Enter the 2's

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATTHEW!!! Sorry I've been a little out of the loop, but we've had birthday festivities to plan for and celebrate. Our baby boy turned 2 years old on Friday, and we can hardly believe it. We had his birthday party yesterday evening, and I'm pretty sure Matt had a fantastic time. At moments it was a bit overwhelming for him...you could tell by the bewildered look on his face, but overall I know he thoroughly enjoyed the attention and spectacle of it all.

We had some snacks & watched the kids play inside and outside. They blew bubbles and ran all over the yard and took turns in the swing. Then we watched Matt open his mound of gifts; it really was ridiculous, but boy do we have some fun, new stuff to play with now! Matthew couldn't even keep up with what was being opened. He didn't understand that once he opened one gift there were still more to come. He'd toddle off and start playing with something he'd just opened and I'd have to plead with him to come back and help me open some more. I tell you who I didn't have to plead with for help though...everyone else! All the other little people gathered around me to where I was surrounded, thrusting gift after gift at me while busily ripping open paper and removing tissue paper from bags. It was a frenzy! But, I needed their help because if we'd waited on Matt we'd have been there for hours. He got all kinds of fun stuff: a bowling set, a little xylophone/piano combo, lots of new books, big trucks, a grill that talks, a huge stuffed horse, a Thomas the train, a talking sit & spin (can't wait to see how he likes that!), a John Deere wagon, etc., etc.!!! The boy was spoiled to a huge degree. I don't think he understood it was all for him. Let's just say I'll be putting a few things away to pull out for a later date.

We then came inside for dinner. I fixed some Italian fare for us all since Matt is a pasta lover. I made Matt a cake in the shape of a train. The best is that when he looked at it the day before and the day of his party he'd say, "tractor!" and I'd have to correct him and then he'd say, "choo-choo train!" Too cute. I know he liked it because he kept wanting to look at it and get his hands in it. I also made some red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting...YUM! We all sang happy birthday to Matthew, and it was so fun to watch him grin from ear to ear and scan the whole crowd around him. His little head was on a swivel just admiring all the singing, smiling faces gazing at him. He was eating it up. He kept saying, "blow candle, blow candle!" so we finally did. Then he wanted to do it again. Alas, that is not how it works! He got settled in his high chair and was handed a generous portion of cake which he delicately ate with his fork. He had some serious blue teeth from that frosting, it was awesome.

The crowd began to disperse as out of towners hit the road, and the kids ran around like mad and enjoyed Matt's toys. Matt asked for his blanket finally and once he had it in hand he stumbled around completely exhausted. He rested his head on my shoulder and then lunged toward his bed as I was praying over him and telling him night-night. I'm pretty sure he fell right to sleep. In further honor of Matthew and to keep the party going, we played some Guitar Hero. It was a great day, and one that I'm sure Matt will be talking about for weeks to come.

This picture is from the other day when I was trying to keep Matt busy while I was getting ready. I got all of Steven's hats out of his closet and Matthew enjoyed putting them on me and then on himself. And of course he had to admire himself in the mirror and laugh hysterically. Cutie. I can't believe I have a 2 year old!