Last week the day Madden had been waiting 365 days for finally arrived…his 6th birthday!

In planning for his party he went through approximately 127 different themes. I finally got him focused down to a Lego party and hoped he didn’t wake up that morning wanting a Spider-Man Lamborghini party (he’s a fan of theme-mixing).

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Madden is so fun to celebrate. He’s enthusiastic and grateful. He has so many interests that you can’t go wrong. Literally everything gives him the giggles, he adores when he can make others laugh, and he gives the best hugs.

It’s been a year I never could have fathomed for him. He’s working through deep and long-term hurts. He will be profoundly different without Deacon by his side anymore. But I can see his resilience. He works so hard each day to learn things that come easier to other kids his age. Social norms, appropriate emotional expressions, and communication don’t come easy for him but he wants so much to please and he’s come so far in a year of remote learning, masks, and huge loss. He’s just amazing.

I’m still in denial that my youngest is somehow 6 but I’m so very grateful he’s mine!