My giveaway plans were derailed today by a very important little person and his very own 2nd birthday. Little Evan
is two years old today! When I giddily plucked him from his crib this
morning, we snuggled up on Charlotte's bed while I sang him a Happy
Birthday song. At the end of every phrase, Evan chimed in with "cake!"
Happy Birthday to you…cake!…Happy Birthday to you…cake!… Happy Birthday dear Evan…cake!…Happy Birthday to you…cake!
He knows what's important.
It took us till eveningtime to finally make good on the promise of
cake with a small family birthday party. Boisterous cousins followed
Evan about, patting his head and picking him up in turn. By the time
cake was served, Evan couldn't care less about the stir of children
throughout our home. Cake, at last—what a birthday is all about.
I wanted to write Evan a little love note today to enumerate his
sweet particularities at this age, count the many ways in which I love
him. But, Sundays are my busiest days—even without a birthday to
celebrate. As such, the love note didn't happen. And today's giveaway
post didn't happen either. When it came down to it, I had to choose
between photographing and writing a giveaway post and giving my little
son his birthday dues—time, attention and cake. I chose the baby.
I could prep and post today's giveaway
now, but it's getting too late in the night to do our awesome Day 25
prize justice. Instead, I'm going to go for a double header tomorrow and
put up two separate giveaways in two separate posts. Hang tight and
watch for those tomorrow. I'll make sure the deadlines are generous so
you won't miss your chance.
Happy, Happy Birthday to my darling boy. From our early morning
cake-song to my late-night blog update, today, I'm reminded of this
lovely poem by Ruth Hulbert Hamilton—though it could use a new stanza about the internet, the computer and the smart phone:
Song for a Fifth Child
Mother, oh Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing and butter the bread,
Sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.
Oh, I’ve grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew
And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo
But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren’t her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
For children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.
Happy 2nd Birthday Evan!
Thanks, Kelly! I’ll pass it along. He seemed to get that all the fuss was for him. Before bed, he squeezed my leg and said, “Thank you, Me-Ma-Mu.” (My very special Evan-made custom nickname.)
That poem honestly made me choke up. I have been soooo frustrated with my two oldest daughters this weekend. I just need to constantly remind myself that as exhausting and frustrating as it is, this time is also so precious. They’ll never be these ages again! Thanks for introducing me to a new poem!
happy birthday to your little one. love the picture of him enjoying his cake. Thanks for the poem what a great reminder- glad you got to spend the day celebrating with him today. they do grow old way too fast.
Happy birthday Evan! Mummy chose well to spend the day with you.
Happy birthday little man. We share the same birthday! 🙂
You made the perfect choice! Let them eat cake! 🙂
Happy Birthday Evan!!
Thank you for sharing that lovely poem. What a great reminder to always put your children first. It’s so easy to get distracted in today’s world and when it comes down to it all your children crave is your love and attention. Happy birthday to your darling little boy!
Happy birthday Evan!
I love that poem and all it captures for moms. Happy birthday to your little boy!
Happy birthday to Evan ! You are right, he already knows what’s important 🙂
I’ve only ever heard the last stanza. I love the whole poem! Happy birthday Evan 🙂 I love 2 year olds!
A good reason to have a change of plans, Happy Birthday to the little guy! “…babies don’t keep” is so true… my oldest is off to college tomorrow & it seems like time has flown!
Lovely, just lovely 🙂
Happy birthday to your sweet angel! Thank you for sharing the poem with us. I’ve heard the last stanza, but not the others. So beautiful and an important reminder to us mamas.
What a sweet little boy! Thank you for the poem I needed that today.
So cute! Have a great day with family! I’m due with baby #5 is three weeks and I love that poem. Thanks for the reminder!
Awwww, I love that poem! And August 25th is my birthday too (cake!). Hope he had a happy happy day! I celebrated with the snuggles and cuddles of my three little boys (the youngest is just two, too!).
Happy Birthday!
Glad to see you have your priorities straight!! Hope those memories are warming for years to come by both mom and her son.
Happiest of Birthdays Little Evan!!!
I started a sampler with the last verse of this poem 36 years ago when I was pregnant with my daughter. Every time I clean my sewing room I find it and feel regret that I never finished it. That first baby was followed by four more babies and there never seemed to be enough hours in a day to everything. Now that first baby has three babies of her own {they all had a sleepover at Nana’s last night}!I’m looking around my house at the mess they have left behind and reminding myself of the last line in that poem.
I think it’s got so many lovely sentiments in the poem posted. Just like you, time has flown for us..our grandson was your Evan’s size two weeks ago and he’s a sophomore this semester in high school & his sister is beginning her first year of nursing school in college this year. Oh My the time has gone by lickety split !
Thank you for this sweet giveaway ,
Becki
Your priorities are spot on.
Happy Birthday, to your little dear.
Those dolls are darling. Every baby needs a darling doll.
You definitely made to right choice…celebrating your little guy! They just grow up to fast…the moments are to be cherished!
Happy birthday, Evan!
Happy Birthday!!!
Happy birthday Evan! I love the poem, especially since I’m a new mom with a dirty house.
Happy belated birthday to your cake loving boy! Best wishes for happiness always!
Happy Bday, little guy!
Happy Birthday, Evan! Happy Birth Day, mama!
Thank you for sharing Evan’s birthday with us. I truely hope he had a wonderful. A special thank you for including the poem; I am teary and smiling. Such beautiful and true words.
I’m seriously late throwing my comment in- but holy cow! I can’t believe your little guy is 2!! Which is silly, ’cause I was pregnant when he was born, my girl will be 2 in Dec. I’ve never read the whole poem before!! I’ve only read the last verse, actually wrote it for my sister many years ago when she and I were first making babies (in the 90’s, lol) and framed it. She still has it, now I laugh at how great my calligraphy wasn’t. I’ll have to print out the whole thing for her and she can replace it (she’s got baby #12 on the way 😀 ), thank you!!
Oh Lottie Da… what a good name to say! And how beautiful the fabric is… my next grandbaby is still inside my daughter.. .and the line of fabric is calling to me… and oh, how happy I would be if it hears me calling!