The Sixth Love Language aka Happy Birthday Hyrum

In years past, many of my friends studied the Five Love Languages. Most said this framework gave them valuable insights into their relationships. I must admit I've never cracked the book. I've heard enough to have some idea of the framework presented. Words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service, and physical touch, right? Yeah, I'm pretty sure he left one out. I'm pretty sure there's a sixth love language, because after 30 years of self study, I'm almost certain my love language is food. I love food. I love to eat it. I love to cook it. I love to give it to other people, and I love to accept it from them. Sharing good food with someone always makes me love that person more.

So, Hyrum, on the day after your first birthday, I will say only this. I loved you hard all day long.

* * * * *

He awoke to his mother singing happy birthday.

Then, we had a delicious waffle/berry medley for breakfast. Even if I do say so myself.

After that, some family bonding time with a couple special birthday travelers.

Cake time approaches . . .

Luckily, he is manly enough to be unphased by the fact that I somehow lost the box of non-pink candles I had dug out a few days prior.

Evelyn was OK with it not being her special day since we fed her lots of cake and ice cream anyway.

Cake time. Song time.

The birthday king surveys his subjects.

His mother had to help him with the cake. The homemade ice cream, he handled alone (if by alone we mean ate it like a starving person when it was spoon-fed to him).

Present time was well-received.

Look, this is a dinosaur. It is a toy. Let me show you what to do with toys.

Securing the table at the UWS Shake Shack on a rainy day.

French fries. Shack burger. Chocolate peanut butter pretzel custard. In that order.

Birthday dinner attendees part 1.

Birthday dinner attendees part 2.

After that, we came home, gave him one final bottle, and put him to bed in new dinosaur pajamas. A successful birthday all around.

A new era of freedom awaits

Evelyn was never an accomplished napper. She started to move from two naps to one around 9.5 months. Having read all the baby sleep books ever written (which is only a very slight exaggeration), I was certain she could not possibly be ready to take only one nap since she was still almost 6 months shy of the recommended transition point. I fought it for weeks, until she turned 1. Then, I just gave up, and I discovered that one nap is awesome. Sadly, even that one nap was already in jeopardy a year later, but at least she plays well during "play in your room by yourself time."

Hyrum is a much more accomplished napper than his sister, but I knew from the beginning that he would also have to transition early since I don't plan to spend almost 100 NYC summer mornings stuck inside with my three year old so my 13, 14, or 15 month old can nap. Happily, he came to the same conclusion a week or so ago, and all of a sudden, he's ready. So, as of today, I am pleased to announce that Hyrum takes only one nap per day. Even more than the anniversary of his birth, which we celebrate later this week, I see this as the end of the baby era.

As I was typing this post, he turned around and, for the second time this morning (but the first time other than that), said "Hi!" to me. Plus, Saturday a week ago, I'm pretty sure he tried to say "Bye" to the husband of one of John's colleagues. The end of the baby era indeed.