna, her last birthday celebration for her kids. I told hime he’s been a brave boy this year.

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Now he’s a big boy. He’s been trying to ride his two-wheeler. He’s officially sleeping in his own room starting tonight. He dresses himself, brushes his own teeth, helps with breakfast and coffee, laundry, weeding the garden. As I said, he’s eager to please. Ian’s weakness is TV. If I don’t regulate it, he’d watch 24 hours a day. Thankfully, I do regulate it, especially in the spring/summer/fall when it’s nice outside.

I look forward to Ian going to Kindergarten this year. I look forward to watching him learn to read. I look forward to seeing him grow and learn and discover and love and laugh and cry and hug and kiss and wonder and worry and make friends. I’m immensely glad I have him and will be glad to have him by my side as our worlds continue to change.


We celebrated Ian’s birthday tonight with my good friends Michael and Denise (and their daughter Emma). Ian chose Chinese food for his birthday dinner. We opened presents. We played legos and Wii. And, of course, guitars emerged. We all did a version of “The Garden Song”, a song we did in church a few months ago. Michael and Denise’s arrangement was outstanding. Ian decided to play harmonica (below) for tonight’s version. Enjoy!


Posted by jase on Monday, July 9th, 2007, at 8:50 pm, and filed under Kids.

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