Our 7th Annual Parenting Assessment/ Old Year's Celebration

It's New Year's Eve, and we've been partying all day. In fact, we've partied so much already, I'm not sure we'll be awake to welcome in the new year. Why, you may ask, would we start partying so early? Do we have some ambitious goal to welcome in the new year in every time zone? Of course not. We're weird, but not that weird. We've been celebrating for an even better reason.

Jacob is 7!

Today marks seven years that Chris and I have successfully kept him fed, clothed, mostly bathed, and I'd say pretty happy. I think we've only dropped him on his head twice in seven years, and we've only lost him in stores twice too (once for me and once for Chris). I think that makes us pretty good parents, especially since he is our first-born, practice child. You see, with the first kid, you're allowed a certain learning curve in which to screw up a few times. We're finally starting to figure out this whole parenting thing now that we're on number three. I feel sorry for the parents of only children. They have to get it right the first time. We're more "practice makes perfect" kind of people.

Despite all of our mistakes, Jacob has turned out to be a great kid. He's a high-energy, fun-loving boy who is incredibly bright and always patient with his brothers. He never ceases to surprise and amaze us. I can't imagine what life would be like without his big smile and his sense of humor. And he is 7! And that is something to celebrate.

Poor Benjy missed most of the day's celebration when Chris took him into San Diego to the doctor. Benjy's welcoming in the new year with a horrible ear infection. The bad news is he ruptured his ear drum again. The good news is he actually feels a little better now that his ear is draining. Despite his pain, Benjy came home ready to party. And party we did.

Since we couldn't go out for fun as planned, we stayed in and had a scavenger hunt for presents. Then we let Jacob decorate his own cake, with as much candy and sprinkles as he could fit on it. I'm pretty sure his cake would have sent my dad into a diabetic coma. Jacob insisted on sharing his birthday fun with Benjy by making him open presents and decorate the cake too. Yeah, he didn't really have to make him or even ask him twice. 

Just as Jacob was about to blow out his candles, he declared today to be the best birthday ever. This is coming from the kid who had asked to go to Legoland. I'm just happy he's happy with Plan Q, or T or whatever letter we're on now.

So Happy Birthday to the most adaptable kid on the planet.

And Happy New Year to everyone else. May 2011 bring you much joy, peace, love and prosperity.