hi, five

Back in September, Luca turned 5-years-old; back in November, I started writing this post.

I had been planning this birthday ever since he turned four because he seemed a bit sad he didn't get an actual party for his fourth, but only a super awesome trip on a ferry boat with his family where he got a toy... I mean, I'm not holding it against him or anything. Really, I wanted him to feel loved for his birthday. So, I thought of all of the things he enjoys and decided to try to incorporate them into his birthday fun (within reason).

He seriously loves animals and is like an animal encyclopedia. In fact, I checked out DK's Animal Encyclopedia from the library and he was constantly "reading" it. So, when he woke up on his birthday I had DK's Nature Encyclopedia wrapped up and waiting for him on the table. I didn't want to get him the same one as the one we had been checking out at the library because it kind of seemed like giving him a book he already had, though we don't technically have it. 

 

On the actual day of his birthday, we went to the zoo. Joe ended up having the day off so we could take a little longer than we usually do. We go to the zoo often because we have a family pass, but Luca is always up for it. 

 

The Zoomasium (yes, that is what it's actually called) has a play area for kids of all ages to run around and climb, but they happen to have these cool toys that all the boys liked playing with. I forget the name of them, but they have all these animals pieces so you can either put together a normal zebra or some hideous eagle-cheetah-fish-bug. (If you live in Seattle, they said they sell them at Top Ten Toys in Greenwood, but when I looked for them at Christmas time they were sold out, of course.)

     

Well, here is the star of the show, Bush Baby. If you have never heard of a bush baby, you're not alone. Everyone asks Luca what it is wherever he goes because Bush Baby (yes, he named him Bush Baby) soon became a constant companion. It was such a surprise that he responded like this considering none of our boys have every really been attached to any stuffed animal or blanket or anything. So, here is my five-year-old and his good friend.

Perhaps you know bush babies by their other name, Galagos? No? Well, in case you were wondering they live in central Africa, are primates, live in trees and are known for their big eyes that make them look like babies even after they are in adulthood, hence the name.


We even sewed a stocking for Bush Baby. Not only does Luca love animals, but he loves crafts. After seeing me work on Leo's stocking, the wanted to make one for his little friend. We used animals that I had already cut out years ago for baby quilts that I never made. And, yes, Luca did actually help with the sewing- by machine and by hand. I mean, I certainly helped, but the layout and everything is his design. He pinned them on and we did two different kinds of stitches to put them on.

The loop to hang it has Bush Baby on it, in case you forgot who it belonged to. It was a fun project to do together, though it did make me exercise patience, gentleness and having self-control about wanting to be in control.

 

Bush Baby even made it into one of the pictures I used for our Christmas cards. If you got one, you were probably wondering what that ratty little tail was attached to.  Now you know.

 Luca wanted this photograph in the card because it was a better picture of Bush Baby, but I had to decide: Does this card need more Bush Baby, or more Leo and Tiz?

Five is fun. Luca makes a lot of things fun; he gets that from his dad. He is busy, but he does crazy things like draw for 30 minutes on different pieces of paper then tape them together to make a "book" and tie something around it as a small gift to me. He says insane things like, "Mom, I haven't worked on my letters in a while, maybe we can do that?" Sure sometimes he's kind of stalling so he doesn't have to rest on the couch while the little guys nap, but sometimes he really just wants to work on his letters. I am constantly amazed at the gift that God has given me in Luca. It takes a decent amount of energy to keep up with him, and sometimes I don't do it joyfully, but it really delights me to see the unveiling of who God has made him to be: artistic, creative, gentle, a peacemaker, funny and smart.

To wrap up the birthday event, we did have an actual party for Luca with both sides of our family. I kind of stay away from themes and what not for various reasons, but mainly I thought of what would Luca like most? Family, especially his boy cousins, and cake were the main things came to mind. I made a Lego cake that went horribly wrong, but thankfully, with Joe's help and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, I was able to chillax and remember what really matters. It was a very large and lovely time that I didn't document at all because I just enjoyed visiting... oh, and I was kind of feeding 20ish people.

Thank you Jesus for giving me five amazing years with Luca.