2 Years of Jay Wheeler

At 2 years old Jay Wheeler:

-Speaks like a mini adult! He has a truly impressive vocabulary and adds new words to his repertoire every day. He regularly says 6-8 words sentences and uses words like "Scandinavia", "exhausted", "disgusting", and "actuary" in daily speech. He can also sing all the words to Jingle Bells, Frosty the Snowman, Happy Birthday, ABCs, Twinkle Twinkle, etc. We have also worked hard on manner words. Jay (FINALLY!!!) says please and thank you with some regularity.

-Is in a real sword/dragon/knight stage. While most 2 years old carry around a stuffy or blankie for comfort, JJ has a sword (really just the wooden stick from a spatula with the rubber head pulled off). This sword goes everywhere with JJ including the bath and bed. He loves to shove it down the back of his shirt for safe keeping when he needs his hands free. Jay's favorite movie is "How to Train Your Dragon" and his favorite book is "King Jack and the Dragon". His little imagination runs rampant and during independent play you will likely find him slaying a dragon or rescuing a damsel in distress.

-Continues to be a tiny bookworm. One of his favorite places is the library and all of the local librarians know him by name. We check out about 20 books, twice per week, and read them until he has all the titles and storylines memorized.

-Enjoys outside play! Some of his favorite activities are walks with daddy, jumping in the construction site rock piles by our house, and playing in his sandbox.

-Has the wildest blonde hair. He has some major cowlicks (just like his daddy) in the front and back. Every morning I let him choose if he wants dragon spikes or a comb over.

-Is still called JJ by most people, though we are trying (mostly futilely) to call him Jay. Other nicknames include Biz, Bizler, Bean, and Jdub.

-Still loves his fruits and vegetables, but has definitely developed a powerful sweet tooth. His favorite treats are Walmart smily face cookies, marshmallows, donuts, and anything chocolate. Without fail he request "a little bit of dessert" each night after supper. 

-Means business about his snuggle time. Despite his growing independence, this kid needs a healthy dose of snuggles every day. I have learned that in order to set our afternoon off on the right foot, I need to set aside at least 15 minuets for uninterrupted snuggle time directly after JJ's nap. 

-Started attending nursery at church and preschool twice a week.

-Continues to be a real social butterfly. He always prefers a playground, chic-fil-a play place, or library story time that is jam packed with "friends". In fact, every new person is a "friend" to JJ. 

-Is a truly hilarious human being. He bring so much laughter into our home. For instance, the other day he finished a Popsicle and stuck the stick into his nose. I asked him what he was pretending to be and he said "a narwal". Or another time we were discussing his favorite topic, dragons (obvi) and I asked him what dragons eat. Without skipping a beat he exclaimed "tacos!!!". 

How we adore this spunky, articulate, confident, kind hearted, independent 2 year old of ours!

Jay's 2nd Birthday

A construction themed party was in order for JJ who is obsessed with all things tractor.

Seriously, he knows every type of tractor and will correct you if you name one wrong.

His wonderful grandparents made the 22 hours drive in for the occasion and we spent the day playing hard as a family.

The day started with pancakes at IHOP (JJ's favorite) followed by making Olaf at Build-A-Bear. 

I decked out the house with special decorations and tried my hand at birthday cake making (it didn't turn out half bad, if I do say so myself).

JJ loved shoving his little sweet toothed mouth with cake and being showered with attention all day.

We sure love you Jay Wheeler! It was an extra special day celebrating an extra special boy. 

I just know 2 is going to be a terrific year!

Jay's First Birthday Party

In our house there is a nonnegotiable rule that each and every birthday is celebrated hard. And despite that fact that Jay won't remember a darn thing about this day, his first birthday was absolutely no exception. And let's be real for a second, first birthdays are just as much for the parents as for the child (#isurvived). And as the leaves are sporting their finest fall colors, the air getting crisper, and the apples are getting sweeter, the theme was almost a no brainer. A fall lumberjack party for my tiny human complete with apples and caramel, roasted marshmallows, and inflatable axes.

Turns our that Jay is quite the party animal. He loved eyeing the silver balloons. He loved eating cake to his heart's content. He loved shredding up wrapping paper. But most of all, I think he loved having all his favorite people with him in the same place, at the same time.

And while a party is fun, the truth is this little kid deserves to be celebrated. He is so sweet and even-tempered. He works hard to learn new things every day. He is resilient and patient. And boy does he fill our lives with joy. Truly, my heart is filled to the very brim. 

 

A Very Special Day

Today is a very special day.
In fact, it happens to be the birthday of my wonderful mama llama drama rama!
Oh how I love that lady.
She brings so much inspiration, sanity, and happiness to my life.
Hope you have had the loveliest of days mother dear.
Because you are certainly one of the most lovely women I know.
Happy Happy Birthday!

(Ain't she a smoking hot babe? Let's hope I age as well!)

Golden

Today, is my golden birthday.
Twenty Two on October 22nd.
This birthday was splendid, as every birthday should be.
All day I received phone calls and texts from loved ones far and near.
I wore bright red lipstick simply because it makes me feel lovely.
I ate a frosted pumpkin cookie for breakfast.
And I scheduled a pedicure for myself this Thursday.
Then my love came over for a little late evening celebration.
J put 22 candles in a giant chocolate chip pumpkin cookie 
and serenaded me with a solo version of Happy Birthday.
I made one big wish on all those candles,
and luckily managed to get them out in a single try.
It was a simple day, but wonderful nonetheless.
Birthdays sure are exciting, don't you think?

Happy Golden Birthday!  Oh Happy Life!

Almost Twenty Two

Mmm...
A birthday wouldn't be a birthday without one of Granny's famous black walnut cakes.
She used to make me one every year
and my Mama kept the tradition alive by baking me one this year to!
I die just thinking about the thick gooey frosting and moist walnut flavored cake.
Secretly, if black walnut were a wedding cake option, I would choose that in a heartbeat.

J and I came into town for his little sister's baptism,
which also ment a little early birthday celebration with my family.
We ate at my favorite Mexican restaurant.
I opened some classy gifts.
And then we gobbled up the cake (don't worry, i even brought 2 slices back to Utah with me).

It was a fun weekend with family.
But before we knew it and the 8 hour drive back to Provo was calling our names.
Luckily, my REAL birthday is coming up in a week!
And I have a handsome boy here in Provo to celebrate with.
Can you believe that this is the first time in 4 years that we will be together on my birthday?
I think that is the best gift of them all.

Twenty Two...
You are looking like an awfully fun year already!

1. THE cake.  Take a bite and you will propose to it instantly.

2. Taste testing some wedding sodas

3. Potential Christmas card pic

Happy ALMOST Birthday!  Oh Happy Life!