Having A Ball: Jax's 2nd Birthday

Jax's Second Birthday was this weekend and the theme centered around his favorite thing:  BALLS!  

The main floor of our house was covered in colorful balls and everything (and I mean everything) was in a ball or circle shape to fit in with the theme.  I had so much fun planning this party for my big boy and he seemed to have a great time!  

I found these paper balls at Target and bought out the entire selection at two different stores.  I then hung them by fishing wire from the ceiling throughout the house.  In the days leading up to the party Jax would run around the house pointing at them all all yelling "ball, ball!"  I also brought back the giant 36" balloons.  I used these balloons last year to make a giant caterpillar for Jax's Hungry Caterpillar 1st birthday party. This year I needed a few more.  Since there were shaped like balls I had them following the driveway and surrounding the back yard.  It was an easy way to continue the theme outside.  I was lucky this year to have a friend that had a large van that would fit 4 balloons in it (as I could only fit 2 in my SUV!).  That meant we only needed to make 3 trips to the store to bring them all home. :)  We even have toothpicks with balls on them for the fruit, to say I was obsessed with the ball theme would be an understatement.  

Of course my favorite part of decorating for any party is the dessert table.  We had cake, cupcakes and cake pops.  I always send our cake maker pictures of inspiration for the desserts and this year I talked to him about the idea of making the inside of the cake have balls as well.  When I sent him a link of how to do it I know he thought I was crazy (because I am pretty sure he said those exact words) but after it turned out successful he said that he was going to have to do this cake again because he loved it so much.  I only made the cake pops because that is about the extent of my baking skills.

All the other food kept with the ball theme as well.  Adults had sandwiches on round rolls while the kids ate peanut butter and jelly Uncrustables.  We had fruit, clementines  round crackers with a cheese ball and round chips.  

The biggest hit of the day was by far the ball pit.  We had a giant inflatable trampoline filled with balls for the kids to jump in.  They LOVED it.  Since it was threatening to rain all morning I loved it as well because it was guaranteed indoor entertainment.   

Luckily the rain did stay away for most of the morning and the kids got to play outside as well.  

While all the kids played, the adults had some fun as well.  Just like weddings, I view birthday parties as the time to have all the people close to you in one place.  I love having everyone together and especially love catching up with friends who live far away.  

Of course the main event is singing Happy Birthday and cutting the cake.  The actual singing of Happy Birthday was probably the thing Jax was least interested in.  We probably should have sang to him while he was in the ball pit because that would have kept his attention.  

The desserts did keep the attention of all the kids though.  We had kids begging us to cut the cake and as soon as we sang happy birthday they were hurrying to the table to grab some sweets.

Jax's Grandmother Mimi was in Paris on his Birthday and had to miss the party, but thanks to the wonders of modern technology she still got to see Jax eat his cake and wish him a Happy Birthday.  Pretty cool.

At some point Jax grabbed his favorite hat, the one that he wore two Halloweens ago that hasn't fit him in ages.  We will retire that thing eventually, but apparently not yet.  It really completes the "birthday boy" look, don't you think?

"What do you mean it's all gone?"

All in all it was an amazing day.
One that might take this two year old a little while to recover from.

Six Months Old

Dear Miles,
I can't believe we are now half way through this first year.  Somehow these last six months have seemed to pass so quickly and yet it feels like you have been in our lives forever.  This month has been such an exciting one for you, filled with many MILEStones, as we call them.  You have had your first (and second) tooth pop through and I think we are just as relieved as you must be about that.  Also you began to sit on your own!  You are already quickly discovering how that this accomplishment opens you up to a whole new world of play and activities.  Our little man is growing up and fast!

We have several nicknames for you that we alternate:  Mister Miles, Mellow Miles, Miles Buddy, chunky monkey, our gentle giant, and baby (a favorite of Jax).  We are still not sure which, if any, of these will stick, but for now you seem happy with any of them. 

We have been talking about how there isn't a certain "thing" that you are into.  For example, at this age your big brother was already really into balls.  While you like lots of toys we hadn't noticed an "obsession" or sorts.  Then we realized that your "obsession" was actually quite obvious, you are obsessed with people.  Your face lights up the moment someone smiles at you.  You gaze follows your big brother around every room.  The moment he is sitting next to you or on the floor beside you we hear a giggle and see a huge grin spread across your face.  It is amazing.  The changes you have made in the past six months are incredible and we cannot wait to see what the next six months bring.

We love you, Mom and Dad

Savoring the Moment

Miles has been teething and therefore getting up a lot more at night.  I am an exhausted mom right now that has been running on autopilot much of the time.  Miles just got up for the first of likely many times tonight and when I went in he didn't want another bottle like he usually does, he settled down as soon as I held him and rocked him.  He just wanted his mom.  While I usually look on my phone while rocking him back to sleep (my strategy to keep myself awake for these overnight feedings), I was just struck by the look of my sweet sweet little boy tonight lying there in my arms.  He is perfect.  Doing this "baby stage" for the second time, I am much more aware of how fleeting moments like these really are in the grand scheme of things.  Sure I am tired.  Of course I will love it when I am no longer getting up over night to feed a baby.  However I will so miss rocking my little boy to sleep.  As soon as Jax started going to bed on his own and sleeping through the night, our rocking sessions completely and abruptly ended (his choice not mine).  Sometimes it is even hard to really remember those nights.

Tonight I found myself studying every inch of Miles, his half smile that he gives when falling asleep, his fist held right up to his mouth, the way his legs cross at the ankles as they lay across my lap.  My eyes watered up as I was completely overcome with emotion.  My God I love this child so much.  So I just sat there rocking my little baby with tears on my cheeks that were unable to be wiped as my hands were otherwise occupied.  Then I prayed.  I prayed for God to keep my sweet angel safe.  I prayed for help in the many areas that I often find myself feeling inadequate as a parent.  Then I gave thanks.  I am so lucky and incredibly blessed to have been given yet another little boy to raise. 

Miles sighed and I knew it was time to put him back in his crib.  He may continue to get bigger and change, but this moment is one I will always remember. 

A Walk in the Park

We have been getting some nice weather finally and are more than ready to take advantage of it.  Today my parents were up to hang out with the kids.  We decided it was a perfect day to head to the park. 

Last time I was at this park I was days away from having Miles.  

So much has changed in just a few months.

Jax had lots of fun on the playground.

However, he refused to go down the small slide.  No, Jax insisted on going down the big one.  

He is my stubborn little child.

With three adults there, we did have plenty of supervision.

The park we went to not only has a great playground, but it also has lots of ducks!  Jax LOVED feeding the ducks.  Apparently many other people had the same idea we had today because by the time we got there you was very apparent the ducks had been well fed.  Jax still got a few of them to eat though.  

Then he decided the ducks didn't need any more bread and that meant more for himself.

 

After I brought the boys back to the house, we decided to hang out in the back yard until Jasper got home from the office.  Can you tell we are ready for summer?

The dogs seemed pretty excited we were back there hanging out with them.  Well, maybe not Eleanor.  She still seemed a little bored. 

Ladybird on the other hand was very happy to be hanging out with us.  I wouldn't let her get on the blanket I had down for us to sit on, so she stayed as close to it as possible.  Sweet girl.

Miles and I were hanging out on the picnic blanket while Jax ran around.  

I can't get enough of these cheeks.

 While we were playing together I apparently wasn't keeping an eye of Jax.  He was playing at his water table and managed to absolutely soak himself.  Not to self, don't wear nice sandals in the back yard.