The Sunday before Joey's birthday, we had some of my Pittsburgh family over for dinner and celebration. Joey absolutely loves his second cousins and oh boy, how they love him! He has been so blessed to have such wonderful extended family surrounding him in both of the cities that he's lived so far. Joey was a bit timid about his birthday cake (beautifully crafted [read "fixed"] by Tom after I, a self-proclaimed cake-baking-hater, screwed it all up) but after a little help from his cousins, was very eager to take another shot at blowing out the candles (off camera, unfortunately). I would have taken pictures of Joey eating cake, but it was impossible since he was completely uninterested in it. Who can blame him after the two dozen cookies the cousins brought him and let him eat before hand? I can't blame him, though. The cookies were WAY better than a boring old Betty Crocker white cake with way too much frosting.
On Joey's actual birthday, we made a trip with Joey's BFF Eli (and his mother and Moses' pal Connor, of course) to the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh. The boys had lots of fun and it was a nice change-up from our usual zoo trips.
In the evening, Tom put together Joey's new tricycle, complements of Nana, and the boys had a lot of fun riding around on it together.
It's hard to believe that I have a two year old. Gone are the days of free flights and entrance to museums and events. No more whole milk. No more bottles or pacifiers (though those have been long gone for a while now). Now, enter the tantrums and opinions. Enter the independence on the park equipment. Enter counting and singing songs. Enter childhood! We're having a lot of fun watching Joey learn and grow. He's on the slower end with his vocabulary, but he's certainly working on it and I can tell that he will have a lot to say once he can say it.
If I could sum Joey up in one word it would be enthusiastic. He doesn't do anything without complete enthusiasm or emotion, for better or worse. When he is happy, he is laughing and bouncing off the walls. When he is sad or mad, well, don't try to mess with him. He'll let you have it.
I'm not going to lie, I fear the upcoming year. From the past month, I've determined that the terrible twos will be the hardest thing I'll have ever gone through in my life. I keep telling myself, "Mary, you had two babies in 13 months. You survived that. You can survive this." Thank heaven for weekends and Tom. They keep me sane (or at least as close to it as I'm going to get anytime soon) and are my reasons to get through the week. Tom puts smiles on all of our faces when it seems impossible.
Aren't they all so beautiful? (Eli, too)
