Paul began his second birthday with a request to use the toilet (“Toilet! Toilet!”). While he’s rarely successful, I’m always eager to encourage this new obsession. I think it bodes well for the next year.

We’re low-key birthday people around our house, so I have tried to avoid making it a huge deal and spending money unnecessarily. In fact, so far, including the cost of the cake, I’ve spent less than $15, and Paul has loved his celebrations!! I think it just goes to show that kids don’t need a lot; I certainly did not want any more big toys right now. That said, I rarely buy Paul anything (thanks to our recently being added to my friend’s “hand me down” list!) and he’s a great kid, so he deserves something. I did give him some gifts on Sunday, but I know he loves stores, and he loves opening presents. (Apparently, he didn’t need any instruction this time around! Sunday, he was the present opening pro!)

So we went back to Dollar General today, and then I came home and wrapped everything up. He picked out a new car. I got him some more play-doh, too, because he’s really taken to that, and I also got some of those beads you put in the water that grow into shapes. I’m so excited for his bath tonight! He loves cars and trucks and trains!

And then I got him some magnetic numbers for the fridge. He brought me the number 8 saying “EIGHT! EIGHT!” and I thought he was a genius!

And then he brough me the number 4, saying the same thing. Ah well. At least he knows EIGHT is a number!

I did give him some fun things the other day too and I’ll talk about his other birthday “parties” in a later post. (I’ll try to be good at getting things up!)

So far, one of his favorite parts of the birthday celebrations is the cupcakes. He ate two on Sunday. Then Monday he saw them on the shelf and pretended like he was blowing out candles (yes, he did) to ask for more. We had one each Monday, Tuesday, and today. I may let him have a second today, since after all, it is his actual birthday.

What will he do next week when I’m not giving him wrapped up toys and letting him eat sweets?! The poor kid will be in withdrawl!

Has it really been a month since I updated this page? Ooops! I have pictures of Carl’s August wedding to post, I have (a few) pictures from my trip to Utah to post, I have some pictures of Paul’s birthday celebration from Sunday to post. I’ll try to get to them in the next few days.