You Don't Know Jack: 2nd Birthday Edition

 So, let me tell you a little bit about Jack.

He's pudgy in all the right places: (That face? Those ankles?!  And his bubble butt--sorry, no picture--is my favorite!!)

 He cares about others.  If you've fallen, say "ouch", are crying, this sweet thing will come up and say "ya okay?" and give you love pats.  He loves offering kisses and after his soft kisses he'll say "hug?" open his arms wide and then say "awwwwww" as you hug him.

He LOVES music.  He acts like every song is his jam and bops around with a cute little half smile on his face as soon as he hears one and claps when it's over.  Even if it's background music, he always notices when a song starts or finishes. He's very in tune with the details (and can hear an airplane in the far distance mid-conversation).  Good ear.

He is a goofball with a really elevated sense of humor for a newly two-year-old...ew, that sounds so braggy-braggerton of me to say, but it's true:)!  He uses funny voices, plays copycat, cuts his eyes like nobody's business, laughs under his breath. He's just super awesome.

He's a smartypants!  Just weeks before he turned two he was able to recognize ALL his letters whether you point to them or ask him to pick them out of a jumble of letters.  He knows his shapes and is a quick study on puzzles.  He does have a great teacher, of course. (Here's looking at you, Molly!)

Speaking of Molly...the two of  them are so fond of each other in a way that does a mama's heart sooo good.  Oh, and he can finally sorta say her name (up until a few weeks ago he called both of us mommy and she was the only one who could tell the difference between who he meant to address).  She loves to read to him, and teach him new things.  She's solely responsible for his pleases, thank yous, and your welcomes--she's consistent and makes sure he follows through.  They can make each other fall to pieces giggling with just a look and they spend equal amounts of time roughhousing and cuddling.

 (I do wish he would give Molly some pointers on eating with a spoon...a skill he has mastered beautifully that, oddly, she still needs to hone!)

He's a fast learner and a thorough observer of details.  You can see the wheels a turnin' behind those baby blue eyes!  And sometimes he can throw a fit bigger and sweatier than all the things and NOTHING can talk him down!

He's recently gotten into all things transportation--cars, airplanes, trains, and the like--but keeps in touch with his feminine side by accessorizing with his sisters jewels and purses.

He is a creature of habit and really thrives on routine.  He loves to wake up, look out the window, go downstairs for breakfast, get wiped off after eating, get his shoes out of the basket, put his shoes back in the basket, have his bear, Scotch, and his blanket for a nap, stand on the stool to brush his teeth and get a drink of water, close his curtains at night after looking to see how many cars are outside his window, have a song and a snuggle and go to sleep.

For his 2 year well visit he weighed in at 29 lbs, measured 34.75", and his head was 19.75".  That's 75th percentile, 55th, and 93rd respectively.

Jack, you are so special to our family.  Daddy and I sit up at night talking about how fantastic you are...especially when you let out a rogue growl or grunt or sigh when we're getting ready for bed.  We love to talk about how the things you do now are going to translate as you get older.  I love how you always make everyone you come in contact with feel important--what a rare and powerful gift that is.  You make me happy and I. Love.........YOU (inside joke with me and Jack;).

A Barnyard Brunch for Farmer Jack

Oink, Moo, Cocka-doodle-doo!  

Farmer Jack has just turned TWO!

We decided sometime ago, when his favorite book was "Old MacDonald" and his go-to trick was farm animal sounds, to celebrate Jack's special day with a barnyard brunch.  I like to plan the menu around the birthday guest of honor and since Jack is a lover of all things breakfast, a brunch seemed like the right way to go.  All of his faves were in attendance:  eggs, grits, blueberries, and blueberry muffins, plus a few extra bits.  I sent Ryan and Pop to the farmer's market that morning to pick out a farm-fresh bouquet to adorn the table.  Any day with farmer's market flowers is a good day.

As per usual, everything else was put together with whatever I happened to have on hand.  I sure am getting my mileage out of this mini chalkboard signs I made a few years ago!

I borrowed a Melissa and Doug toy crate from the playroom to set up a crudite platter veggie-garden style complete with popsicle stick markers.

Originally I thought I'd do individual hashbrown casseroles in a muffin tin and call them haystacks.  But it's a whole lot easier to ditch that idea and just make "haystack casserole"

The eggs were in the form of a sausage, spinach, mushroom, onion, crustless quiche and another quiche with just cheese and eggs (oh, and a 3rd quiche for just Ryan and me that was Whole30 compliant...meaning no cream, no cheese...no fun!  But hey, at least Farmer Jack's berry patch and veggie garden were abundant.)  (P.S. don't you love the little crocheted chicken egg covers from my grandma?!)

The kids' table was set with dollar tree plates, their own supply of blueberry muffins (in the chicken basket from my grandma) and up-cycled creamer containers that MiMi's been saving for me.  I put together a toy barn we have as a centerpiece.  The lazy susan made it functional (they definitely took the opportunity to play as they ate--as they should;).

  I love that the cups had a perfect little flip top with a straw sized hole just begging for a fancy striped paper straw.  They also served as placecards with their scrapbook paper name labels.

Our animal guests shed their masks at the door:

Here they are in human form:

The jolly kid table occupants

The adult table sported a bunch of wheat, a happy yellow chicken, an old flour sifter, and a cute milk bottle candle that was a gift from a few of my students this year.:

Farmer Jack and my handsome farmhand

This little dude can tear up some brunch!

After brunch it was time for play dough--one of Jack's most FAVORITE things to do!  I cooked up a couple of fresh batches, colored them with colors that would be satisfying to make barnyard things with, and dug around in my huge collection of cookie cutters (a recent acquisition from my mom) for all things farm.

Play dough usually holds Jack's attention for quite awhile and this time did not disappoint.  In fact, it held everyone's attention for quite awhile--from age 2 to 50-something!

After dough play, we moved into the family room for another Jack favorite, stories and songs--although it was more like story and song:).

In the family room a seed packet banner cheered up the mantel along with some alphabet blocks and a couple of props borrowed from Oklahoma and Fiddler days.  Molly helped scout out all the books around the house with anything to do with a farm theme.  We filled our rotating raisin box of books with those.

After that it was back to the table for some seed sowing fun.  A side effect of the Whole30 thing Ryan and I are doing is that we've been through LOTS of eggs.  So, at my mom's suggestion, I gave everyone half a dozen shells, we colored faces on them, then planted chives in them.  Jack was totally enthralled with this activity and spent at least 20 minutes working on it with Ryan with great concentration on each step.  It was darling.

twins

More farm fun (plus a rhinoceros)

  Time for cake!  Layered potted plants were the star of the birthday dessert menu.  In addition to breakfast food, Jack's a big peanut butter fan.  These were assembled in a joint effort by MiMi, Pop, Ryan and me the night before.  The Whole30 thing was going pretty easy until it came time to unwrap and chop up 40 Reese's peanut butter cups...I've never heard the sirens call to me quite that strong.  Nor has the smell of glorious peanut butter wafted right up my nose like that before.  But, spoiler alert, self control prevailed!

Big Boy eyes

I have no idea how they tasted in the end but Jack thoroughly enjoyed his.  He downed most of it with nothing more than the popsicle stick!

Present time was a joy as well.  He met every gift with an audible gasp and wide eyes and was excited about each one.  It was darling and showed evidence of how thoughtful and sweet his heart is.

puzzle-loving boy!

A quick stop by the farmer's market and it was time to go.  

Our youngest guests left with a cow hand sanitizer, a scrub brush, a bottle of carrot bubbles, some cow tails and strawberry candies.  And of course their half dozen chive plants!

Here's our charming cast of characters:

Bidding farewell to our farm friends:

The farmer and the cowman should be friends.

My sweet post-party peeps

The after party consisted of naps, thunder storms, a movie, dinner and ANOTHER birthday dessert for Jack who gasped when he saw it coming out of the fridge:

My cuddle bug

Jack was a joy all day long and was a model birthday party honoree...you know how you always half-expect bratty, over-tiredness from kids on their birthday?  Not this one.  I think my favorite part of the festivities was the fact that he enjoyed it all.  Genuinely.  Thanks, Jack...mommy LOOOOOOOVES you!

Happy Birthday to my sweet, joyful Jack!