Ethan's 5th Birthday Party: The 5th Birthday Experiment

Adorable invitation by Sandy Ford Design

Ethan had his 5th birthday party yesterday! If you know me, you know parties are my thing. I felt like turning five deserved pulling all the stops, but at the same time it seemed a lot more chill than years past -- maybe because I finally figured out a good system (and not waiting for the last minute to execute all my ideas). Ethan requested a science party this year. The venue was a no-brainer -- My Gym Coconut Creek, our home away from home. Ethan has been taking weekly classes there since he was eight weeks old and has his parties there each year. What better place to celebrate turning five than his favorite place and with his favorite teacher (thank you, Mr. Lee)?!

(You can take a glimpse at parties of years passed here.)

I made these lanyards for each of the little doctors in attendance at Ethan's party. What I didn't think of ahead of time was that it probably isn't the best idea to hand out little lanyards to go around the necks of small children as they run around a kids gym. (Oops!) My friend handed each child their lanyard when they entered the gym -- and then the parents held onto them during the duration of the party.

For the party favors, Ethan wanted to send his pals home with something "science-y and fun!" We decided on homemade slime kits. We made these little direction cards and sent each kid home with some glue and Borax to make their own little slime.

Every year I make a photobooth set up. For this one, guests got to pull down the frame and pose next to the scientist hall of fame, which features Neil Degrasse Tyson, Bill Nye and Ethan -- per Ethan's request.

Every year, I also make a slideshow that streams on an iPad featuring Ethan's year. We must have watched his 5 year birthday slideshow 100 times the last two weeks -- and I'm pretty sure I cried each time. FIVE.

Ethan sent letters to Bill Nye, Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Miss Frizzle from Magic Schoolbus. To his surprise, Miss Frizzle showed up! He was so, so excited!

finally five.

Today, Ethan turned five.

It's been a birthday I've had trouble coming to grips with. Five. After all, it's the end of babyhood as we know it. Five begins new adventures, bigger adventures, different adventures. I've been trying to remind myself that they're still adventures all the same.

I've spent so much time trying to remember every single day that Ethan and I have spent together over these past five years. He has been my sidekick from day one. If I close my eyes I can still recall those exhausting, terrifying new days of first-time motherhood and infancy: colic, reflux, thrush, crying -- from both of us -- and trying to find ways to spend the day. I can still remember those lazy afternoons of rocking my infant son in my arms as I hummed Iron and Wine songs to him softly. And then he grew, slowly but surely. Walking, talking (never shutting up), learning, developing into not just my son but my best friend. The person I spent every moment of every day with. The one who saw me through heartache and the greatest pain one can ever endure. It is him who I credit for my spirit staying in tact when I thought I was losing it, losing everything. He is the reason I'm still here, the one I attribute every ounce of this beautiful life to.

Five.

In August, he begins preschool and though it's just two mornings a week, my throat catches when I think of how different things will be. Different, but not bad, I am trying to remind myself. With everything he does, my world swirls with pride and love and joy and I know this is just another opportunity to be his biggest cheerleader. His biggest fan.

Per Ethan's request, he spent the day playing with the new gifts that we surprised him with when he woke up this morning. We met my husband at Starbucks for an impromptu coffee break and then later had dinner at Smokey Bones, his favorite restaurant. Our house looks a little like Pinterest and Party City threw up all over the place as I work (and stress) myself to the bone for his birthday party this weekend. His fifth birthday party. Five. It's all so surreal, really.

This child. This little boy. He embodies hope and promise. He is the future. He is love personified. He is five today and I am proud, so proud, to be his mommy.

baby merlin's magic sleep suit review + special giveaway!

Carmen has been testing out her Magic Sleep Suit for just about two weeks now. I've basically told everyone we encounter about this puffy magic suit of wonderment and each time I mention it, I'm asked if it really works. Can I give a resounding yes?

We have low expectations for sleep in our household. Ethan is just about five years old and still it's considered a rarity for him to sleep through the night. When Carmen began sleeping for such long stretches early on, we were in disbelief. Eventually it came time to transition her out of the swaddle and, well, it wasn't pretty. She still desired that cozy and safe feeling, and her self-startle reflexes were keeping her up the entire night. She began to regress to multiple wake-ups each night and was just generally miserable as anyone would be if they weren't able to comfortably get themselves to sleep when tired. I read all about the Magic Sleep Suit and was intrigued by so many factors. I had the same questions that most people have when they ask me about it: Isn't it too hot? How exactly does it work? I was fortunate enough to be able to speak to the folks behind the Magic Sleep Suit to get some answers and eventually see the sleep suit in action for myself.

For starters, no, it is not too hot. I get it. I live in South Florida where it's always hot and the feeling that your flesh is melting clear off your bones is as familiar as breathing. We keep our home at 74 degrees day and night, so it's always cool enough for even us adults to sleep under cozy blankets. Carmen goes to sleep in a disposable diaper and light onesie underneath her sleep suit (which is made of a soft, breathable microfleece exterior). You'll notice that the Magic Sleep Suit has open hands and feet, which allows for increased air flow and heat dissipation. Carmen was a preemie and, at 3 1/2 months old, is still itty-bitty. Because of this, we had to cuff the feet of her sleep suit to keep the neckline where it should be and to ensure she cannot pull her feet up into the suit while she sleeps. The Magic Sleep Suit comes in two sizes: 3-6M and 6-9M. While Carmen fits the age and the milestones (this feisty girl was breaking out of her swaddle blankets early on), she is still mostly in 0-3M clothing and so we needed to cuff the feet for a proper fit.

As per recommended, we made Carmen's first Magic Sleep Suit experience one during naptime where we could keep a closer eye on her. She slept for two straight hours and was ready and refreshed to start the day. That night was no different. With her Magic Sleep Suit, Carmen sleeps from 9:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m., wakes up to eat and sleeps for another hour.

So how does it work?

Much like a swaddle and much unlike a loose fitting wearable blanket, the Magic Sleep Suit helps give your little one that cozy, secure feeling as they sleep. The suit also helps muffle startle reflexes and involuntary movements that would otherwise wake a sleeping baby. Following the guidelines to help prevent SIDS, the Magic Sleep Suit also helps keep babies sleeping on their backs longer. Even when a baby can roll over during the day, it is difficult (if not nearly impossible) to do in the suit. Back is best, as we all know!

I have been recommending the Magic Sleep Suit as a baby product must-have every opportunity I get. Carmen goes to sleep smiling and wakes up bright-eyed and refreshed after a peaceful night of uninterrupted, safe sleep.

The amazing folks behind Magic Sleep Suit have offered my readers the opportunity to win Magic Sleep Suit of their very own to try. Good luck -- and sweet dreams!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ethan's 5 year birthday interview

Every year, I do a birthday interview with Ethan and then print the responses to place in a binder. I plan to do this every year to see his responses change over time. This year, we added a couple more questions to the mix to try to preserve more of Ethan at 5. (Five. I still can't believe it. I refuse to believe it.)

Favorite thing about birthdays: Cake!

Favorite memory from the past year: I like remembering going to the zoo. And also when we adopted my sister.

Classes or lessons you’ve taken this past year: Robotics, yoga, art class, swim class, My Gym, music.

Favorite restaurant: Smokey Bones!

Favorite toy: Lego mini-figures.

Favorite sport: Anyway, I have a Ninja Turtle baseball, right?

Favorite color: Blue!

Favorite book: A Light In The Attic.

Favorite food: Trail mix and cheese and crackers.

Favorite drink: Water and chocolate milk and regular milk.

Favorite movie: The Peanuts movie.

Favorite TV show: The Cat in the Hat and Sid the Science Kid.

Favorite song: Riptide and Lime Tree.

Favorite Place To Go: Hmm…I can’t even think about that! Legoland! Yes, Legoland!

Favorite Thing To Do: Spend time with mommy and daddy. Tot school and making art in tot school is my favorite thing to do, too.

Favorite animal: A T-Rex!

Favorite thing to wear: My Jack Skellington shirt.

When I grow up I want to be a: Everything! A police officer, a firefighter, a doctor, a construction worker, an astrophysicist, a scientist – just everything.

What do you like most about yourself? I’m funny!

This year I want to learn more about: Ancient Egypt. I also want to know why we have bones.