Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Dear Memory Bank, Bo's Second Bday party (Part II of II)...

With a holiday birthday, Bo is assured of a party with lots of cousins!


{Kassidy, Brooks, and Aunt Jen}

{Uncle Bud and our buddy, Hunter}

{Landry and the birthday boy}

{Brooks and Blaze}

{Kinley}

{Mammies and Bo}

And lots of help opening birthday presents!

{Tractor with scoop from Mimi and Pop}

{Book and tee from the Boardmans}

{Lawn mower from the Browns}


{Grill from the Boardmans}


{Tee Pee from Bud, Jen and family}

The birthday boy knew what to do with the candle this year!


 

Favorites:  licking icing off the fingers, marshmallow pops, and goldfish...




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Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Dear Memory Bank, Bo's Second Bday party (Part I of II)...

Some day my boy will ask for a cartoon character bday party, or some sports theme.  And out of sheer smitteness for him (is that a word?), I will honor his request.  But for now...it's all Momma.  And Momma loves fall.  Therefore, Momma is hitting the fall party theme pretty hard until forced not to.


Last year?  "Our pumpkin is turning one".  This year?  "Our turkey is turning two".  Next year?  No, I'm not telling you, but yes, I do already know.  Surely, he won't have a strong preference I can't override at 3...

The invitations?   A customized version of this from here.


The food?  Ideas almost purely from Pinterest.

 




{Cupcakes-the cupcake kits from Meri Meri are adorable!}


{Crackers in craft paper cones}
{Dipped Pretzels}

{Drinks served in turkey cups}

The craft?  An adaptation of this.  Because I knew I wouldn't have time to trace and cut out the turkey shape I decided upon, I found a silhouette online, enlarged it with a copy machine, cut out the center and laid it over the dried fingerpainted pages.  Turned out so cute.

The game?  I wanted to do a pumpkin relay (in light of Bo's obsession with pumpkin hauling) and a pumpkin balloon pop.  But, it was crazy windy so we abandoned the pumpkin relay, and I was crazy-lazy so we abandoned the balloon pop.  But...we did have a turkey hunt, and it was a success.  We hid a stuffed turkey and had the kids "hunt for it".  We gobbled when they were close and were silent when they weren't (similar to "hot/cold").  They had a ball.  In fact, I think it's a new Thanksgiving tradition now.





The bday outfit?  A gobble, gobble shirt made by our talented Aunt Jen.


Mother helped me make all the treats, and I'm so grateful!  To be continued....guests and loot tomorrow!



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Sunday, November 27, 2011

Dear Bo, Your Second Birthday Letter...

Today is the day I stop counting your life in months.  You're two.  On the one hand, I can't believe twenty four months have passed since you made me a momma.  Yet on the other, it's almost impossible to remember who I was before I met you.  I have found myself living in a constant state of dichotomous emotions since we met.

  • Time...simultaneously dragging by and flying by.
  • Feeling like you've always been here, but at the same time feeling like you were just born.
  • Being overjoyed every time you reach a milestone, but being sad that you're that much closer to venturing outside of my protection.
  • Anticipating with excitement the little boy you are becoming, but dreading that the baby boy I so enjoy will soon be gone.

It's strange how these competing emotions can coexist in a mother's heart.  It's like everyday I lose a little more of my baby, but every day I gain a little more of the boy you are becoming.  I can imagine I'll say that at every juncture.  Surely this struggle to cherish today but anticipate tomorrow is not new, but you, my little buddy, you make me look at everything with fresh eyes. In fact, I have a little not-so-secret to tell you...

Your momma has worried about what tomorrow will bring for as long as her memory goes back.  She's missed out on a lot of todays thinking about tomorrows; that's for sure.

But you...seeing life through eyes that want only the best for you...it's changed me.  It really makes me love today and cherish today.  In fact, I almost have the opposite struggle now...wanting to hold on today because it's so good.  That's what you do...you make today so darn good.  If last year taught me how to live in the peaks and the valleys, this year most definitely taught me the joy of living in the meadow.

In the meadow of simple joys:
  • Of learning to walk and running on your tippy toes everywhere you go
  • Of saying goodbye to expensive formula, hemp milk, and hello to cow's milk
  • Of laughing at every bodily function, but especially toots, burps, and sneezes
  • Of thinking the most hilarious thing in the world is to stick your finger in your ear or your nose and wait for me to make you take it out
  • Of going from absolute frustration to sheer mastery of Melissa and Doug puzzles
  • Of saying Momma, Dada, bye-bye, ah-dee (?), peas (please), der (there), and mwa! after you give kisses
  • Of the relieved cry-laugh you give when we go in your room if you've woken crying
  • Of showing you the zoo, the beach, the pumpkin patch, and many more of our favorite places
  • Of cartoons in the morning with you snuggled on my lap
  • Of reading and singing and rocking
That is just a glimpse of the meadow we've lived in this year.  Sure, there have been tantrums, teething, unexplained sleepless nights, and other frustrations.  But mostly...it's been a year of contentment.

If there is one word I would use to describe you this last year, it's happy.  You are so smiley and happy.  Even other people describe you this way.  You love to giggle.  You love to tease.  You are really just an easy going little guy.

Adoration doesn't even hit the nail on the head.  It's something more, but it's the only word I can think of at the moment.  You're my life's biggest question mark and exclamation point rolled all into one.  Thanks for making me a momma two years ago, Pooka.  I am overwhelmed by my love for you.

{First meeting}


{Now}



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Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Dear Memory Bank, 11 things I'm thankful for this Thanksgiving 2011...

  1. A healthy, happy almost 2 year old.
  2. His kisses, chubby hands, blue eyes and belly laughs.
  3. A husband who is a loyal, loving man.
  4. That in an up and down economy, we live in an area that is relatively unscathed and enjoy stable jobs.
  5. A practice group that is equal parts smart and enjoyable.
  6. Friends who have become like family.
  7. Family who have become friends.
  8. Old memories that keep my past close and new memories that remind me to keep moving towards the future.
  9. A wonderful nanny who loves Bo and cares for our family.
  10. Books (I'm working on a collection of these cloth bound classics for me and these for me, too, Bo.)
  11. A merciful Savior.

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Monday, November 21, 2011

Dear Bo, Operation picture with Santa=FAIL...

We met precious Claire again to take pictures with Santa.  Last year you cried while she sat so sweetly; this year she decided crying was in order.  While you never cried, you were trying to escape and kept reaching for Daddy.





 

We gave up and took pictures in front of a Christmas tree, but something went on with my camera (unbeknownst to me) and not a single one of my pictures turned out!  I'm sick about it.  Maybe next year...

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Saturday, November 19, 2011

Dear Bo, Sorry about the OCD...

You love to line things up and stack things.




(clapping for yourself...my favorite)

I can only say that you came by it honestly....
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