Theo

Theo’s 2nd birthday celebration

Posted on by mommyinthemidwest

Yeah, it was a month ago, so sue me.  I have thought about posting pictures from his birthday every day since his birthday and eventually I started thinking, what’s the point? So much time has passed.  But this is my virtual baby book and I want these pictures here to look back at one day.

Theo’s birthday fell on his Thursday this year and we had plans to celebrate the following Saturday.  We wouldn’t dream of not celebrating on his actual birthday so it was just reason to extend the fun for a couple extra days.

First picture of my 2 year old boy.  Yes, with a sticker on his chin.
Theo had breakfast at Ihop with his friend. 
Took them to the library for some fun with puzzles and books. 
It really was so much fun!
Mommy MIGHT have even let him have sprinkles at snack time.  
And it MIGHT be a new obsession of his.  Whoops. 
Mama made some cupcakes for her big boy. 
There was a nap of epic proportions. Like the kind you have to wake him up from so he can open presents. Rough life. 
Excited to see what’s in this box from Grammy. 
And of course it wouldn’t be a birthday without a trip to Chuck E. Cheese!
Baby brother’s not too sure about this plastic bib. 
Digging into his little cupcake.
It was a pretty perfect birthday, for not even having a party!
Friday, he had his 2 year checkup, which went just fine.  He’s growing. He’s healthy. He’s smart.  Nothing we didn’t already know!
We had a laid back day on Friday and were happy that daddy took off work to hang out with us.  Saturday we had a little lunch party with R’s parents and sister and her family.  We decorated with a Doodlebops tablecloth and balloons.  It was stress-free, simple, and just the way I wanted it to be. 
On the menu:
Roasted asparagus
Cheese and potato casserole
Chicken cordon bleu with wine sauce.
YUM.  (And yes, these are all foods that Theo loves!)
There were lots more presents and lots of stickers. 
Here comes the cake! (DQ didn’t have Doodlebops. Boo!)
Surprise…the cake was a hit!

After everyone left and we had time to play with all his new toys, Theo wanted to blow bubbles with his new Chuggington bubble toy.  Funny…he carried this little toy around for days after his party. 

It was a special few days.  But every day with my little boys is special.  At the end of every day, after the boys are in their jammies and ready for bed, after I’ve gotten my share of hugs and kisses, I must say… I am one happy, lucky mama.  
~C~

Letters to Theo: Today, you are 2.

Posted on by mommyinthemidwest

Little Theo,
Last night before bed, your daddy and I talked about what a big day today would be for you.  For the last week, we’ve been teaching you to say “I’m two!” when asked your age.  We’ve been trying to teach you to hold up your little peace sign to show everyone how many years old you are.  You try but for some reason, you just can’t get that little thumb to secure your pinky and ring finger.  Cutest thing ever. 

Last night before bed, we sang happy birthday to you.  Towards the end, I felt my voice quavering and my eyes stinging.  I felt that familiar lump in my throat.  It’s the same one that unexpectedly crept up on me at your first birthday party last year as we sung to you. 

Last night before bed, I told you I loved you.  I kissed your head.  I whispered in your ear, “the next time I see you, you’ll be 2.”  You smiled at me and I brushed your long hair out of your eyes, pulled your favorite blanket up to your chin and walked out of your room gently pulling the door closed behind me.

Last night after I put you in bed, I cried.  I sat in silence on the couch and thought about what I was doing exactly 2 years ago.  I was lying in the hospital full of anxiety and anticipation and hopes and dreams  Curiosity and naivity.  Two years ago I didn’t know how much love one heart could hold.  I had only dreamed of seeing your face.  I didn’t yet know that it would be 100 times cuter than I expected.  I didn’t know you’d have a head full of black hair and your daddy’s nose.  I didn’t know that my heart would melt and I would be changed forever.

Last night, when I was on my way to work, I fought back tears.  I asked myself why I felt so sad.  It’s the weirdest thing.  Mommies worry about things they never knew they would worry about.  They get excited over things that never seemed exciting.  They cry at times when they least expect it.  I’m not sad that you’re two, son.  I’m sad that you’re not a baby anymore.  You’ll always be my baby, but you’re not a baby.

Today, you are a little boy.  A curious toddler with a personality as big and bright as the sun. 
Today, you make your mommy and daddy prouder than you did the day before.
Today, you are funnier and smarter and sillier than you were the day before.
Today, you are loved even more than you were the day before.

Today, you are 2.

3-8-2010
3-8-2011
3-8-2012

And this world is yours for the taking.  Make the most of it, sweetheart.

Love,
Mommy

am I the only one?

Posted on by mommyinthemidwest
Am I the only one that has no interest in potty training?  To me, it’s pretty easy to change a diaper on the go and then not worry about it for a couple of hours (unless there’s a poopy of course).  Once they are wearing underwear, you have to worry about accidents.  On the couch.  In their beds.  In the shopping cart.  In the car seat.  Theo is not quite 2 and people have started asking me about it.  He doesn’t seem terribly interested and I’m certainly not going to force it at this age.  He has a potty seat and if and when he asks to use it, I let him try.  But so far, nothing has happened.
Am I the only one that has no interest in putting my kid in a toddler bed?  Theo has never tried to climb out of his crib (knock on wood) and I am not looking forward to the day that he does.  I picture him strolling across the hall to our room all hours of the night.  I picture screaming fits at bedtime because he doesn’t understand that, just because he CAN get out of bed, it doesn’t mean that he SHOULD get out of bed.  When we were at Big Splash, he wanted to sleep in that lower bunk so bad, but he was way too excited.  He couldn’t calm down enough to do it and eventually ended up going to bed in his pack n play. 
Am I the only one that has kept my kid rear-facing all this time?  We’ve bought his next car seat, which is forward facing only.  We haven’t installed it in our vehicle yet and I don’t plan on using it until his 2nd birthday.  It will be so weird to look in the rearview mirror and see him – not a reflection of him in his mirror.  I hope he enjoys facing forward and being able to see out better.  He’ll be able to see Dexter better (which also means he will be able to throw things at him better…which does sorta worry me).
I remember when Theo was taking itty bitty steps.  It seemed like he would never be able to just walk around the room without thinking about it.  It seemed like such a hurdle.  These developmental milestones are huge at the time and then you almost forget how big they were once they’ve been conquered.  I know we’ll eventually get on the other side of the potty training and toddler bed hurdles, and (hopefully) look back and appreciate how easy it was.  But right now?  Right now those two things seem just about impossible.  I can’t imagine life without diapers and cribs.
Now I’m asking you, the experts. 
At what age did you potty train your kid?  Was it a nightmare?
At what age did you transition him/her to a toddler bed.  Was it a nightmare?
~C~


**UPDATE!  I wrote this post a couple days before it published and Theo has since taken his first ride in his forward facing seat, which we have installed in R’s parents car.  Our babysitter is  having her baby so they are taking over watching the boys for a few weeks while she recuperates.  He loved it and today the first words out of his mouth were “new car seat! Ride to Nanny’s house in Pop Pop’s car!”  Safe to say he appreciates the change.  

Despite the look on his face, he was very excited!