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

{Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real} - A Birthday Interview

This week I am supporting my brother-in-law's efforts to make a difference in his community.  He is running a marathon (I know, incredible right?) in honor of the Joseph Sams School for children with special needs.  Go to the bottom of my Monday's Musings post to learn more and see how you can help.  Thank you in advance.  Now... onto  {PHFR}!

~ Capturing the context of contentment in every day life ~

Every Thursday at Like Mother, Like Daughter

~ Pretty ~

Happy Birthday to my most favoritist beautiful sister!!  In honor of her birthday, I decided to interview her.  I got the idea from the interview that she did with my niece, and I put together questions from that interview, the internet, and my brain.  I sent her an e-mail with these instructions.  

"Complete the interview below by answering off the cuff, the first things that pop into your head.  Do not over think the questions.  Send the interview back to me with a current picture of you."

Here's her picture.

Check out Sarah Akin Photography on Facebook

~ Happy ~

I probably wouldn't have admitted it when we were growing up, but I am very happy that she is my sister.  She is a talented and creative person who uses her gifts and talents to serve her family and those around her.  She is a woman of God, a wife, a mother, a music therapist, a budding professional photographer, an incredible musician, and someone who always makes me laugh.

Photo taken during my sophomore year of college?

~ Funny ~

Here are the answers to the 30 interview questions I sent her for her...25th birthday (wink).

1.  What is one thing that most people do not know about you?

I am capable of burping very loudly but often don't.

2.  Give me a brief description of the people that live in your house.

Well, there's the littlest one.  He's super adorable, incredibly smart for 2, plays the drums, and loves me.  Then there's the little one.  She is my favorite princess and lights up my life with her spunkiness.  Then there's the big one.  He's an amazing person.  I still love him after over a decade.

3.  If you had to change your first name, what would you change it to?
For some reason "Mo" popped in my head immediately, then I laughed because that is SO not what I would say.  Hmm.  When I was a kid I wanted to be named Felicity after the character in the American Girl books.

4.  What is your best birthday memory?
When I dressed up and went to the Cheesecake Factory with Davey for my 20th bday, I think.  Also when you, Dad, and Judy surprised me with tickets to the Newsboys concert...and we had to leave RIGHT THEN! That was fun.

5.  How do you describe your job to people?
I use music therapeutically to treat kids with special needs.  I use music in a group setting to address social needs, emotional skills, speech, physical goals, and more.

6.  Who are your best friends?

My hubs, my favorite sister, Christy (our cousin), and my sister-in-laws Whitney and Julie

7.  What is your favorite snack?

Chocolate chip cookies, veggie sticks (like veggie potato chips in stick form), pretzel chips with Nutella, Pirate's Booty, cheese and fruit.  I eat it all.

8.  Can you answer this question with another question?
Can you?

9.  What is your favorite outfit?

Comfy skinny jeans, a tank top and a light cardigan with matching jewelry.  And converse shoes.

10.  What are you reading right now?

"I am a Church Member"

 Bible 

about to start the last Harry Potter book 

my sister's blog.

11.  What do you want to be when you grow up?

What's "grow up"?

12.  What is the most played song on your iPod?

"Big God," clearly. (my nephew likes to play drums with it and constantly asks for it to be played)

13.  What chore do you absolutely hate doing?

Scrubbing the shower.  

Cleaning the garage...oh that's right, I don't!

14.  If you could choose to use any form of transportation, what would it be and why?

Hover board - it looks fun and would solve traffic problems.  You know, just zoom over.  

Or a private chauffeur would be swell.

15.  What is a sound that drives you crazy?  What is a sound that makes you happy?

Anything that is very repetitive.  This could be a toddler asking me the same thing over. and. over. and. over. Or any noise after 8:00pm.  Those are quiet hours in my house.  (where's the answer to the second part of the question, Goober?)

The little one, the mommy one, the littlest one

16.  If you could throw any kind of party, what would it be like and what would it be for?

A messy birthday for Lailey.  Sounds fun...and messy.

17.  What do you/would you do with 30 minutes of uninterrupted free time?

Read, sleep, or blog.  Or eat.

18.  If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?

Sail

19.  What's one thing that you did growing up that got you into trouble?

ONE thing?  Are you kidding?  Making Amy mad (but it was so EASY!!)

20.  If you could have dinner with anyone (limit to 10, live dead, fictional, real, etc) who would it be?

Mom, Jesus, Christy (since she just moved), Julie Andrews, Mother Theresa, Lottie Moon, 

Harry Potter/Hermione/Ron/Weasley twins, though this would be a different dinner for some reason.  It seemed odd to juxtapose them to the above people!

21.  What is one story that your family is always telling about you?

How precocious I was as a kid.

22.  What was your favorite food as a kid and do you like that food now?

Hmmmm, I don't know.  I loved fruit snacks and still do.  Always have loved fruit as well.

23.  If you could witness any event, past, present, or future, what would it be?

The Resurrection

24.  Do you prefer to talk in person, by phone, in emails, or by text?  Why?

Talk in person.  Though I don't mind the others.

25.  What effect does the color yellow have on you?

Apparently laughter, because I just laughed at this question.

26.  If you could have any superpower what would it be?

Ooooh, I'd want to fly.

27.  What is on your nightstand?

Well, it's really a bookshelf, so books, book light, phone charger, picture of Lailey.

28.  At 30, what is one thing you will try to do differently from 29?

I don't know!  Nothing I'll necessarily do differently, because I tried to reach several different goals this past year, but maybe continue on with those things like finish the Bible, go to Seattle with my family, continue homeschooling, etc.  Maybe exercise?  One can always hope right?

29.  If you could choose one dessert as your birthday dessert (you're not limited to birthday cake) what would it be?  Be specific.

Cheesecake!  Turtle cheesecake, cheesecake with strawberries or raspberries, whatever.  I love cheesecake.  Plain is good too.

30.  If you were to get amnesia and could only keep one memory, what would it be?  

Getting married to my best friend.

~ Real ~

Even though my sister does not live close enough (in my opinion), I'm thankful for the phone and other forms of technology that help keep us in touch.  I'm also thankful for the incredible sister that God blessed me with!

Go check out more Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real blog posts at Like Mother, Like Daughter

Labor Day Weekend

What do you do when the weather foils your outdoor plans to go fishing?  Go to Walmart of course, and think about being outside.  Actually, we went there so Tim could buy a fishing license, but of course, this Walmart does not sell them. :/

Startin' 'em early

I have been planning a surprise birthday party for my hubby, and despite the several opportunities for him to find out about it, I pulled it off!  However, I always seem to slip up with gifts and he figures them out so it all balances out in the end.

After mass, before surprise party

Come to find out, my husband trusts what I say...which he should...except around his birthday and Christmas when I lie like a rug.

I texted one of our friends before arriving, that she should tell the waiter it is Tim's birthday in hopes of them making him do something embarrassing...like wear a sombrero while they sing "Happy Birthday".

We had several friends come out and help us celebrate.  From left to right:  Tim, Robert, Baby Bo, Bridget, Denise, Derek, Andrew, Andrew, Ashley, Matthan, and Austin. 

Daddy shared some whipped cream with Matthan :)

And this morning we made Daddy birthday pancakes.  Fun fact about Tim, he was born on Labor Day in the hospital parking lot.  Happy Birthday my Love!!  And happy Labor Day weekend everyone!

*Even though I'm way behind in posting events that have already occurred, I still publish the post on the date(s) on which the event occurred, so as to look back and see when things actually happened.  So in case you missed it, here is our visit to Savannah.

It's My Party and I'll Cry If I Want To

We celebrated our Little Man turning one year old today.  That's right...he's one!  I can't believe it either.  It seems like just last week he was born, or that yesterday we were taking one week, one month, two month, three month, five month, or 6 months pictures.  He has grown up so fast.  And every new day has been more fun than the last.  

Matthan, Daddy, and Grandpa Peter

In honor of this occasion, we had family and friends over to help us celebrate.  We had homemade Mojo pork tacos, beans, and watermelon (thanks Hubby!) and homemade sweet potato cupcakes (in honor of Matthan's favorite food of course).  

Cousin Lailey

Sweet potato cupcakes ~ recipe from Deceptively Delicious

There were lots of little ones to entertain us, and lots of gifts in all sizes...even some with legs.  Wait, what? :)

Surprise! :)

I learned something about my little guy.  He does not do well with big crowds and lots of attention on him (this I already knew), and he does not like to get dirty (this I didn't know).  Well what happens when it is your first birthday?  You have lots of people staring at you hoping you dive in and make a giant mess of yourself....

... and it was just too much for the little guy :(   

It's my party and I'll cry if I want to

Don't worry, the tears didn't last long.  He got many wonderful gifts from everyone (thank you!), and enjoyed himself.  Thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate!

One Year Photo Shoot

Our baby is growing up.  This blog post could have been titled "Mama's heart is breaking", "Stop growing up so fast", "One year olds don't lay (lie?) there for you to take pictures", or "It's my son's birthday, and I'll cry if I want to".  Enjoy the pics!

Capturing the hearts of everyone from day one