Happy 2nd Birthday, Braiden!!!

Braiden eating his birthday-waffle-cake. :-)

Happy Birthday, Braiden! We can't believe you are 2! It has been such a joy to see you develop from a tiny baby into our busy, busy toddler boy. We love you more than words can tell!!

Braiden is a very busy boy. His favorite activity is playing outside. He also loves fire trucks, garbage trucks (Friday is the best day of the week; the garbage truck comes to our street 3 separate times!), trains, and anything else with wheels. His favorite toy is still his little cars! He is a big reader too; that activity balances out all the running around. :)

Braiden loves Noah so much, and it has been amazing to see their relationship develop. They play together, share toys, laugh a lot, and really delight in each other. Sure, there's fighting too, but those moments are far outweighed by the good ones. Braiden's favorite time of the day is when Daddy comes home from work. He asks about Michael throughout the day, and the days we go to visit Michael at work are really special! Braiden really is a Daddy's boy.

Braiden is talking more too! We haven't counted his words, but my guess is around 50. Some of them are very clear, some can only be deciphered by Michael and I. :) He is also my big helper at home. Braiden vacuums, keeps his toys well organized, puts trash away, helps me with laundry, and has even started to bring groceries in from the car!

Our weekly schedule is pretty full. On Mondays and Wednesdays we have playgroup, and on Tuesdays we have Romp N Stomp on the base, where a big gym is filled to the brim with all kinds of ride-on vehicles and toys (and about a 50 kids under 5 yrs with their parents!!). Thursdays and Fridays are for grocery shopping and other errands. The boys wake up around 7, we have breakfast, get dressed and head out. Noah sometimes takes a nap in the car, and by the time we come home, it's time for lunch and naps (if there are gaps to fill, we go to the playground, bookstore, or meet with friends). After naps we play outside and wait for Daddy to come home. After that we have dinner and the boys take baths. Around 7:30pm they head to bed, falling asleep immediately, tired from our busy day. :-)

Braiden got a special birthday breakfast, but other than that, today will be low-key. We are driving to Pennsylvania to meet up with my sister's family, at a cabin we rented together for the long weekend. We'll have a party there tomorrow for Braiden! From there, the boys and I will continue up to my sister's house for a few weeks.


Braiden got our early birthday gift on Sunday!