The Big Two (Are You Kidding Me, TWO???!!)

While Nolan's birthday is actually December 1st, we celebrated this weekend. We are adamant about having parties on the closest Saturday, as we always need a day of rest afterward!!

I do have to admit that Nolan's birthday party will likely always be a bit of a challenge given the timing. It's right after Thanksgiving, so chances are we've JUST seen everyone and no one feels like eating. And, it's so close to Christmas that you feel like you can't do great gifts for both (just for gift IDEAS if not for the money factor) so one inevitably seems sub-par. I think this will get worse as he ages....right now he's only mildly interested in the present phenomenon. But, how quickly that will change. However, if our October baby plan had worked out, I'd simply be complaining that his birthday is too close to Bailey's. So, we love our little December 1st birthday!!

We were thinking that Nolan wouldn't "get it" that it was his birthday. We were sort of right. He seemed to play along with all of our "it's your birthday - yea!!" talk leading up to the big day. And, of course, he loved going to get his balloons and dragging them all over the house while I was setting up for the party. However, he didn't seem to understand (and why would he???) the flow of a birthday party. Here are some of my observations:

-From the moment people arrived, he stood by the cake table asking to eat cake....over and over again. He may have succeeded in procuring a fork and getting some frosting before I pushed it out of his reach. And, later, I may have started feeding him bits of cloud frosting (see pics below) just to quiet his incessant "want cake now" chanting while attendees finished their dinner.

-He looked at everyone singing "Happy Birthday" to him like they were C-R-A-Z-Y. He then tried to blow out the candles with his nose.

-I ALMOST thought I was going to have to accept his presents on his behalf when no one could lure him out of Bailey's room at present time. Finally he came into the living room and Bailey taunted him enough with a present that he became interested. Just like what I remember from Bailey's 2nd birthday, though, we got stuck on the first couple of cool presents and it was a little difficult to get him back on track opening more. Thank goodness for the 4 and 5 year-olds who were all too happy to open his gifts when he needed a break.

-It merely takes a birthday party to see how far you have to go teaching a toddler to share. Joseph (cousin), Owen (friend) and Nolan are all around the same age and played musical toys....when one had something, they all wanted it. Then, the whole group would migrate to the next coveted toy. They were so cute! It'll come one of these days after a bunch of tears and a few tantrums (oh yes, we've started that whole mess!!).

-He did tell a FEW people "thank you." At other times, when I asked him to say it, he responded with a definitive, "No." At least he can stand by his convictions, I suppose.

-When all was said and done, he was hyped up and we had to have our Cox Family Dance Party well into the evening, complete with Nolan's famous booty-shaking.

Thank you to everyone who loves our kids and packs into our house for these parties! We love them and we love you!

On to the pictures....

Sneaking forkfuls of frosting early in the party.

Saying hello to cousins Anna and Joseph.

They always have to check each other out for a bit! Can you believe that Nolan is the older of the two?

Here's the cute airplane cake.

All the kids: Anna, Joseph (cousins), Bailey, Owen (my friend's son), Lauren (cousin) and Nolan.

Future soccer star!

The girls hijacking the party with an impromptu performance. As you'll note, they've also changed out of their winter clothes and into Bailey's summer dresses for said performance.

I hate when pics won't rotate on here. He LOVES this microphone and piano stand!

Oh, the joys of a big squishy koosh ball!

This dump truck rocks! He also got a ride-on fire truck from the West family (pictured below) and he's been zooming around the house on it (it's lighter and goes faster!)

He's not really whacking Lauren with the bat....it's just the angle!! Although I wouldn't put it past him....

The day after.....the dump truck is fun to sit in, too!

My ice cream loving children doing their best work on the leftovers.