He's Getting Closer to 30!

My husband turned 28 yesterday! Happy Birthday babe! Birthdays are a big deal to my husband and I never really understood why until today.... Let me tell a lil story to set things up...

My husband has been talking about his birthday for the past two weeks! I figured he wants every one to know his birthday is coming up so they don't have an excuse not to call or something. Mostly, I thought, "This guy is seriously seeking some attention...it has to be because he's a Leo!"

As much as I love party planning for the kids and baby showers, I don't usually make a big deal about the holidays for my husband nor myself. I'm usually so caught up with work that I forget to make time to go find a decent birthday card, and I'm too tight on money to splurge on gifts for every grown up friend that has a birthday. BUT I will make sure that if we're going to a kid's birthday party we bring a nice gift in fun wrapping paper. For a while I have felt that the holidays are all about the kids and making the kids feel special and once you become a grown up those sort of things fade out...the attention isn't on you anymore. I should probably thank my dad for this...he had a birthday July 5th and his lady practically had to drag him out of the house to celebrate and he was insisting that we didn't do anything special! I also realize that I'm wrong for thinking this way and so is Dad. Birthdays are special days and every one should receive special attention on their birthday!

So I woke up yesterday morning and realized that I forgot to tell my husband happy birthday before he left for work. I sent him a quick text, but that's just not the same. I also realized that I had to be to work in less than an hour, I had no gift, no card, and no real plans for the evening other than taking Matty to Outback with some money that my mom had transferred to me to treat her only favorite son-in-law out with.  I sent out a mass text to our closest friends and coordinated a last minute surprise birthday dinner for Matty! I used my lunch break to pick up a card, a Cold Stone Ice Cream Cake, and candles & deliver that to the restaurant and make reservations for 14! Surprisingly, it turned out pretty amazing. Here are some shots...not the best quality but oh well:

Zeek helping Daddy blow out his candles

Happiest Birthday Boy Ever!

The Glass Family...Ashley & her son Steven Tyler in the back

My beautiful Tia Nicole & I

My baby cousin Justice and Michelle's daughter Veronica

Michelle "Mimi" & Sebastian

We had a great time! So when we were heading home my husband is pouting saying that he hadn't heard from his sister-in-law today but that mom had told him that she'd dropped her cell phone in her drink a few nights before! (LUSH!) Later on that night after we had settled down I get a text from my mom with a number that I can get ahold of Megan at and Matt's like [in his Southern accent], "Well ain't you gonna call her?" I gave the excuse of not wanting to call because it was like 1:30 in the morning in VA Beach. "But she hasn't wished me a Happy Birthday." I get her on the phone and let her wish him a happy birthday and then I overhear him say that nobody in his own family other than his mother had called to wish him a happy birthday! He had called his father just as dad was getting home from the farm and was getting ready to call Matt. (And two of his brothers sent him a message on Facebook...but to me that's not the same.) My husband remembers everyone's birthdays...and I mean EVERYONE'S birthday...and he always makes it a point to try to call...even if he's leaving a message on their answering machines. 

I was crushed. Out of 14 brothers and sisters (he comes from a huge family...most are step brothers and sisters, but nonetheless he grew up with them) and not a one bothered to call him on his birthday. I know that life gets extremely busy especially as the distance grows between us and we start families of our own, but I felt shocked. This morning I work up and realized that I love my husband more today than I did a month ago. He has a huge heart, he's a loyal friend, he's a great father, and he takes care of us. He doesn't want much in return, just to be loved and some extra attention on his birthday. I am making a conscious effort from this day forward to make sure that everyone in my family knows that I love them. My husband, my daughter, my son...they are the center of my world. My mother, my father, my sister, my brother, my niece...they have shown me how family should be, even if it is a bit dysfunctional...we deeply and unconditionally love and support each other. 

So to conclude my story, I was telling my coworker about my realization this morning and she looked at me and smiled, "Girl, no wonder why he wants so much attention on his birthday! He has 14 brothers  and sisters!" Life must have been a battle for attention growing up. :)