A Week of Birthdays (Part 2)

(For Part 1, go here.)

I can't believe our Little Man has gone from this... 

1-year-old

... to this, in just a year.  This year's stats: Weight - 26 lbs, 2 oz (25%); Length - 35 in (75%).  Click on the previous picture for last year's stats.

2-year-old

He barely batted an eye as the squeezed his finger and took his blood, but he still screamed bloody murder when we put him on the table with the crinkly paper.  The horrible crinkly paper.

The next day we had to get loaded up to head to Savannah.  Matthan had been begging me "go to beach!" since we had taken him for the first time a month ago.  He would wake up in the morning or after a nap and the first words out of his mouth were "Go to beach?".  I made the mistake of telling him "yes, we are going to the beach" because explaining to him that we were going in a month, or two weeks, or two days was so. so. futile.  Every. day. for. a. month... "Go to beach?".  Repeat 100 times a day.

Since we would be celebrating The Hubs' birthday in Savannah as well, I decided to make him his favorite cake and take it with us.  Homemade red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting.  It looked like a crime scene in my kitchen.

Housewife in the kitchen with the measuring cup and spatula

We usually travel at night, so I had decided that Little Man needed to get some air before being stuck in the car for several hours.  It seemed like a good idea, but I did not account for all the sand, or the needed bath afterwards.

A little girl sat down next to him and started pouring on his shoe to which Matthan replied "Thank you!". 

We loaded up the car with all the necessities including "Puppy", "blankey", books, and "new puppy" (the stuffed dog my dad gave him for his birthday).  

The Happy Traveler with Puppy on left and New Puppy on right

In addition to celebrating birthdays, we headed to Savannah for the baptisms of two adorable babies, one of which The Hubs had been asked to be the Godfather.  

Praying for the babies on their special day

We ended up being the first ones there

Little Man fell asleep on the way to the reception

The main part of the meal following the baptisms was delayed, but Little Man was taken care of by his three doting cousins who supplied him with crackers and juice and never let either go empty.  His oldest cousin informed me that "Baby Matthan's plate looks low" (he had about 5 crackers) before darting off to resupply.  :)

We celebrated with The Hubs' family at his parents house...where "Baby Matthan" was in no short supply of food there either thanks to his cousins (and grandparents ;)  ).

Cousins Joey, Sophia, Ava, and Matthan

We celebrated both birthdays.  The Hubs was kind to share his celebration with Little Man so that his family wouldn't miss out on doting on Matthan for his birthday.  

The finished red velvet cake

Both boys received lovely gifts from everyone including a sand box which we magically stuffed into our car (just barely).  We have not set this up at home yet, because we are potty training... and I just think that is a bad idea (we will soon Grandma and Grandpa!).

I got caught taken pics of him :)

It was FINALLY beach day, and after breakfast I excitedly told Matthan "Ok buddy, let's get dressed and go to the beach!!!", to which he replied "NOOOOO!!!!" and ran away from me.  Two-year-olds.  He was very happy once we got to the beach.  We managed to take no pictures.  Sorry.

A sleepy boy after a long weekend

It was a wonderful week of birthdays! 

Finally home :)

Thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate!  

A Week of Birthdays (Part 1)

I suppose more than a week's worth of birthday celebrations is appropriate for the little boy who took his sweet time (60 hours) coming into this world.  The celebrating began with a box of cookies from Grandma and Grandpa.  

These were clearly approved by the birthday boy...

Mouth full of cookie

I set up the old box fort to be a tunnel with his slide going through it so that he could either slide himself or shoot his new cars through it.  He did both.

Who needs toys when you have a box tunnel?

The day before his party, Matthan donned his apron and helped make his birthday cake.  Trying to explain to a two-year-old that he can't eat his cake until tomorrow is difficult.

Silly face #1

Silly face #2

Silly face #3/Cutie pie

The finished product

We gave him his gifts from us on his actual birthday (Aug. 22).  And then the next day, on Saturday, my sister, her kids, and my dad came up.  We went swimming in the pool, played in the box tunnel that I had set up for the kids, ate a homemade BBQ lunch, and had cake.  

Cousin Lailey and the birthday boy

Opening presents

Enjoying his new present from Grandpa Jim

I decided to skip the big birthday bash.  It didn't seem to go over well last year.  I'd say the low key birthday with his family was much more his pace.  He seemed to really enjoy himself...

Eating his "nummy" birthday cake

... and his cake...

2014

...which was a significant improvement from last year. :)

2013

Update:  For Part 2, go here

Dental Floss and A Quiz (7 Quick Takes)

It's that time of the week again - where I dump photos from my phone and realize that I need to take pictures of something other than my child, but really, why bother, since I know why most of you visit my blog.  Let's be honest. 

But truthfully, The Hubs and I get such a kick out of raising our kiddo and I share pictures in hope of making others smile.  So here's to something fun and positive on the internet!

--- 1 ---

What?  Your child doesn't run around the house taking deep inhalations of dental floss and declaring "It smells GOOD!!!" ?

--- 2 ---

We told Little Man that he was eating so much that he needed to get a job.  He is nothing but a compliant child.

--- 3 ---

Little Man and I drove over half an hour the other day to get to the service center of our annoying cable company to return some equipment.  I thought it would be easier than printing the return packet out (our printer doesn't work), and I figured that no one else goes to the actual service center.  Boy was I wrong.  When we got into the service center (after I braved the parking lot without holding LM's hand because the box required both my hands, increasing a momma's prayers one parking lot at a time, but I digress) there were about 20 people in line.  And the air conditioning seemed to be on break.

  Little Man, ran around the room (which had nothing in it except dingy carpet, a stained bench, line ropes, and random movie posters) entertaining everyone including the lady in front of me who was breathing heavily because it was so hot in the room.  When I say "ran around the room" you have to picture cute two-year-old prancing and saying "excuse me" to everyone... not the tasmanian devil.  I figured that requiring him to stand in line with me might be a bit much for a two-year-old who had not had lunch and was pushing into nap time.  He did awesome.  Everyone was entertained.

--- 4 ---

I am lazy about putting my phone out of reach  so occasionally I find that a someone has gotten to my phone and taken pictures.  Every now and then I find one cool picture out of the 350 pics (NOT an exaggeration, I counted) that I had to delete off of my phone.  I like this little gem.

Matthan selfie

--- 5 ---

Successfully building a block tower after screaming because it kept falling over with Daddy.

Saturday mornings

--- 6 ---

In the following picture, is my son:
a.  tripping and falling
b. searching for a dropped cracker
c. trying to hide

If you guessed "c", you would be correct

--- 7 ---

We washed the car the other weekend.  And by washed the car, I mean Little Man dipped his arms in the bucket and ran around flinging suds everywhere.

Daddy hard at work

And when he tired of that, he took up supervising.

Little Man hard at...supervising

ah, the good life

Happy Friday!

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Feast Day and Roller Coaster Toy (7QTs)

It's that time again!  It's Friday, Friday.... (you know you're singing that song in your head now).

--- 1 ---

Happy Feast of the Assumption Day!! Otherwise known as "all-Catholics-get-ye-behinds-to-the-nearest-mass-day", or, in our household... "Cranky-cranky-SO-not-a-morning-person-makes-it-to-church-because-she-is-obligated -loves-feast-days".

And in case you missed it..."cranky-cranky" did not refer to this one...

Not ready to face the day

--- 2 ---

See?  No crankiness here!

Ready to go with Puppy and Pooh in tow

The Hubs is usually gone when we wake up, but had the pleasure of waking this one up this morning.  Little Man made that scrunched up groggy face that kids make when you wake them before they're ready and laid his head on The Hubs' shoulder.  The Hubs pointed to his face, and said "this is what you look like in the morning".

Thanks, Dear.

At least he gets something from me.

--- 3 ---

"Not-a-morning-person" rewarded herself with some caffeine.  It's a feast day after all!

--- 4 ---

Don't you wish you could be this easily entertained?

This was at the chiropractor's office, and he kept looking over at the front desk to see if the ladies were paying attention to him.

--- 5 ---

If you missed the story about the roller coaster toy and this gem...

Click here

...click on the picture to go read it...and the rest of my stimulating post from yesterday...eckhmm.

--- 6 ---

My chiropractor's office has a play area for children and the ladies working at the front desk will keep an eye on them while you get treated.  How awesome is that?

--- 7 ---

My (almost) two year old has discovered the hilarity of "pooting" (we call him "Pooter" for a reason), especially while on the changing table.  I try to not encourage this, but we all know that parenting is half "don't do that", a quarter "eh, what the heck", and a third "walk into the other room so that your child does not see you laugh at whatever behavior should not be encouraged".

Ignore the weeds, please.

What does the butterfly picture have to do with this?  Nothing!  Did you really expect me to post a picture of the above anecdote?

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

The Terrible Twos and Photobombing Like a Parent (PHFR)

Today's post should be entitled "Lots of pictures that have little to do with each other and lots of rambling without any real focus"... 

...but that would take up a lot of room.

We have been busy with visiting with family, visiting with friends (two get-togethers in one weekend! Love you Chelsea, Caroline, and Jonathan! (of which, of course, we failed to take any pictures)), bike riding, parish picnics, and keeping up with all of the things that we keep up with.

You'll have to excuse the lack of entertaining text.  You can just look at the pictures if you wish :)

{Pretty}

"Lay down!...Daddy...look clouds!"

Stopped to smell the flowers

{happy}

One of Matthan's favorite songs is "How He Loves" and he can pretty much sing the whole thing, as well as the Winnie the Pooh and Veggie Tale theme songs.  I'm working hard to get a recording of it...unsuccessful so far.

{brings Daddy his ukulele and capo}  "Sing song!"

Coloring at the parish picnic

Matthan selfie, photobombed by Mommy

{funny}

First time I've ever seen him do this!

He's been sticking his blanket over his head since he was a baby

Matthan selfie photobombed by Daddy

Matthan selfie photobombed by Mommy

Matthan selfie photobombed by Daddy

Matthan selfie photobombed by Mommy kisses

I saw Matthan stick his blanket over his head while I was driving and I guess he was trying to block out the sun.  When I got home, he was completely asleep under there.

{Real}

We are about to enter a new phase of parenting called "The Terrible Twos"... although I think Matthan decided a couple months ago that he was an over-achiever and would enter into it early.  There has certainly been new challenges, like the "NO!" phase, and the "I'm going to use a whiny voice all day long" phase, but, I can tell you, he is also, SO MUCH FUN.

Matthan is a very verbal child, but when he doesn't have the words to communicate, his actions speak volumes.  Do you remember those roller coaster wire toys with the sliding beads?  Matthan was playing with one at the chiropractor's office.  I had warned him that we'd be leaving in a few minutes to which he replied "NO!", which I ignored and went to finish at the front desk.  When I was done, I went to collect Matthan and told him it was time to go, to which he replied "NO!", shaking no with his whole body...

... and then in final protest, SMUSHED his face between the bendy wires of the roller coaster toy. (Kicking myself for not getting a picture!)

He looked something like this

I started laughing which attracted all of the ladies from the front desk to come over and see this toddler protest.

I pried his face from between the wires and held him as he cried on my shoulder because he didn't want to leave.

The rough life of an (almost) two year old.

Don't let this angelic face fool you ;)

Mixed in with the minimal rough moments is a lot of smiles and songs and so much cuteness.

When life gives you an (almost) 2-yr-old, sometimes you surrender and make a tent with the clean laundry

Happy Thursday!  Go see the ladies over at Like Mother, Like Daughter for more "Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real" themed posts.