Happy 2nd Birthday, Bates!

Today the little man of the house turned the big 2!

I love birthdays, they are a day to celebrate! So we spent the day celebrating!

When Bates woke up at 7:02 this morning (which, I told him last night he could sleep late since it was his birthday, but apparently he forgot!) I laid in the bed with him and hugged him tightly and sang Happy Birthday to him. He just stared at me like I was a fool.

After getting up and having our juice and watching "Mouse" (aka Mickey Mouse clubhouse) for 2 minutes (that's as long as he is interested). We woke William up.

Then it was time for a bath, which William had decorated for a special Birthday Bath!We got ready and headed out for a birthday breakfast. Dad met us at the doughnut place.
this picture trips me out. he's been watching America's Next Top Model and getting some posing tips.... pop that hip out!

Bates is very into blowing out candles so I knew he's love candles in his doughnut.
This boy put down some doughnut holes.





After breakfast, we headed to the Discovery Center. We had fun, but it was a bit crowded. I did meet and chat with another adoptive mom, so that was fun. Her kiddos are both from China, and she used Holt! She loves Holt too, of course!






After playing inside we hit the playground.
And then mom wanted some pictures of the big birthday boy. Well, you can see how that went.




And what would this boy's birthday be without a stop a Sonic for a milkshake?!
Home for a nap and then a special birthday afternoon snack- Sweet Korean Pancakes.

Rachel and I had these in Korea. They are oh.my.word. yummy! I bought this kit from the HMart in Atlanta and had been saving it for a special occasion and well, Bates' birthday is pretty special!

I must say, I did a great job on them. Bates ate an entire pancake, which is HUGE for him!


We played in the playroom and waited for Daddy to get home from work.

When Daddy got home for work, we got ready to go to dinner but first we had to get measured on the door. I'm borrowing this tradition from MawMaw to start for the boys on their birthdays. We chose to measure them on the back of the laundry room door, so we can take that door (our chalkboard door) with us when we move!



Then it was off to the birthday boy's dinner at his favorite restaurant- Cracker Barrel!

He played with Uncle Anna and Uncle Chases while we waited for our table.



This boy loves him some Cracker Barrel. He can put down some carrots!


After dinner, we headed to Bates' favorite place for a special treat.
As soon as we pulled in, he screamed I-CREAM!

We put a candle in his ice cream and we all sang to him. He just stared at us like we were nuts. He doesn't really like getting Happy Birthday sung to him, but if you tell him "Happy Birthday" he will say "HAPPY!"



Then it was home and into pjs for bedtime.

Before bed, we placed a candle in his bedroom window and lit it in honor of his birthmother. We let Bates blow it out. We will do this every year for his birthday, and maybe he'll continue the tradition.


After a few more pictures, we put our birthday boy to bed.

Happy 2nd Birthday, sweet Bates. It's so hard for me to fathom that a year ago, we were celebrating your 1st birthday and longing to have you in our arms and now here you are, and you're TWO! Two is so big, you're officially a toddler now, not a baby!
I think it's so special that you have now had a birthday with all three of your moms. Your birthmother was with you on the day you were born. Your foster mother was with you for your first birthday and now I am with you for your second birthday. You've spent those three special days with three special women who love you very much. I'm so glad that I'm the one that gets to spend the rest of your birthdays with you!
I was a little emotional today. I couldn't stop thinking about your birthmom, I know she was thinking about you and us today too. It's weird to know that she was thinking about us and we were thinking about her. It's a small connection to her that I treasure. It breaks my heart when I look at you, when I get to hug you and kiss you and tell you happy birthday, and know that she is missing this. She is missing all these special moments. She is missing the laughter, the joy, the wonderment, and the snuggles. I hope you know how much she loves you, how much we both love you! Maybe that smoke from the candle will somehow find it's way to wherever she is and will warm her heart. I pray she knows you are safe, you are loved, and you are treasured- and will always be.
I'm so thankful that I'm the one who gets to be with you for all these moments, these days, and this lifetime. I am in awe of God faithfulness in bringing us together as a family. I know I say it a lot, but I'm the luckiest mom in the whole wide world! You are such a joy to me, to your father, and to our either family. Days like today remind me how fast life is moving. I know when I blink you'll be on your first date, driving a car, graduating from high school, going to college, moving out, getting married, and having me some grandbabies. I truly cherish all these moments with you. I never want to take my job as your mother as a chore.
You are my delight, sweet boy! I love you to the moon and back!
I guess tomorrow starts the "terrible twos".... and here we go.....