Happy 2nd Birthday Nicholas

I have to admit, when it comes to birthdays, I'm not exactly Super Mom or Holly Homemaker. I let the child choose the theme and then I order a cake from Wal-mart and I buy party favors from Zurchers. It doesn't really require much creativity on my part. But, I'm okay with it. I like to keep birthdays low maintenance, so I can still enjoy them too.

Well, this year Nick chose a "helicopter & airplane" theme, or as he says, "hairpains and hetotters." And, to my dismay, I couldn't find any store who had an airplane cake. So, my husband who is significantly more imaginative and creative than I am, decided to decorate the cake himself. (It was still a store bought cake, though.) He didn't just throw a couple plastic airplanes on it, like I would've done. . .he had to put them on wooden dowels so they were hovering and flying around the cake. He even had a space shuttle up past the moon. Very cute! It was fun to watch my husband get so excited about a kid's birthday, and Nick loved it! He already thinks his Daddy hung the moon. . .so this airplane cake just took Nick's admiration to a new level!

We had a little birthday party at my parents' house last Sunday, with all 11 of Nick's cousins from the Top side. I'm actually surprised he got to blow out his own candle. . .because all the kids were huddled right around the cake. And of course, after he blew out the candle, he said "again". . .so we lit the candle 2 more times so he could keep blowing it out.

Nick had much more interest in eating the cake this year than he did when he turned 1

Like vultures to carrion. . .so are children to birthday presents!

Last of all, I need to document some things about Nicholas at age 2:

He loves to sing and knows the words to at least 10 primary songs. But, his favorite song to sing is the "Any Hour Electric" radio jingle that Michael produced for his company. It is adorable to hear a 2 year old try to say, "Do you need an electrician?"

Nick's diet consists mostly of "cha chut" (chocolate) milk, "noo nos" (noodles), he will occasionally humor me by eating a baby carrot or part of an apple. But, for the most part he would rather not bother with food and subsist only on chocolate milk. At least he's not already drinking cherry coke, right?

His favorite toys are airplanes and helicopters, but he will also play dinosaurs, safari animals, and trains--whatever his older brother is into on any given day. Nick also likes to run around the house, roaring, pretending to be what he calls a "Scary Dino."

Nick adores Daddy above all else! I call him Mike's stalker. . .because the kid relentlessly follows Daddy around the house whenever he is home. Even after I was gone over the weekend--(the first time I've ever left Nick overnight)--as soon as I walked in the door, he came crying to me asking if I could get Daddy to hold him!

Nick is a delightful kid. He says, "thank you" and "your welcome" if you give him anything. He talks so much more than my firstborn did at this age. He really keeps us laughing! He is much more outgoing and more of a show-off than my shy, subdued Gavin. I love each of my kid's personalities and the little things that give them their distinctions, even at such a young age.

Nick has his moments, but I do not consider him a terrible two-year old (at least, not yet.) He is probably a little spoiled, but only because I am pregnant and tired and will do anything to make the screaming stop!! But, it will work out because he has a sweet and very loving disposition.

When each of my sons has turned 2, I suddenly realize that they are not babies anymore. They change so much in the first two years, it goes by so quickly. It is wonderful to watch them grow and learn and turn into little people, but it is also a good reminder to me to cherish every moment that they are little because it goes so fast. The first two years are unlike any other during the rest of our lives--it is truly amazing! I just need to remember how I feel right now when I have that tiny newborn baby keeping me up all night!