When I started writing this blog last year, I decided to name it in honour of my son – affectionately known as the Pok. Well this last week he turned three. And what a whirlwind three years it has been for us. We are so happy to have a healthy, cheeky boy who is full of energy and cunning (though he hasn’t figured out how not to get caught). The terrible twos were not really terrible, and now we are challenged with a little member of the family who is smarter than we give him credit for and he knows what he wants.
Regardless, we didn’t have have the opportunity to celebrate his birthday with family and friends last year so this year we decided to put on a ‘do’. His birthday proper was a few days before the party, and this was the first time he realised that it was a special day. When he woke up he was greeted to presents. One of the presents was ‘requested’ by him – “Daddy, for my birthday I want overhead railway tracks”. These are the wooden rails for the toy trains from Thomas the Tank Engine and Chuggington. Easily pleased. We threw in a few other ‘vehicles’ – some toy planes from the new Disney movie “Planes”. To say he was overwhelmed and happy would be an understatement.
When he finally came downstairs to eat breakfast he got the chance to open up other presents flown in from the UK from his Grandparents. Happier boy… and for the record it was a special delivery of more trains
To rev him up for his party, as he was still figuring out what this would all mean, the Mother of the Pok (my wife) got him involved in the food preparation exercise. One of the things he loves doing with his Mum is cooking and it gives me great joy watching him share one of my wife’s passions. He got to assist in making the cake, and it was not a bad effort on my wife’s part.
We held his party at the hall next to the children’s bike riding venue that I have blogged about previously. We didn’t have any games planned other than “Kids bring your bikes and scooters!” And the kids (via their parents) obliged. They zoomed off in all directions and generally caused chaos. It was great! And a couple of his friends (who had just turned three themselves) brought their new bikes to get rolling too.
Cutting the cake was the topping off of a great kid’s party. We haven’t seen too many times where the Pok was happy and humbled at the same time. This was the first time that he realised that the one day of the year that was all about him was his birthday.
We are blessed to have a happy and healthy boy who brings us so much happiness. Now it is our job as parent’s to raise him with the understanding of how fortunate he is and that he doesn’t squander the opportunity that he has, and a lot of other children don’t.
Happy birthday to Pok! It is very clear through your writing that he is the joy of your life! It also very clear that he is very lucky to have you as a father. Cheers!
He is the joy of our life, and I just have to remember that when he is being a cheeky little boy at screaming for pink milk at 1am in the morning.
Happy birthday to your dear Pok! Am sure he can always feel your love.
He sure does know we love him, and he has us wrapped around his finger.
He is absolutely adorable! Happy birthday to Pok!
We think he is adorable too! Just gotta make sure it doesn’t go to his head.
Happy Birthday Pok! What a cute smile in that last pic.
Thanks, I will pass on the wishes. We haven’t seen this smile before, he was a bit overwhelmed.
Such a cutie, and he looks like he had a fabulous birthday. It brings back memories of when my son was that age. He was an avid Thomas the tank engine fan as well. I think we still have most of the engines and a melamine plate cup and bowl still going 18 years later!!! Enjoy this special time with your son.
Thank you. He did have a great time, though I am wondering when he will grow out of his train obsession. Hopefully he will be able to look back at this blog and not be too embarrassed by his father’s writing.
hehe! I think Thomas was around in our house until he got to prep/year 1 at school. Then other things took over. I can still hum Thomas and Percy tunes from the old videos. It is as if I was brainwashed as my son loved to watch them over and over. Back then, it was Ringo Starr narrating them on ABC each day too.
Oh dear, I have another 2-3 years of these locomotives
Lol! You’ll be singing the tune in the shower before you know it!!! š
A VERY late Happy Birthday to Pok! I love that name…it’s so Swedish too. PĆ„g, we say here in SkĆ„ne. Pronounced something like [po:g] and means a little boy. I know he’s everything to you…he should be!
I will pass onto him the well wishes, though the current challenge is explaining to him that his next birthday is next year. Thank God Christmas is coming soon. How strange that word in Swedish š