& then he was two.

   

On his birthday.

Q's actual day of birth was mellow. 

We made his favorite breakfast (cheesy eggs + cinnamon toast). We went to church (he loves, loves nursery). He ran around the house post-church & played with Donkey & did happy dances everywhere. Naps were taken by everyone (except me). It rained really hard, & I loved it. We got nice phone calls & texts from friends & family, & took advantage of FaceTime throughout the day (the look on Q's face when he talks with third-cousin-friends Indie & Fox is always priceless). We opened sweet & generous gifts (buttons! books! a lantern! a tent! toys!) from family & friends (thank you). I made* Q a layered mini cake with the yummiest frosting (he was a little scared of the candles given the birthday party incident the day before, but blew it out nonetheless). We sang our traditional Hudson Family Birthday Song, he did a lot of practicing with the word two!!! & he went to sleep tired but happy. 

 *If you already knew about Trader Joe's Madagascar Vanilla Bourbon cake mix & had not yet told me about it, we are in a fight.

 

Q's second birthday party.

I suppose Quinn got a bit of a check the box 2nd party, but really, it included everything that I felt was important for a little person's birthday party - the people we like the very best, some good food, & a bit of not-over-the-top fun (in our case, a bubble gun). I felt badly that I didn't spend all day cooking & baking a cake like I did last year, but pizza, some veggies + a salad, a big marble cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes (amazing) & some good San Pellegrinos & Izze's were sufficient enough to keep people happy. 

Q woke up from a three hour nap Saturday afternoon saying Night, night! Night, night! Bye, bye! so we really didn't know what his mood would look like for the rest of the afternoon. He started off his party by refusing to get out of his stroller (so he sat & observed for a bit), had a bit of a screaming fit when it was time to sing him happy birthday, & wasn't the happiest when he put out his second round of candles (the first being blown out by the wind) with his fingers. Oops! But, his smile eventually came & I think he had a fun time with his friends. He was a sweaty & tired mess by the time we headed home across the street. Birthday party success. 

Two! I cannot believe it. 

*I took approximately 50 pathetic photos. I've lost the ability to mother, be pregnant & document with a giant camera all at the same time. Sigh.