Andy turns 2!

In an effort to build anticipation and work on delayed gratification with the kids, I've been trying to tell them about more things in advance. I have typically waited until just before something will happen before I tell them about it. That way I don't have to deal with all the questions about when it's going to happen. I finally decided that those can be good teaching moments about how we don't get things right away. We have to wait. And, anticipation is always fun!

The week leading up to Andy's birthday (which was Sunday, 7 Feb), I told the boys that Andy would be turning two on Sunday. Benny decided that singing to Andy would be a very good idea (he's great at singing "Happy Birthday"). We sang to Andy most days of that week.

With 9a church we didn't do anything too special in the morning. We sang "Happy Birthday" and the Cougar Fight Song (an on again, off again tradition).

At church Benny kept telling everyone that it was Andy's birthday and even sang to him a couple of times in the hallway. In Junior Sharing Time Benny was asked a question and answered with, "It's Andy's Birthday!" He's such a caring older brother.

After church and lunch Andy took a really long nap. Longer than he had taken in a long time. Unfortunately he woke up still really tired. It was a struggle through opening presents (we decided to do that first because getting dinner ready took longer than expected). It was even more of a struggle through dinner. We survived it, but more importantly, Andy survived it! And of course, everyone loved the cake and homemade ice cream! Andy chose rainbow chip cake (much to my pleasure!) and we had mint cookies'n'cream. It was delicious!

We got mostly video of our celebration, but here are a few pictures.

Trying to survive. It took a lot of effort to get Andy to eat his "pasta pot" (a name Benny adopted from Strega Nona by Tomie de Paola - a very good read!), but he did eventually finish his plate.

And, of course, who doesn't cheer up for cake?!

And, some recent favorite pictures of Andy:







Andy is such a great kid. He has such a fun personality. I remember two years ago waiting to go into labor on my own. Wanting so much to have a VBAC and avoid another C-section. Andy obliged and I labored throughout my due date delivering shortly after midnight. For a second child he gave me a first experience I don't think I'll ever forget. It took a little bit for us to decide on his name, but it was worth it. I have no doubt that Anderson will live up to his name.

I'm grateful to Andy for not taking me too seriously in the times that I shouldn't take myself too seriously. It's a good reminder to me to lighten up. It's been so fun to watch him grow up so much more in the last few months. And in the last few weeks he's really been working at talking better. It's neat to see his brain working trying to figure out just how to say something. I also love seeing him walk and run around with his short little legs.

Happy Birthday to our little Andy Pants!