i have a 63-year old child

pablo turns eight, 2011.

pablo turns nine today!

or 63.

however you want to look at it.

i was up late making pupcakes (which contain regular, dog-friendly baking ingredients but taste like cardboard. think whole wheat cupcakes.) i put the finishing touches on the slideshow and trivia game, and robert prepared the pork roast for our cookout tonight.

i rose at 5:30 to clean the house, put up the requisite birthday banner, wrap all his gifts and prepare the goodie bag for the trivia winner.

a bit much?

i think so too, but then i think about the five years that he wasn't mine. the five years he was abused, neglected, starved and left alone. and all of a sudden, spoiling him doesn't seem so bad.

because life's about days like this. silly memories that you create that someone else might not understand. wearing a pretty dress to wal-mart because it's a nice day out and your hair is falling in a good way and you feel like it. staying up late to watch reality television even though tomorrow is a big day. eating breakfast for dinner and cake for breakfast.

because in breaking those little rules we gain something big. i'm not sure what that is yet, but i'm learning. and honestly having quite the ball in the process. are kids this much fun? goodness, i hope so.