Tag Archives: Birthday!

Two Years!

Two years ago, Caroline Rose Reid pushed her way in to the world. She looked around the room with wide eyes and did not say anything. The nurses pinched her, rubbed her, washed, poked needles in her and still she looked at them and did not say anything. Then, she closed her eyes and went to sleep.

Two days later and she still had not cried. She was in a warming bed in the Special Care Nursery where, when she woke, a nurse was right there to change her, call me to come feed her, and otherwise hold her to keep her calm.

But Caroline was calm. She was taking it all in. The lights, the noises, the comfort. Why would she cry? She had it all.

The nurses laughed when we expressed concern over her lack of crying. “She’ll figure it out,” they insisted.

Were they ever right! Caroline is a bundle of energy and noise, a package of life and emotion. She laughs, she screams, she loves.

And we love her. Her first words each morning are a call for Paul. His first words are the question, “Can I go talk to Caroline?” (when her door is still closed in the morning).

Caroline follows us around and insists on “I do it!” and “Me!” She knows the concepts of “mine!” and “Share!” and won’t hesitate to tell you what she wants. She won’t hesitate to tell you want she does not want, too, and if she does not want what you want her to do, she will not let you do it.

She’s sensitive and selfish, crying with others who are sad (or asking “are you okay?”) and screaming if she does not get what she wants in any given moment.

She’s wiggly and cuddly, wiggly when it’s a quiet moment (such as sacrament meeting) and cuddly when the lights are low and she is sleepy.

She’s a bundle of fun, as she pretends: her fork is a dancing monkey, or her sippy cup of milk is sleepy, and wants a lullaby or she is a fish swimming through the bathtub.

She’s as tender as a new mother when she holds her baby dolls, singing the songs I sing to her.

She’s as wild as an animal as she runs into the water, jumping and splashing and dunking her own head under, only to come up sputtering and coughing with a laugh on her face.

We love Caroline. I can’t wait to see how this already talking toddler baby becomes a little girl in the next year. Although, I kind of want to hold her tight and cherish her toddler-hood for the next twenty years!

13np208_076 • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/59818157@N08/12699141045/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>

13np208_067 • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/59818157@N08/12699621904/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>

Birthday Boy!

Leave a reply

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.

Paul in Early October, Age 1 Year

Cowboy Joe (Oct 2 and Oct 11)

Paul never gives much attention to his stuffed animals. Cowboy Joe is no exception, although I personally love Cowboy Joe. I tried to get a cute picture of the two “friends,” but Paul would have none of it!

Birthday (Oct 7)

Paul had a happy birthday, I guess, since he didn’t know what was happening. I share pictures of his “party” here. Here’s his reaction to my singing him “Happy Birthday” first thing in the morning. (Not much reaction, I know.)

October 10, 2008

Here are some pictures of our happy guy. (He just had a drink of water, which is why his shirt is very wet.)

Originally posted November 21, 2008.

One Year Old Party!

1 Reply

On Sunday, I had an extra fun day!

First, I got to meet some firemen. See, Mommy had picked me up, and she and Daddy walked around the house saying “What’s that smell? Where is it?” and then Mommy stood outside with me waiting. After the firemen came and looked in the wall and took out the light switch, one of them gave me a big silver sticker that said “Junior Firefighter.”

But that was only the beginning of the fun! Then we went to Grandma and Grandpa’s house.

Everyone sat around and watched me play with toys. I was the center of the show! These loud people kept talking over me.

Every once in a while there would be a lot of people singing. I liked the singing. I tried to sing, too. But people kept shhh-ing me.

Then we ate a very yummy dinner. Then I was ready for a nap. But Mommy wanted to give me more food and take my picture a lot and then cousin Daniel helped me open some presents. It was very tiring.