6/366

 

January 6th was as warm as January 5th, so we hit the park for the second day in a row and the millionth trip down the twisty slide. It never gets old... apparently.

If you want to follow me on 365Project, though it will be incredibly redundant to these posts (comments are welcome here or there), my link is: http://365project.org/susaneva/365

I have a two year old!

Let's do some catching up, starting with a photo from James's second birthday! Also known as 5/366 for my 365Project.

 

Now here's a kid who was ready for some CAKE! Or Caaaaaaaaaaake, as he called it. Or Caaaaaaaaaaake? as he pleaded over and over. Luckily, the cake delivered. You know it is good when he eats the cake part itself, not just the frosting.

We celebrated James's birthday at home. The night before, my husband and I blew up some balloons and taped them to streamers. We snuck over to James's closed bedroom door and taped them up. Our ninja powers are apparently weak. James woke up a couple times during the mission. Luckily, he's not a kid who actually gets out of bed when he wakes up, or questions what the heck his parents are doing hanging around his bedroom door giggling. 

The next morning, the balloons were a big hit!

It was a freakishly warm and beautiful day, so we had to hit the park. I can't imagine January 5th will be like this again. James wore his fall jacket! And what a day he had at the park. Our now-2 year old surprised us with an impromptu trip down the "big kid" twisty slide- his first time down that one! 

He loved it so much. He wore a path in the wood chips running back to the stairs to go down it again. And again. And again. 

Back home, we honored our family tradition of serving the birthday kid's favorite meal for dinner. For James, it was hot dogs. Followed by... caaaaaaaaaake.

After dinner, we cozied up in James's room and gave him his presents from us. I'd picked up a Fisher Price learning clock at a garage sale this summer. It was a well-timed gift for the boy who is suddenly obsessed with clocks. 

James also loved his new Plan Toys airport and garage. These are going to have long-term love. He loves it when I grab the airplane and make the airplane flying noises for him. And when we have the cars say beep beep to each other.

James's second birthday will be a treasured memory from beginning to end, filled with "how did we get so lucky" feelings.

What a kid we have. It is amazing how quickly they learn and what they learn. He knows his ABCs and his numbers from one to ten, though in a creative order. He knows the difference between a shower and a rain shower, something that seemed impossible to explain at the time. All stuffed animals will be promptly hugged and kissed. Each and every day is filled with ten thousand blessed moments like that.

And Mama and Daddy are finally catching a big break... his teeth are almost all in. Those molars get extra credit for coming in four at a time!

Happy birthday and many more to my Sweet Baby James, with all the love a parent has to give!

4/366

 

Guess who turns two years old tomorrow?

My boy!

I made him a yellow cake with chocolate homemade frosting. But this wasn't just any cake... This was the first successful cake I've baked. My previous attempt (well over a year ago) resulted in late night ugly crying, another trip to the store for ingredients, and... cupcakes. Because one thing I do well is cupcakes.

But now, I think I might grow to like making birthday cakes for my kids, too. I used to think they'd have to be happy with birthday cupcakes for the rest of their lives!

And, I know... it isn't the prettiest thing. I punted on what little decoration I added, lopsidedly. But let me tell you... that cake is going to taste good!

James was my frosting taster (he knows when that mixer turns on, something good is going to happen), and being his birthday tomorrow... I let him have a taste from the cake itself. Don't worry, friends and family who eat my baked goods... this would only happen with items my little family of four would eat. Not anything I'd share with you. And frankly, we're going to hoard this cake.

Later tonight, there will be more birthday preparations, and I'm hoping... a little look back at his first birthday party to share with you. 

Hope you've been having a good week!

3/366

 

During simply beautiful moments like this, I'm happy my camera is nearby.