Birthday!!

Today is the BIG DAY!!!  It's Aaron's birthday.  He is 27 years old today.  Wow!  He's been on the countdown for days.  I've heard these statements for quite awhile now: 

"Mom, my birthday is coming!"

"Mom, it's almost my birthday!"

"Mom, my birthday is 4 days away!"

"Mom, my birthday is 3 days away!"

"Mom, did you know my birthday is November the 8th?"
And yesterday:  "Mom, today is November the 7th!"


So today's the day!  He wasn't as excited as I thought he'd be this morning.  Often he doesn't show his excitement when the event is actually here.  It's as if the anticipation is more meaningful than the actual day.  But that's because Aaron has a hard time expressing how he really feels.  All the well wishes, hugs, and happiness on our part almost embarrasses him.  Yet he - and we - would never want to ignore his day.  We understand how he handles all the attention and we just go along with it, trying to help him roll with the flow of his special day. 

I fixed him one of his favorites for breakfast - pancakes, of course.  Maybe you can see in the picture that along with his fork, he also has a knife and spoon.  He ALWAYS has those utensils when he eats, and if I don't put them out he will go and get them.  It doesn't matter if he's eating soup - he WILL have a knife and fork there.  And sometimes more than one!  Also the toothpicks and the napkins that he makes sure are there before he eats.  Routine, routine!

He's intrigued by the new tablecloth that Andrea bought.  We played Skip-Bo on it the other night.  It was a little awkward but it worked, although Aaron kept smoothing out the wrinkles, saying, "Mom, I can't get these lumps out!"  And so as he ate this morning he referred to the pretty tablecloth as "that soft spread thing." 

He gets to eat at his restaurant of choice tonight, and that will be Cracker Barrel.  He decided that several months ago.  Several of his friends (staff) from Paradigm are joining us, as well as Andrea.  It should be fun!  Then back home for Apple Pie - he always prefers Apple Pie over cake for his birthday.  And presents, of course.  Then the day will be done, in Aaron's mind.  It'll be time for him to walk away, go up to his room, put away his gifts and get on with life as Aaron knows it. 

Aaron with our old birthday sign that the kids made for Gary years ago.  We always hang it up on our birthdays!

Another year older.  Another year of life with Aaron - in his world and in his way.  Unique and fascinating.  Sometimes frustrating.  Always coming back to love.