Happy Birthday My Handsome Little Man!

It's been a busy week. On Sunday, my car baby turned 3. I don't think I have his birth story on my blog yet. I'll post it later, but the short version is that he was born in the front seat of my doula's minivan just outside the OSU hospital where I had been planning to deliver. Needless to say, he hit the ground running and I've been trying desperatly to keep up ever since. Over the past few months he has transformed from a toddler, really still a baby, into a little man. He's growing up so fast! Birthdays are very special at our house, even though we try to keep them as simple as possible. We started the morning off right with chocolate chip pancakes.
Once every last moresel of chocolate had been devoured, and the kids had been assured that there was no more and I wasn't going to make another batch, Brad took them to Magic Mountain for arcade games and an indoor play structure while I readied the house for the party and baked a cake. Although we mostly bake with whole wheat in our house, I'm not above white flour and white sugar for a birthday cake. We do avoid box mixes when ever possible. Nothing beats a homemade cake. This year Connor asked for a chocolate cake with chocolate icing and balloons. At the last moment, he decided he wanted strawberries too, so I added a strawberry jam layer to the center of the cake. Yum!

The grandparents (well, my grandparents, his great-grandparents) arrive for the party at 2:00. Commence the present opening!


Aria samples some wrapping paper while Connor works. Alfie the robot, Knight dress up clothes, Color Wonder markers and paper, and a noise making garbage truck were the stars of the show. After the presents have been played with, it's on to the cake! I've never seen a kid more excited then when we were singing "Happy Birthday" to Connor.

And he blew out his candle in one blow.

Birthday cake rocks!

So happy birthday my handsome little man. Your mama loves you more than you could ever imagine. You are growing up so well, and I am so proud of you. Enjoy being 3.