Birthday #2!

Well, I'm shamefully late in writing this, but Eli celebrated his second birthday on December 9th!  Hooray!  It seems rather hard to believe he's two years old.  This year went by WAY faster than the previous one (I hope I won't be saying that every consecutive year)!  Eli sure is a terrific kid.  While he certainly knows how to drive me crazy, and that not-so-nice stubborn attitude is all-too-common, no one puts a bigger smile on my face, warms my heart as much with their sweet snuggles, or makes me prouder and so greatly blessed.

 I hosted a small, simple party for him at our house. Both sets of grandparents and my sister and brother-in-law were able to be there for it.

I'd been prepping Eli for a while about his upcoming birthday, and telling him he was going to be two years old.  After his party whenever anyone asks, "How old are you?" he smiles really big, holds up his whole hand and shouts "Two!"  : )  Eli enjoyed picking out his party supplies and helping me make cupcakes.  As soon as he saw the balloons all over the living room and the banner across the ceiling he couldn't stop yelling "Party!"  For days afterwards when we still had decorations out he would happily talk about his party again.  It was a hit!

On the day of the party, David's parents came in the morning to spend some extra time with Eli, so they were around for all the "prep."  David and his dad blew up a ton of balloons, and luckily this year Eli was crazy about them!  Eli and Grandpa Hayes had fun throwing them up in the air and making their hair static.

A not-so-great shot of the birthday banner.  Eli LOVED it!

David and I made homemade pizzas for dinner (a favorite of Eli's), and the grandmas contributed a fruit and garden salad.  Then it was present time!  My sister was taking videos as Eli was opening his presents.  The first video was of him opening a gift from David and I--jammies and some dinosaurs.  He loved his new jammies and wanted to wear them right then, but the dinosaurs he quickly tossed aside and had no interest in.  : )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO0F_lwWJ-I

The next present was this cute backpack from my parents, with a cute video of him opening it--

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Fle16hGjeA

Becky and Kyhle gave him this handsome sweater, which he also "tried on."  : )

The last gift of the night was a kitchen set from Grandma and Grandpa Hayes!  As soon as they brought it in Eli yelled, "Kitchen!" and ran over and started playing with it.  He's had his eye on one of those for a VERY long time!

Eli and Grandpa Metheny sharing a sweet moment, with Grandpa in Eli's birthday crown.

Singing "Happy Birthday!"  Eli was too scared to blow out the candles.

But he was a very big fan of the cupcakes!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xQc-r4mknQ

I wanted to start a tradition of kissing our kids on the cheeks on their birthdays.  It was a little tricky, and sadly we only had a phone camera to shoot us.  I still think it turned out cute, though.  : )

Happy 2nd Birthday to our favorite little boy!