Turning 2 is Fun

Birthday Weekend started off with a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Birthday Party!  

Aunt Lindsey and Baby Jordan came to town to help celebrate:

Barrett LOVES Mickey, and he was so excited about all the decorations around the house:

"It's The Micky Mouse Clubhouse. Come Inside; It's Fun Inside"

Mickey Cups

Presents!

Hot Diggity Dog Treats

Just a Few Snacks

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Character Cupcakes

Thank You Kara Clayton for making such cute and yummy treats for us!

He was a little unsure what to think about all these people in his house:

Why Are All These People Here?

But he warmed up eventually!

Even Baby Jordan dressed up for the party!

Present Time:

AAAAANNND Cupcake time!

Watching Everybody Sing Happy Birthday 

(Hannah and Moses helped us out too!)

Sweet Cupcake Face

I Love This Picture

 Family Celebrating Little Man Turning 2

Nana and Gamma Love This Little Guy!

"We Did It!"

(one of Barrett's favorite phrases)

We've been talking about turning his crib into a "big boy" bed for a couple weeks now.  I took the bumpers out of his crib and he thought THAT was his big boy bed.  Maybe we should have stopped there ... Day 1 of the Big Boy Bed Experience consisted of Mommy laying on the floor next to him and finding him in the middle of the floor in the middle of the night.  It's a work in progress :)  We also found him playing with some of his new toys in his new bed.  So I think he likes it ... we just all have to get used to it!

 Big Boy Bed

On his actual birthday we started the dreary, cozy day with a special donut breakfast.  Today was different since Daddy didn't have to work, so we spent the morning exploring all of the new toys and presents we got!  Just a sweet family day celebrating our son. 

We love you little one.  During the past 2 years you have made our hearts grow in ways we never could have imagined.  We love watching you learn new things and grow, even though we wish we could keep you little forever.  You are definitely a precious gift that God has entrusted us with, and we can't imagine life without being your Mommy and Daddy.  Hope you have had a great birthday Little One.

Love, 

Mommy and Daddy

Almost 2!

I love how expressive Barrett is these days.  Yeah, it also means more tantrums and letting me know when he's frustrated. But it also brings lots of giggles and I love yous.  Yesterday he decided to give me a big hug out of the blue, turned his head toward my ear, and whispered "You best friend Mommy."  I would have sat on the floor hugging him forever if it meant I could freeze that moment in time!  

Every night when I leave his room while he's going to bed, the last words I hear as I walk out of the room are "I love you Mommy."  And every night I want to turn around and pick him back up and squish him with hugs. 

He talks a lot about the babies in mommys tummy. He loves to give the girls hugs and kisses. We keep talking about them and how he's going to be a big brother soon .... And I think he's going to be a great one!  And no doubt he'll love having a couple of permanent playmates.  

We also spend our day listening to Barrett narrate his activities:

"Oh! Oh!  Imma gonna get it!"

"Sit on knees" (at kitchen table)

"Up with Mommy/Daddy"

"Play go-gos"

"Help Mommy make-a dinner"

"NEEEEEWW DIAPER, Milk, Cheerios" (every morning when he wakes up)

"Hey Mommy/Daddy how doin?"

"How's going Mommy/Daddy?"

"Throw a ball!"

"Car is zooming!"

"Mommy/Daddy DRIVING!!!"

"Barrett clean it"

"Butter sandwich!" (Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich) 

But my most absolute favorite part of this stage is how he sings along to almost every song he hears on the radio (in addition to the age appropriate songs he songs around the house).  It makes me laugh every time:

After a quick visit from Gamma and Poppy ...

We spent the weekend in Dallas as a family of three to get one last adventure in before the twins are born AND to celebrate Barrett turning 2.

First stop was the Dallas World Aquarium:

And after a confusing ride from the hotel

on the DART, we took Barrett to his very first Stars game.  He really loved watching hockey WITH Daddy this time (instead of watching Daddy play). 

This was my view during the game:

  

The next morning we played a little piano, ate a late breakfast at a coffee shop, and headed to the Dallas Arboretum to visit the pumpkin patch:

We made it home on Sunday afternoon just in time for a much needed family nap time! 

Just a few more cute pictures from the last couple weeks I don't want to leave out. 

Showing Off His Independence

Usual Backseat Attire

Next Blog:  The Big Birthday Party!

Little Moments

I've been writing a lot about the adventures we've been having and all the things Barrett is learning. But little moments that really steal my heart. 

Like:

When he Kisses the Babies in my Tummy

Goofy Faces ....

.... And Sweet Snuggles

The rare occasion that he's HAPPY after a nap 

My Backseat View

Being Silly with Daddy

Baking With Mommy

Being Such a Good Helper

And Concentrating to Make it Just Right 

And how he cries when I take out the vacuum cleaner because he wants to help me clean the house with the Swiffer.

And how the last words he said to me today as I walked out of his room during nap time were "I love you Mommy."  

I love you too Little Dude. 

The Rest of Summer 2013

Barrett's little personality is turning into a BIG personality!  He's talking all the time ... and it seems like he learns a new word every 5 minutes.  He knows too many words to keep a list anymore.  He loves to sing his songs, dance, run and run, help Mommy clean the house with his Swiffer, and make Mommy and Daddy laugh.

We went to The Woodlands to visit Baby Jordan for the weekend.  Barrett adores his new little cousin!

Sweet Hugs

CHEESE!!!

Double Snuggles for Mommy/Aunt Alli

We've had this Monkey Backpack for a while now, but he is just starting to wear it all the time.

Then we came home, and he found all sorts of new ways to keep himself entertained.

Look Mommy!

He closed the door to his room so I wouldn't hear him playing Angry Birds.  Little Stinker!

And we have been playing hard!

Finally a Cool Day at the Playground!

Nap Hair and a Snack (Ohhhh Fooodles!)

Too Cool for School (or the Grocery Store)

Squishy Faces with Mommy

Watching Daddy Play Hockey

He kept yelling "Go!  Go!  Go Hockey!  Go Daddy!"

Snow Cone Treats

So Strong!

Aaaand ... this is happening!  

Barrett's sisters will be here in 2014