Today is Bean’s 2nd birthday. I can’t believe it. On one hand, I can’t believe that he’s already two. Where has the time gone? Wasn’t I just pregnant and painting a baby blue nursery, like, yesterday? But on the other hand, it feels like Bean’s been part of my life for as long as I can remember. Like he’s always been here. Truth be told, I’m really excited that Bean’s turning two. He’s pretty much the coolest kid I know and I just can’t wait to see what the next year brings.
Last year I did a video for Bean’s first birthday and I loved having it so much I decided to do one again this year. Don’t worry. It’s not sad or mushy at all. In fact, it’s set to reggae music. Bean’s favorite song, to be exact. He dances to it like a champ. And besides that, I think an upbeat, reggae song really suits Bean. He’s a happy, laid back dude.
So, let’s get this birthday party started…
Michael Bean,
You make my heart happy and my soul dance. The world is a brighter place with you in it, my sweet, sweet boy.
Happy birthday!
I wub you,
Mom
This past Saturday, Chris and I celebrated our sixth wedding anniversary. Ironically enough, we were attending a friend’s wedding on Saturday and as the ceremony unfolded, I found myself looking at the bride and groom and feeling slightly jealous at the adventure that they are about to embark on. You’re only newlyweds once. But then I looked over to where Chris stood with the rest of the groomsmen and, as I did, he looked out into the crowd and found me at that exact same moment. We smiled at each other and darn it if I didn’t get the same goosebumps from my head to my toe that I got six years ago standing at the alter.
That boy melts me.
The past year of marriage for Chris and me may not have been as doe-eyed and candlelight filled as our first year of marriage, but it certainly has been as meaningful.
I said I was starting to feel at home in Florida.
He said he missed his friends in Connecticut.
I said I was tired of clipping coupons and counting pennies.
He said he was tired of our tiny rental house.
I said I wanted to write a book.
He said he would watch the kids while I wrote.
I said I thought I could make writing a career.
He said he thought I needed a paycheck.
I said I was pregnant.
He said he hoped the baby came out carrying a bag of money.
I said I wasn’t giving birth to a leprachan.
He said he hoped it was a girl.
I said how odd it was that we would leave the backdoor unlocked.
He said to not come inside and to call the police.
I said I would never go back into that house again.
He said he found a house with a pool.
I said I was going to be a teacher.
He said he pitied my students.
I said I was worried someone was going to break in and take Bean.
He said I was worrying a lot lately.
I said I was tired from being pregnant.
He said he thought I was depressed.
I said maybe he was right.
He said he’d hold my hand through it.
I said I was angry at God.
He said he missed seeing God in my everyday life.
I said I’d talk to my minister.
He said we didn’t have enough money to cover my maternity leave.
I said thank goodness God and I were on good terms again.
He said he’d find extra work.
I said I’d pray.
He said he was getting a big promotion.
I said it’s time to go to the hospital.
He said she was the second most beautiful redhead he’d ever seen.
I said her name was Carline Grace.
He said he’d forgotten how much newborns sleep.
I said Bean went potty twice in one day!
He said sunsets on the back porch were worth the move to Florida.
I said I finally felt like myself.
He said he’d missed me.
I said I loved him more than the day we were married.
He said he loved me, too.
The thing I’ve learned about marriage in the past six years is that each year, each milestone, each moment, each memory can be important. Everything has the potential to be just as important as it was that very first year of marriage. Marriage is all about your perception – how you perceive your spouse, how you perceive yourself, how you perceive your relationship, how you perceive your life and your lifestyle – and your perception is about your mindset. If you choose to find the importance and the significance in the everyday, then your sixth year or your fourteenth or your fiftieth year of marriage can be just as important and significant as your first.
At least, that’s my theory. And I’m looking forward to proving that theory for the next fifty years with my sweet husband.
06Jun
Last week was Bean’s 2nd birthday. We celebrated on the actual day with Chris’s sister, Annie, and pizza on our back porch.
After pizza, we came back inside to have birthday cake. There was no theme at all for this little shindig. There was cake from a box, shark sprinkles, and Toy Story plates and napkins. It was a smorgasbord of Bean’s favorite things. And, of course, there were two tiny candles.
After cake came the real fun. Presents! Early that morning, we’d gone ahead and given Bean his big gift so that he could play with it all day. He got the Little Tykes Home and Garden Playhouse.
Bean loved it! Inside there is a little kitchen area, a phone, and a work bench. Chris and Bean went to work right away with the tool set, hammering nails and trying to unscrew the front gate.
Lucy even helped. Though, I think she was in it for the waffle pieces that were stuck to Bean.
We thought the house would be a perfect something for Bean to play with outside. We’re out in the backyard a lot, so we knew we wanted an outside present. And Bean is all about forts and hiding places right now. Plus, he really likes helping out doing household chores, so a playhouse seemed like a perfect fit for him right now. So far, he has really enjoyed it and I think it was a great gift for his age.
(By the way, the house is set up on our back porch right now, but that was just for Bean’s birthday. It’ll be moved into the back yard soon.)
After his birthday dinner, Bean opened his other two gifts from me and Chris. First up were the Imaginarium Building Blocks.
These are giant cardboard building blocks that I remember from working in the church nursery when I was in high school. These things are great because they are oversized, but still really lightweight. And Bean likes them because he can build things that are so much bigger than his Lego creations.
The only thing about these were that we wrapped the box for Bean to open and we didn’t know that we’d have to put together all 50-something pieces before he could begin playing with them. So, he opened the present and then had to wait for half an hour while Chris and Aunt Annie put them all together for him. If you give these as a gift to an impatient toddler, I’d put them together before you give them so they can start playing right away.
Once they were all put together, though, Bean loved them! So did Chris…
The last gift for Bean was a Tickle Me Elmo. Bean is really into Sesame Street right now and especially into Elmo, so this was a no-brainer gift. And a huge hit!
Bean doesn’t really like it when Elmo shakes, but, luckily, Elmo doesn’t shake a whole lot. I think he shakes every time when he’s in store mode because every time I saw him in the store he was shaking. But now that he’s home and we’ve switched him to home mode, he doesn’t shake hardly at all. Which I guess can be a good thing or a bad thing. It’s a good thing for Bean and he happily totes his buddy around everywhere now!
I can’t really review any of these gifts yet because we haven’t had them long enough to know their pros and cons, but right off the bat, I’d say all of these make great gifts for two-year-olds. Bean’s having a blast with them all!
07Jun
WARNING: I speak in a high-pitched tone throughout this video that may possibly only be heard by dogs. Also, there is a fair amount…nay, an excessive amount of baby talk. Proceed accordingly.
