The Month-Long 2nd Birthday!

Here are some pictures of the birthday that never ends! Don't get me wrong, I love this age and I LOVE that Jack understands birthdays and presents and sings the Happy Birthday song, even if it does come out "Happy Toooooo You" over and over. I just think this birthday went on and on and on and even HE didn't know when it was officially over.

He had a wonderful 2nd Birthday, celebrated with many family and friends. We had his party 2 weeks before his actual birthday because Uncle Graham was leaving that next week for college in Florida and we wanted him to be here. We had a large party at our house, that started out as a cake and ice cream party. But once my mom and mother in law got in on the plans, it turned into a meal of finger foods. We had around 60 of our closest friends and family :) Having the birthday at our house gave us an opportunity to show off the house to many who hadn't been over to see it yet. Some of us even walked down to Jess's (and my) new office after the party to tour the facilities .

Here are some pictures of Jack on his actual birthday, celebrated with brownies at Grandma Susie and Grandpa Joe's house.


He really knew how to blow the candles out and even wanted them relit "Again" and "Again" (he said). So we did this 2 or 3 times.







Here is Jack opening his Mickey Mouse singing card (which he loved) and sitting at his brand new - Joe Singleton - crafted table and chairs. After a few weeks of having them at our house, he eats his breakfast here, colors here, and likes to stack blocks here.



Jack is keeping Grandma company in her chair. Notice the sling.... After 50 some years of never breaking a bone, she took a tumble down many (15 or so) stairs in Gatlinburg, TN and broke her wrist in many places. It's a long story, but we did find out the nearest hospital from our location was 45 min away, it's hard to find a pharmacy on Saturday night and it was a very bad and painful break. 2 surgeries later, she is feeling better and back to teaching school.



This is just a funny picture that I took of Jack on the morning of his birthday. We found 2 baseballs and strategically placed them.




This picture was taken on the day of Jack's party at our house. Great Grandma Jo gave Jack this monster truck and he still loves pushing it around the yard while I am watering flowers.




Here is a picture of a few of our close friends that we able to make the party. It was a rather warm day - that being said, the kids all played very well.




Jack is blowing out the candles on his real birthday cake. We sang once and he blew them out twice. Right now, he loves anything Mickey Mouse, so his party was decorated with some Mickey here and there - including the cake (which was delicious - made by Abby Armes-Baker).




This riding "horsey" (as Jack calls it) is also a favorite right now. He wasn't so sure about it the day of the party, but now loves it. He even puts on an old cowboy hat of Graham's, from back in the day, and gallops around the house.



Opening presents was tempting for other little kids as well. I'm not so sure Jack would have been as reserved as these children were, if the situation were reversed.




This next gift was from Great Grandma and Grandpa Williams. My Grandpa thought Jack had too much "green" in his farm equipment.



There were many other favorite gifts, including pushing bubble lawn mowers (big hit!), new clothes, money for the college savings fund (always a hit with mom and dad), books, and cars.

The biggest gift of the day was from the Brower side of the family, including Jess and I. Jack had ridden many of his friends' and cousins' riding toys, but not had one for himself until now. After 1 day of practice, he now drives it like a pro and even helps mommy pick weeds, put them in the wagon, and deliver them to the trash. Sorry Grandpa Williams - this means more "Green" at our house.



Notice the change of clothes here. After everyone left, we got Jack in the bathtub, cleaned things up and then he just HAD to go back outside to play on the tractor/mower - it was too tempting!



This is the cutest picture. The night before I took this picture, I taught Jack about the moon. We pointed to it in the sky and talked about it. Each night we are now outside, he tries to find it and tell me it's there. Many nights he has to say goodnight to a favorite toy before we go to bed. This night he had to say goodnight to the moon.... precious!





At 2 years old, Jack is bigger than life - the life of all our parties, spoiled rotten - everything is "mine, mine, mine", talking in small sentences, saying words I had no idea he could say (like the day be pointed out a "backhoe" that we drove past), not sleeping well through the night, coming into bed with mom and dad (still), loves loves loves chocolate milk and begs/demands it in the morning, enjoying cartoons such as Chuggington and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse ("Come inside, it's fun inside" - sorry it's a catchy song and I couldn't resist), still obsessed with motorcycles, loves the horses down the street, eating anything in sight - especially fruit, and talks about his buddies at the babysitter (Shel, Charlie, Kennedy, Evan, Ali, Livi, Grant and Emmy).

With every stage that Jack passes through, Jess and I find ourselves turning to each other and saying "this is the best", and 2 years old is no exception. We love you Jackson.