A Birthday Weekend to Remember

It's Sunday afternoon.  Sleeping Joe and I are at Bongo Java.  Old Cold Play on Spotify - "Parachutes."  Good music to recap J.P.'s 6th birthday weekend.  And a weekend it has been!

Friday night, we had a delightful family birthday dinner at Mafiozza's in 12South.  Present and accounted for were Jane and Jim White, Margaret McCutcheon, "Great," Meemaw and the four of us.  The highlight of dinner for J.P. was making a dough ball, watching it cook in the pizza oven, then eating it.  He loved it.

Next, it was home to eat birthday cupcakes from Gigi's and open presents.  And J.P. is all about the presents.  It's crazy, but between Jude and me, our families and the birthday party yesterday at Bounce U (more on that later), J.P. got enough presents to stock 2 aisles at Toys-R-Us.

Yesterday morning, it was off to Bounce U for J.P.'s birthday party.  Our 3rd consecutive birthday party for him at Bounce U, no less.  We suggested we have his birthday party somewhere else, but J.P. insisted he wanted to return to Bounce U.  It's soooo easy to have his birthday party there, because they do everything.  We just show up, play, eat cake, get presents and write a check.  See?  Easy.  

This morning, Jude, Joe, J.P. and I had a birthday weekend breakfast at Bongo Java, my second home. George, one of our favorites who, in reality, is an artist moonlighting as a barrista, made J.P. a special cup of "warm chocolate" (J.P.'s alternative to hot chocolate).  

After breakfast at Bongo Java, J.P. and I headed over to the Bridgestone Arena to watch the Predators' morning skate, before tonight's home game against the Washington Capitals.  It was a promotional event for members of the Predators' kids' club.  J.P. sat with his face glued to the glass for an hour, as we watched the Predators go through the routine of a game day morning skate.  It was a real treat.  

Mitch Korn (the goaltending coach) and head coach, Barry Trotz, each tossed pucks over the glass to J.P., which was thrilling for him.  Patrick Hornqvist, taking a break during a drill, banged the glass and smiled at J.P. and, later, Roman Josi waved to J.P. with his hockey stick.  You could have knocked J.P. over with a feather.  He was in heaven.  Before we left, he got Nick Spaling's autograph in the Predators' yearbook, which topped off a perfect Sunday morning.

Eric Nystrom #24

Patric Hornqvist #27

Rich Clune #16

Nick Spaling #13

Really, just a great birthday weekend.  It's hard to believe it, but J.P. is 6 years old.  Wow.

JP at 6

John Patrick, my oldest son, turns 6 tomorrow.  Emotionally, I'm kind of a mess.  I feel happy, sad, nostalgic, proud and very, very blessed to have him in my life. 

It goes without saying that I never knew 6 years could pass by so quickly.  Plus, as Jude noted earlier tonight after the boys were in bed, time is going to continue to speed up.  It sure isn't slowing down anytime soon.

J.P. and I went to the Predators-Sabres game tonight.  4 goals by the Predators in the 1st period, including Shea Weber's 19th of the season had J.P. standing and cheering.  He loves the Predators, which is great, because Jude and I do, too.

One of the big differences, for me, as I watch Joe (at 2) and J.P. (at almost 6) grow up is that every day with J.P. is uncharted territory.  In other words, J.P. has already been as old as Joe is, every day that passes, so I've already seen J.P. at the age Joe is, every day.  Joe is his own guy, for sure, but I'm a little more secure with Joe, having been through everything once already with J.P.  To the contrary, every day with J.P. is a new adventure into uncharted territory.

There's so much I love about J.P. 

His love of music, which is something we share.  Just today, as I drove him to school, I played him a new Drive-by Truckers' song, "Primer Coat."  As he listened to the song for the first time, he did what he always does when he likes a song he hasn't hear before - he got quiet, looked out the window and just listened intently.  When the song was nearing the end, he said, "beginning, please, daddy."  And I played "Primer Coat" again.  On the way home from the Predators' game tonight, he told me it was his favorite song of all time. 

His love of sports, which is something else we share.  As I've mentioned in this space before, right about the time he turned 5, the sports light bulb went off for J.P.  Suddenly, if there was a ball involved, he wanted to watch or play a sport.  Baseball, basketball, soccer, football, hockey, tennis, racquetball, etc.

His kindness.  Several parents at Children's House have remarked to me how kind J.P.'s been to their children, all of whom are younger than J.P. 

Watching him with his brother.  J.P. could not be a better big brother to Joe.  He's so patient, loving and gentle with Joe.  He plays with Joe, teaches him words and comforts him when he's upset.  In the mornings, they watch TV together, "Thomas the Train" or "Daniel Tiger."  It's so sweet to watch them snuggled together in our bed, watching TV.  That, in and of itself, is why Jude and I wanted J.P. to have a sibling.  I hope J.P. and Joe are always that close and I think they will be.

His intelligence.  J.P. is, and always has been, so smart and inquisitive.  His mind is like a sponge, absorbing more and more information every day.  He loves to read, to draw and to talk about what he's learned at school.  Lately, he's talked a lot about different presidents, from George Washington to Ronald Reagan and in between.

It's just so hard to believe. J.P. will be 6 tomorrow.  Kindergarten is just around the corner.  And just yesterday, or so it seems, I clutched him nervously, all bundled up in my arms, and followed a nurse down the hall from the operating room to the nursery.  Careful step after careful step, afraid I might trip and fall at any moment. 

J.P., I love you and I'm proud of you, more so every day.  Someday, when you have a child of your own, you'll understand how much pride I take in watching you grow up every day.  My firstborn son.  My #1 guy.

Happy birthday.