Happy 6th Birthday Sullivan!

Sullivan, our sweet boy. The one who made us parents and redefined love and purpose. You are now six years old, which blows me away. It has gone by so quickly. 

You are so kind. I don't think I have ever met anyone as intentional with their kindness. You are so little, yet so aware of the impact you have on those around you. I hope that awareness continues to grow with you. 

You are smart. Crazy smart. It’s incredibly gratifying and humbling to watch your mind develop and learn new things. 

You drive your sisters absolutely crazy sometimes, but you are also incredibly patient, inclusive and gentle with them. You and Sela are still best friends and we love watching your relationship grow. The two of you are hilarious together, with your games, your dancing, your singing, your silliness. Lila is still a ‘baby’ in your mind, but she is catching up fast and is starting to be part of the big kid club. 

You live for wrestling with your Dad. It's pretty much all you talk about, all you ask to do and because of it, you are the toughest little boy I know. It has taught you limits (limits well beyond my comfort zone, but still, limits). You know not to wrestle girls unless they say it's ok, you have to be really gentle if you're wrestling someone smaller than you, and you never ever wrestle anyone as hard as you wrestle Daddy (you are sure to tell everyone about these rules).

You know pretty much everything there is to know about every super hero. You’ve been working hard to bring me up to speed on everyone’s super powers, enemies and allies. I’m still pretty lost but I’m getting there! You, Miles and Dad went to the new Avengers movie after your birthday party. You were SO excited, but fell asleep half way through. Dad said you told him the movie was too distracting and you just needed to sleep. 

We had a rock climbing party for your birthday. All of your friends and our family were there and you had so much fun. Pretty much every kiddo at the party quickly climbed half way up the wall without hesitation, then looked down and panicked at how high they were. Uncle Dennis had to make a couple of rescues, but all in all, it was a great party.

You have a lot of friends and I am so proud of the way you interact with other kids. The other day I asked you who plays with a certain boy in your class. You said you didn’t know and that he asked to play with you and your friends the other day and you said no. You paused for a second and said, and then I realized that I wasn’t being nice so I went and told him that he could play with us. I was so incredibly proud of you. We aren’t always going to get things right the first time, but you realized that you made a mistake, that you hurt someone’s feelings, and you made it right. Keep doing that buddy, it’s an amazing thing. You’re only six and you already get it. 

You are the healthiest eater I know. You will pick an apple over almost any other food, you like raw vegetables (never cooked), you prefer water, you’re not a big meat-eater but we told you it makes you strong so now you’re pretty willing. Your Dad took you to McDonalds the other day and you had a hamburger, you asked for another one of ‘those burgers from that place’ the next day. We told you no because they are really bad for you. You cried you were so devastated. Just proves that even the healthiest eater can be derailed by McDonalds!  

Auntie Aleshia took you to Mobius, the kids museum the other day and she told me how proud of you she was. You were playing the bongo drums on the little stage and an older boy with Downs Syndrome came up behind you and started playing your drum. She said you stood there for a moment looking at him and then you sat down next to him and started playing a smaller drum. Pretty soon the too of you were just playing away at the bongos together. The boy had a huge smile on his face. You didn't get upset that your drum was taken away, you didn't leave because he was different, you just played. You might not fully understand disabilities and differences at this young of an age, but I know you already understand compassion and acceptance at it's core. I could burst with pride when I see the way you treat others. 

You just learned how to snap, you love to dance and you’re always willing to do so when I ask (which is admittingly quite often). You can’t carry a tune in a bucket, but you sing your little heart out and it is the cutest thing ever. It's my favorite.

We love you Sullivan, Sully, Bean, Beano, Bean Baby, Sull (you tell me that’s what your friends call you at school ;) You are an amazing little boy and we are incredibly proud to call you our son.

Xoxo

Mom and Dad

 Isn't this how everyone eats their snack?