townsend turns 5!

15 july, 2011 day 15

today is townsend's fifth birthday. i can't believe it. five years ago, norton and i were waiting for the referral of a baby from guatemala. we came to san pedro to learn spanish and were actually here in this village when townsend was born. we didn't know that until we got his referral the next month but i thought it was kinda fun that we were in his birth country for his birth. townsend has really gotten into the "cars" thing. a couple of days before we came to guatemala, norton took townsend to see the "cars 2" movie. towney's first experience in a movie theater. i decided not to buy presents at home and bring them in our luggage. i figured i could buy some things here. the first time we walked to the market townsend saw some dvds hanging in one of the stalls. there were some with a picture of "cars" on it. of course, townsend started asking for one every time we would pass by. yesterday i went by myself and bought one of the dvds. i didn't notice until i was back at the house that it was the "cars 2" movie. hmm. interesting. this movie has only been out for two weeks. it's probably made by some guy filming in the theater. :) so anyway-this morning after townsend woke up we gave him a bag with some little presents-a "cars" ball and wallet, a toy car, and some stickers. one funny thing-after he woke up he said, "now that i'm five i can read!" wouldn't it be nice if that's the way it happened? we gave him the dvd at quiet time so the kids could watch that while i was at spanish class. apparently it was truly the movie. in spanish, of course! the girls fell asleep but townsend watched the whole thing. i ordered a chocolate cake from a pasteleria (bakery). townsend was so excited to see it and have the group sing "happy birthday." tonight after the group had left, townsend told me that he had really liked his birthday and his presents. he told the same thing to norton. it is so nice to see him be grateful and thankful.

some things about townsend's year:
1. we went for his five year checkup a couple of weeks before we came to guatemala. he is in the 30% for weight and height. still a little guy.
2. he continues to be very orderly when building/creating. and he doesn't like to dismantle his creations. thus, his room is a big mess!
3. still loves paper and i have to wait until he is at preschool before i can take a bunch and put it in the recycle bin. everywhere we go, if there is a brochure, calling card, pamphlet, flyer, etc., he takes a stack. and if i try to throw anything away, he pitches a fit.
4. is starting to be a bit more social. there have been a couple of older boys here that he has latched onto.
5. he seems to love learning. i bought some workbooks to bring to guatemala and he loves doing “school” here. he knows all his capital letters and many lowercase ones. and he is getting better each day at writing his letters.
6. to be honest, he can be a bit selfish. (i guess we all are, aren’t we?) he is very clingy with his toys and has a hard time letting his sisters play with them. of course, if they have a toy, townsend is very quick to say, “god wants us to share our toys, right?”
7. he still loves, loves, loves all his stuffed animals. he sleeps with about fifteen of them. if he is misbehaving, all we usually have to say is, “if you keep this up we will take away your _(insert name of animal)___.”

townsend, we are so thankful that you were born here in guatemala five years ago. and we are so thankful that we got to spend your birthday in your birth country. you are our very favorite little boy. we love you towney.