We had a 2nd birthday party for friends and family the weekend after Nathan’s birthday. Why in the world do I decide to have parties when I don’t actually like throwing them?

This is why:

(Perhaps you remember some of these babies?)

And this:

And definitely because of this:

My grandmother (GiGi) came to visit for the party from Dallas, which was really special. I am so grateful for the time that she and Nathan have been able to spend together and I hope there is much more to come.

More party photos here.

We had a fun time celebrating Nathan’s 2nd Birthday. It was unfortunate we had to work that day, but I picked Nathan up a little early from daycare so we got some extra time to play outside in the afternoon. Then Oma came over for a pizza dinner and ice cream cake dessert. Yum!

We talked to Nathan about how he was turning 2 before the big day. For a few days when we asked how old he was going to be we got an answer like “7″, but by his birthday, he knew he was 2 and was pretty proud to tell you when you asked.

Profile of a 2 year old (the morning of his birthday.)

Blowing out candles. (I really need to cut my face out of that!)

Digging in.

(Please excuse Nathan’s red and slightly swollen face. Poor kid got hit pretty hard with allergies that week, but it’s gotten better since.)

Nathan & Oma.

Family Shot.

More pictures here.

(Birthday Party post to follow!)

Nathan has hit a stage of wanting to do everything himself…walk down steps…get his own vitamin out of the bottle…pull his pajama pants on…you name it, he wants to do it. Sometimes he even tells me “no mommy no” when he’s going up the steps and doesn’t even want me to follow him up or watch him go.

It’s very adorable and I love seeing him trying to do all these things for himself. On the other hand, hearing “My do it myself” 800 times a day gets a little frustrating, and everything takes twice as long. Sometimes it leads to a tug of war since, as much as he wants to do things like walk across the street without holding my hand, it ain’t gonna happen. We’re trying to let him do as much as he can/wants to though, and it’s great to watch the joy on his face while he puts chapstick on his chin or blows bubbles while dumping the contents of the bottle on his shoe because he insisted on holding it himself.

Opa’s silly game with Nathan that he LOVES. Gets him giggling like crazy.

Me: Are you having fun with your playdough?
Nathan: MeeNo!
Me: Say Play
Nathan: Play
Me: Dough
Nathan: Dough
Me: Playdough
Nathan: MeeNo!
Gary: Say Big
Nathan: Big
Gary: Truck
Nathan: Truck
Gary: Big Truck
Nathan: BiKuck
Me: Playdough
Nathan: MeeNo!
Me: What are you playing with?
Nathan: MeeNo

Ah, love the language development of the toddler! Nathan can repeat (or at least tries to repeat) anything we say, but he definitely has his own way of saying things!

I did hear him say “Me Be Hungry Too” when he and I were feeding Fen dinner the other night. Thought the word “Be” was an interesting new addition to his sentences, but I haven’t heard him say it again.