Fireworkers

Forgive me, but I need to go way back to July 3rd and document a major LB first. We had been invited to our friend's house for a 4th of July party on the 3rd of July. They were having people over for dinner and drinks and the plan was for the kids to play in the backyard and then when it got dark we could walk right across the street from their house and have a perfect view of the fireworks. Since LB has been home we haven't really done much for 4th of July. I remember sitting on our couch at our old house when LB was 18 months old and just willing him to stay asleep and not wake up from the loud booms going on outside. Thankfully, both that year and the next he stayed asleep and never even knew that fireworks existed. That was the way it needed to be for my noise sensitive boy. This year we decided we would go to the party and if LB wasn't crashing from missing his bedtime then we would give fireworks a try. His noise sensitivities are so much improved that it seemed silly not to give it a go. And the great thing about our friend's house is that if he was scared we could cross the street and be back at their house and safely inside in no time. I can't express how glad I am that we decided to go for it. He had so much fun and that evening ranks up towards the top of one of my favorite memories from this summer. He still talks about going to T's house "to see the fireworkers." I refuse to correct him because I think "fireworkers" is so dang cute. He also refers to them as "pop pops."

Our friends set up their sprinkler and then had a bunch of balls and toys for the kids to play with and LB spent most of the early evening playing whiffle ball. He may have launched a few balls over the fence, which reminds me that I owe my friend a few whiffle balls. Isn't he just exuding happiness? So fun!

I was glad we remembered to get a picture of just Amy and me. We think the last time we had a picture of the two of us was our last night in Ethiopia together. I guess we've been a little preoccupied taking photos of our boys that we forgot to document that we still exist.

We also got a really great family pic that night. I know that at first glance it looks like LB is holding a beer too. I promise that it is a popsicle.

As it started to get darker, some of the older boys brought out the sparklers and other little fireworks. LB was totally fascinated and insisted on holding a sparkler. We let him and warned him not to touch it because it was hot. What did he do? He touched it. And cried. Thankfully, it just lasted a few minutes. Call me a mean Mommy but I didn't feel sorry for him in the least. He was properly warned. It was a little blip in the midst of a great time. Clearly the below photo was taken prior to the "I am going to touch it because they told me not to touch it" moment.

We got across the street just as they were starting the fireworks and we explained to LB that it would be loud but so cool and amazing. He was mesmerized. D held him initially and I think he felt safe in his Daddy's arms. He kept asking us if they were going to fall on him. I get why he wondered that. It does look like they could fall on you. We promised him they wouldn't but he would still sometimes lean back, just in case. He was so animated about it that he had several people near us just watching him and laughing. I admit to watching him more than the actual fireworkers.

Don't ask why D is wearing those glow in the dark necklaces on his head. I couldn't even begin to explain it. Boys. 

For the finale, he decided he wanted to be a little further back but insisted on staying and watching until the end. The series of photos are really blurry but you get a glimpse of what it was like to see fireworks through LB's eyes.

He's an expressive little one. As the finale really picked up, I do think it got too loud for him but again he refused to leave and wanted to see it. Doesn't it look like he is miserable? But he HAD to see it.

He is ready for the 4th of July again so he can see more pop pops. I know I talk a lot about how much he has overcome and I apologize for sounding like a broken record. But I used to worry so much about him because he was bothered by the tiniest of noises. It feels like such a miracle to witness this change in him. I get that a lot of it is probably attributed to natural development but there is another level of healing that has happened for LB. Some noises he used to bothered by include such simple things like the crinkling sound of a trash bag being opened, the swooshing of bed sheets as you made the bed, the clinking of dishes getting put away, etc. I hope that explains why I am so blown away by his progress. He may have covered his ears at the very end but he ENJOYED fireworks. Maybe one of the loudest things ever. I hope I never forget how far he has come.