The Birthday Boy

It's hard to believe 2 years have come and gone since having Thad. Yet here I sit. In Connecticut, with a 2-year old. I could have never guessed our family would be living on the east coast...indefinitely. Well, life is good and it gets better with each day we have our wonderful Thad.

Thad's birthday started off great because Grandma Teresa was there to greet him in his room first thing. She flew in late the night before and she was the first thing he got to see on his birthday :)

Grandma of course had something for the birthday boy right away.

Not quite sure what it is, but they're both excited...

"A violin!" yells Thad.

What a great way to start off a birthday...a ukulele straight from Hawaii!

We all just enjoyed each other's company for the majority of the morning and then headed north to do some birthday shopping. We found what we needed and (after following the GPS to 2 false locations) stopped to get some birthday lunch.

Panera Bread is a delicious cafe-type restaurant. Brian and I first discovered it in Nashville when we lived there 4 years ago. They should migrate west if they haven't already.

After our errands we hurried home to get the cake baked and our pizza made for the little man's party. It was so nice to have Grandma Teresa there to help with all the preparations. Sometimes I wish there was always another adult woman to help with the household. ;-)

The food was made and Thad woke up from his nap just in time to do a little birthday photo shoot before our guests arrived:

Look at that big boy smile! He really isn't our baby anymore.

And then...the HAPPY CAKE! I don't know where Thad picked that up, but he knows when there is a birthday cake and just yells, "Happy cake!" when he sees one. Silly guy!

Do we really have to wait until after dinner??

The Farrs showed up just in time to save the cake and get dinner going.

Yay for pizza, soda, cake and...

The best family and friends a 2-year old could ask for!

Even if all he would eat was apple sauce and juice.

This is Thad's "baby Arnold" face (as Grandma Cindy nicknamed it), and he did that for most of dinner time instead of eating.

Thad and Sophie could hardly stand it, so we finally got to THE PRESENTS!! 

They didn't waste ANY time and got right to it. Sophie was more than willing to help. :)

The Elmo camera from Grandma Teresa was an instant hit...

and Thad didn't waste any time putting it to use.

He also didn't mind asking Hanna to help him with his scripture study for the night.

Grandma Cindy left this gift for Thad before she left and he was so excited to finally open it!

Cards from Gamma Cinny are always the best!

Cool! Rock-n-roll and sea animals!?!? Nothing but the best for Mr. Thad.

If you were here, Grandma Cindy, I would play a song for you. Right here, right now.

There was more opening...

and some admiring in between.

And a great gift from the Farrs. Tools and a tool belt...How manly!

Thanks Sophie!

We need new toys to entertain like this every month! 

Or we just need to invite Hanna over more...Rock-n-Roll, baby!!!!

You'll get it, Thad. Don't worry. Hanna is close and can teach you all her secrets.

Thad started to get angry Arnold again:

But our neighbors showed up just in time...

With the PERFECT gift. 

Christina was so thoughtful and got Thad a beta fish (which we have since named Frank). Every time Thad goes in their house he runs straight back to the kitchen and marvels over their fish tank. We really are surrounded by wonderful people.

Frank really did steal the show until we got serious about the Happy Cake (even if a few tears were shed tearing that boy away from the fish bowl).

Oh yeah, and the fish bowl had to be as close as possible during the candle lighting:)

We had to light the candle a few times throughout the song because he kept blowing it out as soon as it was lit. How adorable!

Cake was served,

and fun was had.

What a wonderful night we spent with some of the people we love most. We are so blessed to have such a wonderful support system even when living 3,000 miles away from most of the people we know.

Thad, you are truly loved by so many. 

And there are so many reasons to love you.

-We'll start out with those eyes. They can steal anyone's heart.

-And that smile is just killer!

-You light up when you see the people you love, but can brighten up a stranger's day.

-You're one smart cookie. You know most the alphabet and can count to 14.

-You worship love Sesame Street. I laugh every time you come, remote in hand, saying, "Remote! Elmo!"

-You've got hops! You can get 2 feet off the ground, no problem.

-You think most babies are baby Jesus. Adorable.

-You cry if you don't have a book to read while riding in the car.

-You go with the flow.

The list could go on and on.

Thad, your family loves you and thinks you are the greatest. 

Don't ever forget that. Because we never will.

Happy Second Birthday, Thad-man!