Doster's Second Birthday Party

Parties have sure changed a lot over the last few years, am I right? While we may have traded adult beverages for juice boxes, the true makings of a good party are still there:  good people!

We were so blessed to have our family and friends join us for Doster's second birthday party. It was the perfect combination of old friends and new friends, for Doster and us!

I did not know how happy it would make me to see Doster interact with his little people.  He absolutely loves his friends and I could see the joy written all over his face.  It was most of his favorite people in one of his favorite places, all themed out in one of his favorite characters.  He was so excited and so happy, which made my heart so full.

The day of the party was a no-brainer.  Doster's birthday fell on a Saturday, so it made sense to run with it.  We decided on a Daniel Tiger theme a few months before the big day and we figured that a park would be a good party locale. Our house isn't large enough to accommodate so many kiddos, so we started checking out parks. I originally wanted Saluda Shoals Park due to the awesome train, but it was booked.  After going down the list with the parks department, Mays Park was available, so I booked it site unseen (though we checked it out many times before the party day). It was really the perfect little park: close to home, yet kind of hidden, a playground just the right size for toddlers, pretty shaded with an available picnic shelter. I decided that morning would work the best since lil man would be well-rested and it would be too hot any other time.

After that was squared away, we ordered the invitations, along with a few other this, from ETSY, got the banner and the awesome birthday outfit from pbs.org, hit up party city and that's about it!

Voila!

I won't elaborate with too many more words when there are plenty of pictures to tell the story.  But I do want to give a shout out to the grand parents-- they really helped us so much logistically!  At one point, I'm pretty sure my dad was spotting James as he stood on a park trashcan to hang that banner. And the grands were great about taking pictures and videos too!  Most of the videos are from them, and I am grateful to have them!

I love this picture more than words...

A few "detail shots"...

I can't help myself when it comes to the cheesiness...

I don't know why but I was obsessed with the helper station.  No one even used it, but I was all about it, ha!

We had the park all to ourselves-- the one random family left as we were setting up.  They coulda stayed and joined!

Happy Doster opening some presents that he was too tired to play with...

And now some videos, if you are so inclined.....

 We also had a double-exciting day as Doster's bud, Olivia, had her party that evening.  We all slept really well that night!


James and I agree that this was one of the best days, hands down. Thanks again to everyone that was able to help make this day so special!

Dear Doster- Two Years!

I really did write this a month ago.  Due to some technical difficulties, we are a little delayed in publishing. I'm sure you won't mind.

--

Sweet Doster,

The past two years have been incredible.  In fact, incredible is an understatement.  I live in a paradox where you still seem so new, yet it feels like I’ve known you forever.

On your birthday morning, I kneeled next to you and said, “Doster, I really like being your mommy”. 

You smiled at me and gave me a huge hug and said, “I love you, Mommy”.

That pretty much sums life up. You are sweet, you are a communicator, and you are a heart-melter!

While it isn’t always hugs and kisses (feet stomping, hands waving, eyes crying over wanting to wear pants AND shorts to breakfast today) you are usually pretty easy on us. 

I absolutely love spending time with you and do everything in my power to have as many laughs and lessons as we can.  Your dad and I watch videos of you before we go to bed every night and just stare in bewilderment at the screen.  We made a great mini-human! 

Development:

You’re still kickin’ it in the growth department. At your two year doctor’s visit you clocked in at: 26 lbs 4 oz (28th percentile), 32.9 inches (20th percentile) and 48.5 cm for the head circumference (45th percentile).  So, like your parents-- you are short with nice size noggin. 

We love Dr, Painter (or as you sometimes call him, Pastor Jim).

Show off those muscles!

Your hand, eye coordination is really taking off.  You received latch puzzle for your birthday and I was surprised at how quickly you caught on.

Your verbal skills continue to amaze me.  I know, I’m your mom and everything that you do amazes me, but your talking is so impressive. You don’t always “perform” for a crowd, but at home you talk pretty constantly. 

Favorites:
Food: Chick-fil-a, avocado, ice-cream, cereal

Books: Any Daniel Tiger Book (bedtime, feelings, ride around the neighborhood), Where Is Love Biscuit, Happy Easter Mouse

TV Show: Daniel Tiger

Other loves: Your shark pajamas (you want to wear them every night), playtime, cars, trucks, puzzles, being chased, “relaxing”, and restaurants.

Dislikes: Bed time, kale (“I do not like kale.”) and the vacuum cleaner

A Few Highlights of the Last Few Months

Your birthday was wonderful—Rather than elaborate now, I’ll probably wait and devote a whole blog to it.  We’ll see how that goes!

I know this is incredibly long, but I love every second of it!

Meeting Uncle Thomas:

First Hair Cut:

Staring your new class:

First pool day of the summer:

Fun at Soda City Farmer’s Market:

Just a few other phrases and such that I want to mark for my memory:

I love how when you make a mess, you say: Mommy will cwean it. We’re working on cleaning together.

You did not want me to use the blender because it was too loud.  After I was finished I said, “That wasn’t so bad, was it?”  You now say that all the time.

At dinner a few weeks ago, you looked at Gigs and said, “Daddy take ya shirt off. Wanna rub ya belly.”   I cried I was laughing so hard.

You love helping.  The other day I was genuinely running around the house looking for my phone.  You brought it to me and said, “We found it, didn’t we?”  (You love saying “didn’t we”).

You also love starting a sentence with “how ‘bout”.  Like, how ‘bout a snack?

Thanks again for being such a sweet baby.  I hope it is okay that I still call you my baby, even though you are for sure a big boy. I am so proud of you and cant’ wait to see what the next year has in store for us!