Happy Birthday, Michael!

We got to celebrate Michael's 2nd birthday yesterday, and it was so fun. He is such a special little boy. It is really a deep joy to watch him grow up and show more of himself to us. Though it's hard to see sometimes... with the stubborn demonstration of will comes the potential for tenderly caring for others, with the time outs come a growing understanding of authority and love, with the personality comes more Michael!

For his birthday, we went to the Kinder Park Farm Fall Festival, and then enjoyed a yummy meal together after naps with family! It was a wonderful, relaxing day. Here are a few pics!

From October 2011

We loved petting the goats.

From October 2011

From October 2011

Sorry, I'm really proud of myself even though this really was easy... but check out the cake I MADE! :)

From October 2011

We got so many great gifts and presents from loved ones! An Elmo guitar, his first bike and helmet, a slide that will get us through the winter, fun books, fun toys, fun clothes - a birthday for the books for sure. Here are a few pics of Michael enjoying his new toys.

From October 2011

From October 2011

From October 2011

Ummm... is he 2 going on 18 in this sweatshirt, or is it just me?

From October 2011

Yummmmmmmmmy cake and ice cream!

From October 2011

I thought it would be fun to do a "Michael at 2" summary, as much as for me as for you.
- Talking - He really will try to say anything. Favorite words or phrases: Mommy, please, yummy, more, "Feist" (for youtube video of Feist singing "1234" on Sesame Street), come on, camel (see earlier blog post about our visit to the zoo with cousin Rebecca), singing Happy Birthday and as of this morning the ABCs

- Walking - He is learning to run and actually jump with both feet off the ground. If only he didn't run away from me quite so much in parking lots, I wouldn't mind. Other than that, though, he is tall and lean and a running machine.

- "Friends" - Michael is so social. I think he got the combined social parts of Kevin and of me - he really is so happy playing, as long as there is a "friend" there to play with him. My Annapolis friends joke that he is the only 2 year old who doesn't cry getting dropped off at preschool, and he literally shakes with excitement while we are walking up the stairs because he wants to see all of his friends. It is so sweet, and makes me hope and pray that this next baby will be one of Michael's best friends - and that one day they will have just as much fun playing together.

- Never gets tired of: Youtube videos of Feist performing "1234" on Sesame Street, playing hide and... hide, being chased (and not being caught), eating Life "cereal with muuk" for breakfast, eating waffles with syrup, eating pancakes with syrup, his "beebee" and "parrrrr" (blanket and pacifier), Cars (Pixar movie), taking his shoes off, Caillou