Happy Birthday...LD!

Today is LD's 2nd birthday. He is such a light in my life. He can always make me smile when I am feeling down. His presence has really enhanced my life and I am so grateful that Heavenly Father chose to send him to us when he did. I blogged about his birth story last year..what an accommodating little guy! I am just so grateful that I get to be Mami to this sweet little spirit. I cannot describe what a huge blessing he is in my life.


He has been excited about his birthday for weeks...even singing to himself, "Happy Birthday dear LD." Last night, however, he about couldn't stand it. A package came from my parents on Saturday and he just couldn't wait to open it. Here he is pushing it around and singing something about how it's his birthday.


Here he is just waking up this morning. We had to wake him up. This is the first kid's birthday on a school day that we've ever had. The big kids' birthdays are in the summer and last year, LD's was on Saturday. Our tradition is to open the present from my parents before breakfast so that whenever they call...we've already opened it. It also gives the kid something to play with all day...before DH gets home and they get to open the gifts from us.




Here he is opening and playing with the Geotracks from my parents. He loved them so much that he wouldn't put them down for family prayer (and we let him keep playing....it is his birthday, after all, right?).




Then, S, a 9-year-old that I watch before and after school came and gave him her gift. She has been excited about this gift for WEEKS. She is an only child and LD is really like her little brother. This is my third school year watching her, so she started coming to our house before LD was even born. It is cute to watch her with him on a daily basis.
I wanted to take him to do something that he loves. I thought about the zoo or the museum (museum is closed, zoo is to expensive...and I don't know if LD would like it as much without his siblings). But, he LOVES this little guy, L. Just adores him and we walk with his mom and him periodically. He loves these walks and says almost every morning, "L stroller walk?" L's mom was okay with walking, so we walked and played at the park. LD had a blast!

Finally, growing up it was a tradition to lick the cake beaters if you were the birthday kid. I haven't carried it over too much, but LD happened to be eating lunch when I made his cake...so, I let him lick one. He loved it!

Finally, after all the phone calls and waiting for DH to get home, and dinner (mac n' cheese and hot dogs...the perfect 2-year-old meal), it was time for presents and cake and ice cream. I did a school bus cake, since LD LOVES buses. It turned out pretty cute. S came back over to be with us since she loves LD so much. It is nice that she feels such a part of our family. I'd keep her, that is for sure!