Firefighter Birthday

I am so mad at myself for thinking about pageviews or pinterest or what would bring this blog traffic. Because in the process I lost something I can never get back.

When we had Hudson’s third birthday, I was so excited to share, but I really wanted to be able to offer the firefighter printables we made for his birthday, so I didn’t write the post.

Well, Hudson turns four this month and I never did get that post up. And now all those thoughts and feeling I had about my little guy are gone. I didn’t get them down and I am so mad at myself for that.

This is a photo I snapped of the last time I tucked in my little boy as a two year old.

I can tell you, with great pride, that I am so proud of the person he is growing into. He challenges me in so many ways to be better. He is very sensitive and when those big feelings come, he doesn’t always know how to handle them. He is learning and he is getting better. It has taught me something so very valuable. It serves as a check and balance to how I show up, how I react, how I parent and how I show love.

Hudson has stepped up in a big way as a big brother. He is kind and gentle. When he wakes up in the morning, way too early for my liking, he climbs into our bed for snuggles. It is something I hold so dear, because I know that someday he will wake up and my arms and love will not be the first thing he seeks. He asks every morning if Fiona is up and if he can go get her. When people talk to her, he stands next to her, puts his arm around her and proclaims, “This is my baby Fiona”.

He has started school and is thriving there. He is learning so much and connecting and making friends. His favorite part of the day is snack. Since it is a Montessori school, they set their place, gather their snack, pour their own milk and clean up their mess. Everyday he comes home and reports what was for snack.

He is still obsessed with firefighters. He loves to play with this brother and sisters. He loves imaginary adventures, building, trains, trucks and firefighters.

We love celebrating our people. We do it because of how special it makes them feel.

For Hudson’s birthday, Ross drew fire station doors on the chalkboards. One door is open, with the fire truck ready to roll. We added balloons and his play hat and put his cake on display.

I’m not cake decorating superstar, but when the little guy requests a fire truck birthday cake, you figure out how to deliver. I used this tutorial to make the fire truck cake.

I used plastic table clothes folded as runners. The table centerpiece was a toy firetruck from Hudson’s collection. We also added bunting that Ross and I designed and created the night before.

Ross even added cute details like “HB FD” and “3”. Ahhh….the perks of being married to a graphic designer.

Like just about every party we have around here, it is aunts/uncles/grandparents. We were blessed on that day with some gorgeous weather. In April, in Wisconsin, you just never really know. Last minute, we decided to rent a bounce house so the kids could get outside and get all that energy they had been storing up all winter out!

We have been so blessed with family that loves on our children in such big ways. My kids are so incredibly loved and I don’t take that for granted.

The next morning, Hudson woke up and came out of his room with every one of his tools he had received for his birthday.

In hindsight, I can tell you that three was fabulous. I look forward to four, but it is bittersweet. There are so many things about a three year old boy that I am just not ready to give up yet.