Happy Birthday Blake!

Happy birthday to my sweet boy! Your Dad and I cannot believe you are already two years old. You are so much fun to be around, you always make us smile. I have loved watching you become your own person over the last year. One of the things I admire most about you is your love of trying new things - no fear at all! You will taste almost anything and you typically give an enthusiastic "mmmmmm" after you try something new especially if I've told you it might be icky....even if it is an onion or coffee grounds :) You are still my cuddly guy, since the day you were born you've loved being snuggled. You also love giving hugs and kisses, especially to Louis and your friend Ella. So here we go on to your two's, which your Grandma Claudia referred to as "terrific twos" (thanks to my sister I think :) I am sure it will be an adventure!

A few more pics from the party

Happy Birthday Chad & Blake!

We had a joint birthday party for Chad and Blake on Saturday. Chad's birthday is the 28th and Blake's is the 30th. We had so much fun with our families and friends! We started out our morning at 5:30 a.m. I guess Blake was excited to get things started!

Here he is with his new train table. It is so fun to have a son, Alison and I had a Barbie hotel, but never anything like this!

Trying to get a preview...

Grandpa and Auntie taking Blake down the slip and slide.

Blake and Laurel

Heidi and Laurel Jake relaxing with a juice box after the slip and slide.

Sunny and Lilah Blaine with his new hair cut!

Laurel with her train hat!

After helping me in the kitchen all day, Grandma got to relax with Grandad and a glass of wine!

We had a bbq with lots of good food. The kids seem to like the watermelon and corn best of all.

Time for some presents

Chad got a special cake of his own.
Blake's train cupcakesBlake got a leather bomber jacket and hat to match from Grammy and Grandpa. Although it was close to 90 degrees, he still loved the hat. It went so well with his swim wear :)

All of the kids received treat bags that included train hats...they were a little big!

Our best effort at a group (most of the group) shot.

Dinner with the Obersts

Sunday evening the Obersts came to our house for a low key dinner. It was great to see them and catch up. Blake and Blaine had a great time playing together. Although it was six in the evening, the boys still hopped in the pool.

Blaine

Jeff and the boys.

Blake and Blaine having a ball on the treadmill. (The most use it's seen in awhile!)

Blake really wanted to sit with Erin.

But Blaine ejected him from his seat :)

Nap time

Nap time has been a bit challenging since Blake moved to his bed. Since day one, he has always preferred to be where the action is...who needs sleep? Yesterday was particularly challenging, and this is how he ended up - lights on and all!

Ice Cream

Alison was nice enough to babysit for us on Saturday evening. Chad and I went out to an early dinner so we could be back in time to put Blake to bed. We brought Alison back some ice cream, which she was nice enough to share with Blake.

Chad bathed Blake before Alison arrived at our house. Then, Alison bathed Blake thinking he needed one before bed. Third times a charm?

Dinner with the Girls

Thursday evening I had some girlfriends over for some champagne and a little dinner. Ellis came along to play with Blake. Blake was happy when Angie arrived, he is always very taken with her. Ellis playing with Lou
Blake was using a piece of bread to flirt with Angie...

Such a ham!

A visit from the Midwest

My Uncle and two cousins came to visit last week from Missouri. We had a great time with them! We got to do some eating, boating, eating, sight seeing, eating and some more eating! After their visit to Seattle they headed off to Montana with my Dad and Leslie. We were sad to see them go and hope they come back soon! Each night since their visit Blake wants to know if Austin (my 15 year old cousin who is GREAT with Blake) is going to go night night at our house. A group shot of everyone at Alison's house.

Trying some corn on the cob.

Blake checking out his cousin to be :)

Blake, Alison and Brian

Other Big Boy News

In addition to sleeping in a big boy bed, Blake has taken an interest in potty training all of a sudden. I swear in one weekend my little guy is all grown up!

(He may be really ticked at me someday for posting this :)

A Whole New Chapter...

Last Friday I put Blake down for his nap at 1:00 like I usually do. About 1:03 p.m. my darling little boy showed up in my kitchen with a GIANT grin on his face. If I had told him he'd just won the lottery I don't think he would have been any happier. I took him back up to his room, (he had closed his door behind him on the way out :) put him back in his crib and asked him how he had done it. He immediately threw his leg over the side and slid down - piece of cake! He spent the next two hours bouncing off the walls, I really think he fully understood his new found freedom. That evening (with Blake totally passed out on my shoulder from exhaustion) we went to Costco to get Blake a "big boy bed". He has really taken to his new trampoline... I mean bed. We've had some tears at bedtime, but he's been sleeping through the night. night #1


night #2

Here is a little video of Blake on his first night with a big boy bed. Keep in mind this is at 9:00 at night after a 20 minute nap on my shoulder at Costco - nothing slows him down!

Thomas the Train

This morning we took Blake to the "Thomas the Train Day" at the Snoqualmie Train Museum. He had a ball! There were tents set up with different activities - one was full of train tables, which he loved (little does he know he's getting one for his birthday!), he got a Thomas "tattoo" at another booth. Then we took our train ride which was about a 10 minute ride out past Snoqualime Falls. Chad and I liked the train ride and I think Blake thought it was okay, but the train tables seem to be the big hit. Overall, it was a really fun morning.