Happy Birthday 2 You!

Happy Birthday to my little buddy Jack! 2 Years old, going on 20.

I guess time seems to go by more and more quickly, as each year and day and hour and minute becomes a smaller and smaller percentage of your life. Sometimes it feels like it was only two days ago that Jack made his grand entrance into our lives and other times it feels like he's been a part of our family forever. Strange how some feelings can seem completely opposite to each other and yet still be part of the same experience. Even before he was conceived I knew he was supposed to be part of our family- I knew I would have a boy next. Since the beginning, having him in our family has just felt "right."

Just over two years ago I was big, pregnant, miserable and crying hysterically in the bathroom on New Year's Eve because I was so desperate for him to come before the new year (of course the idea of not getting a nice tax break for a whole extra year was just the tipping point). After my little breakdown, Kole thought we might never have any more kids.  Despite the begging and pleading aimed at my belly, my little guy was stubborn and decided not to budge until the 3rd of January. I should have known even back then just what I was getting myself into. Raising him has been, and I am sure will continue to be, a new and surprising and insanely intense experience each day. It has been more fun and more work than I ever expected. Nevertheless, we are all so happy he is in our family... Eve too, even if it is really deep down.  When Eve was born I never thought I would be able to love another child like I love her but somehow it's miraculously possible to love them both and more than I could have ever thought myself capable of.  Ever since the moment I first saw Jack I was totally head over heels in love. As a result, I think my sweet husband often feels like the #2 guy in my life. Poor Kole. It's just one more thing to add to the running list of my spousal abuse and neglect towards him.

Anyways, yesterday, we had a small family celebration: dinner, cake, ice cream, and presents- the norm. Overall, everything was great- despite my extreme lack of planning and making Deb do everything at her house. Thank you to everyone who picked up my slack so my child could have a nice birthday.

Even though it was a party for Jack, we practically left the kids to entertain themselves while everyone else tried to kick eachother's butts on Wii Sports.  Even though Kole and I have been playing our Wii everyday since we got one for Christmas, I still need major practice.  Meanwhile he's playing at a pro level on practically every sport.  The only thing I seem to be good at is getting hurt.  Boy am I sore.  Pretty sad.

I feel like we just got our house in order from all the Christmas presents and once again I am trying to find storage space for the new influx of toys from the birthday.   Did I mention my kids are spoiled?... mostly it's not from us... but from the grandparents. It must be rough being the only grandkids on both sides of the family. Yea, life is good. I am told that one day I will miss the toys strewn all over like a tornado blew through. We'll see.  Hopefully one day we will have a bigger house with more closets and maybe, if I'm really lucky, even a play room and where I can stash all the toys.  Right now everything "kid" goes (or is supposed to go) somewhere in their tiny/shared bedroom and there just never seems to be enough room for everything. Despite my affinity for donating to the DI, more seems to be coming in than going out- especially this time of year. I normally don't think we have a lot until I try to make it all fit.  I've really learned to be organized since we moved into this house.  I find it strangely therputic to get rid of old stuff.  Some women shop, I donate.  And it's especially nice to find ways to guilt my family into donating their stuff too- but it's harder than it sounds.  Somehow we find we all need everything. Hopefully our little house won't end up bursting at the seems. 

I think it's nice that Jack's birthday is just as big an event 9 days from Christmas as it would be six months from now.  Like I said, they are a little spoiled.  He hasn't yet experienced the dual Christmas/birthday gift... and that is good for him even though it's not so good for my storage solutions. 

Jack, we hope you have 100 more years of happy birthdays and that you enjoy every day in-between.  We love you.