Today is Julius’ birthday. He is five. NOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Sorry, I had a moment there, but how is it possible that my youngest is five today? How is possible that my oldest is 10? And then there’s that 7 year-old in the middle. How did this all happen? Well, of course, I know how, but it was just a breath ago, that they were all little monkeys, hanging round my neck. Small bundles of baby mush snuggled in my arms. Big open mouth kisses on the cheek. Spit up everywhere. Cheerios everywhere. Words that were ‘almost’ words, that only I could understand.
And now my baby is five. Next year, we, uh, I mean he, starts Kindergarten. I can’t even pretend he’s a baby any more. Okay, I can and I do, but there’s no denying that my junk-food stealing, boobie-snatching rascal is growing up.
Growing up. Sigh. I just got him, and that was no easy feat. No one could ever accuse me of being a fertility goddess. I needed some help with Tyler. I needed more help with Michael. Julius, it seemed, would take a village.
So today, I want to thank that village for helping to bring my happiness to life…
- My mother, for just saying “Okay, if that’s what you want to do. I’ll be there to help,” when I told her my intentions to drag my other two children to a fertility doctor with me, for almost daily monitoring and shots.
- The other patients at the clinic, most of whom didn’t have one baby, let alone two, and had to sit there in the waiting room with me and my children.
- I guess I have to thank the fertility doctor, because I got my baby and that’s all that matters, but honestly, he was kind of an ass. The staff, on the other hand, was stellar.
- My faboo friend Heidi who came over and took the drugs from my shaky hands and expertly mixed them, and for leaving her night out at 11pm, to come and give me the big shot, the one my husband was so afraid to give me that he considered asking our contractor, who happened to be there at the time.
- My squeamish husband, who at first, had some reservations about having a third child – he was afraid it might be a girl! – but ultimately supported and stood by me through it all. Once convinced, he was all in. With baby Julius, as he is with our older boys, there couldn’t be a better dad. Okay, he could do better with bedtime, but besides that.
- My boys, not even two and four at the time, I schlepped them around, and they didn’t seem to mind if I was a hormonal, cranky mess. Probably wasn’t so different from my normal cranky, sleep-deprived mess.
After the shots, the drugs, the pregnancy, and a delivery, in which, I literally thought I might die, there is finally Julius. Ah Julius. Wild. Gorgeous. Funny. Mischievous. Loving. So big, such a baby. Now, here’s where I want to be poignant. I want to write words that capture the essence of my beautiful boy, but I’m staring at the screen, thinking of my little Tasmanian devil with tears streaming. I wanted him so bad. I felt the need in every aching bone in my body. So I thank my friends, family, random strangers, lady luck and both divine and scientific intervention for the gift that is him. He is wonder and magic. His happy face fills a room with energy, love and sparkling life. He completes our family. I could never capture his beauty. I can barely catch him to take a bath.
Two days old. Can he be any cuter?
Happy birthday my baby love, may you live happy and healthy till 110 and never leave me. Poo Poo Poo.
(Okay, I was kidding about that last part. You can leave when you’re 100, just like your brothers 😉 )
Oh yeah.
Icescreammama 
What wonderful gifts!! Jordan is my gift and he completes my family!! Thanks for sharing and happy birthday to a special boy!!
Aw. Five is a wonderful age! Happy birthday to him and what a big day for you! What a great story! I love that you dragged your kids to the fertility doctor to have him. You are blessed. And so are they. 🙂
You’re transmitting pure energy and love! Lucky family with a mom like you!
XoXo!
thanks you!! 🙂
he is lucky to have a great family like you guys, and he is the cutest by the way
happy birthday
love grandma and grandpa
Now I have tears in my eyes. You are a lucky woman. He’ll always be your baby. Beautiful tribute to a beautiful boy.
thank you. it goes so fast. 😦
Happy Birthday Julius!!!!! I remember when you were just a bubble in a syringe! xxxooooh
He is gorgeous! Happy, happy birthday to both of you. Our Rhys came with a similar fertility story and I was thinking just this morning what a miracle it is that out of all my eggs/Mike’s sperm we were blessed with our two miracles. Great post!
it’s amazing. doesn’t matter how you get em, as long as you get em!! How was DISNEY??????!!!
Hey, how’s that…they reckon all the good people were born on this day 😉 I knocked one up as well…!
Today is TomO’s birthday????
11 December…me!
What??!! Happy birthday!!! I think my little one has a spark of your adventurous side! I hope you had the most wonderful day!!! 🙂
Thankyou, and good for him…TomO was doing crazy things by that age…
so much fun!!! 🙂
Happy Birthday Julius! Isn’t it amazing how our baby’s just steal our hearts! The love that we feel for them, so deep, so pure, that it moves us to tears as we watch them grow. My oldest is 17 and I will tell you that what you feel right now will be exactly how you will feel when he turns 17. No matter how old they get, they will ALWAYS be our babies! ❤
amen to that!!! 🙂
Well now I’M crying, and I don’t even know your kids! My oldest will be five in a few months and then off to kindergarten and I’m dreading it. Great post!
well, you’re easy to make cry with all those hormones! 😉
but it is all so bitter sweet… growing up is so tough – on the parents!!! 😉
Awwwwww. I feel you, mama, even though my baby is 11. Especially when you said when “we” start kindergarten. I remember that so well.
Happy birthday to your absolutely adorable little Tasmanian devil.
thank you!! our babies are always our babies!!!
Your baby Julius is GORGEOUS! Happy Belated Birthday big boy. I too hope that you stay with mommy till your 100 years old! Someone’s got to serve her ice cream! 🙂
YES!!! Exactly!
My baby is 8, and his brothers are 13 and 16. Like you I don’t know how it happened so fast. My eldest son recently said, “Mom, I think it’s time for me to learn to cook. I could be living in another city going to university in a year and a half.” I am in complete denial!
denial is a beautiful thing. 🙂