Ben's 31st Birthday

We celebrated Ben's 31st birthday with a date night out to one of our favorite restaurants - Revival.  There was a huge wait to be seated, but we lucked out and snagged seats at the bar.  Check out the chicken and waffle sandwich that Ben had!  When we got home, we celebrated some more with our favorite cake - Patticake - from Yum! Bakery.

Two-Year Old In the House!

I can't believe we have a 2-year old in the house!!  Jacob is growing up right before our eyes!

At 2 years old, Jacob:

- weighs 24 lbs. 10 oz. (11.88%)

- is 32.75" tall (17.44%)

- is the most active child wherever we go (park, playground, preschool, nursery, etc.)

- seriously is just busy

- loves the ABC's!  He will happily tell you the sounds for A, B, D, E, H, M, N, O, P, S, T, W, X, Y, & Z! 

- loves cars, trains, trucks, & anything with wheels!

- loves to play ball - basketball, baseball, and soccer!

- graduated from ECFE's infancy preschool program

-goes to nursery all by himself and loves it

-sleeps 8:00 pm - 7:00 am, and naps once each day

- is finally weaned!  Mostly.. ;) 

- communicates with us in his own little language - 1/3 words, 1/3 sounds, 1/3 made-up sign-language

- loves his bedtime routine of 1 story, a sip of milk, and then cuddling while I sing Baa Baa Black Sheep, Twinkle Twinkle, and the ABC's

- really loves nursery rhymes, especially Baa Baa Black Sheep & Humpty Dumpty

- still loves to read!

- sleeps with 4 blankets, 10 stuffed animals, and an ever-changing array of cars/trucks/buses

- is determined & head-strong

- is soooooo mischeivous

- loves to be chased and tickled

Jacob had a super fun 2nd birthday!  We started the day at ECFE, which we love.

Then we visited Ben at work where his department was having a Cinco de Mayo fiesta lunch!

After Jacob's nap, he was a very popular FaceTime call recipient from his many adoring fans.

We had a family dinner at Chick-Fil-A!

And then opened presents and had a Coldstone ice cream cake (which Jacob didn't like and I was fine with that.. more for me!).

SOOO excited for ABC magnets!!

The next day we had a fun little birthday party for Jacob at the big park behind our house - home made Magnolia's Vanilla-Vanilla cupcakes + a piñata!

Jake Turns One & Has a Fiesta!

Just a shot from breakfast, to document what my little man looked like on his first birthday morning.  

We had some good playground playtime on his birthday . . and Jake loves the old toys on the playgrounds . . 

But he was especially pleased to receive his very own red tricycle for his birthday!!

Mom & Emily came to town to celebrate with Jake, so we all went out to Jake's favorite restaurant for dinner . . ha, more like Mommy & Daddy's favorite restaurant.

I just wanted to document what my sweet boy looked like as he went to bed at the end of his first birthday.  Those nasty spots in the corners?  That's where Jake always has his head (and drooling mouth) when he sleeps.

On Friday, Grandma Molly & Aunt Emily came over for some early present opening.

Jake was excited for his new DVDs of Raffi and The Fox & The Hound and for his awesome new car set, but we was more excited to play with the tissue paper, boxes, and gift bags.

Then it was time for Jacob's fabulous Cinco de Mayo First Birthday Fiesta!  I've always thought that big birthday parties for a 1-year old are silly . . but now that I have a kid and his birthday is Cinco de Mayo, I just had to throw a party!  It was seriously a blast and there were like 50-60 people there.  That's the most well-attended 1-year old birthday party I've ever heard of!  Jacob is so loved, and it made us feel so good.  

15 Hot 'n' Ready pizzas and all but 2 were eaten!

We had a piñata and it was hilarious.

But we should have known that Jacob really just wanted to wrestle with it.

Here's Jacob, looking like a boss man on his hot new wheels!

Happy birthday, Jacob!  We love you!

Our Little Family

Some sweet thoughts I have had lately . .

The other night I was up rocking Jacob and the clock read 11:11.  I always wish on 11:11 . . but this time I was stumped.  In Benjamin and Jacob, I have everything I've ever wanted.

Everyone always says that once you have your baby you won't be able to remember life without them.  Well it hasn't been that long and I do remember.  Life before Jacob . . I was less tired and less happy.

I have always thought that being a mother is everything I've always wanted, and when it wasn't happening I was heart broken.  Then I got pregnant and I started to worry that maybe motherhood wouldn't make me happy like I had thought it would.  Well, being a mother is the happiest thing I have ever experienced.  It is hard and I don't always know what I'm doing and I am really tired.  But my heart is so joyous.  Being a mother is more than I have ever dreamed.  So much gratitude and love in this little body of mine!