Ask Him. He'll tell you he's 2.

It's the little man's 2nd birthday today. We officially have a two-year-old and we're feeling good. Luckily, we've been reading Miss Spider's Birthday ABCs and Jude screams "Surprise! Happy Birthday, Miss Spider!" every night, so he was well-prepared to wish himself a hearty happy birthday.

He loves the trains here in California and can hear one from miles and miles away, so I made him a "choo-choo" cake. It turned out a little ghetto, but he was distracted by the gummy bears and worms, as was I (why do those sour snakes look so tasty?!?!).

We had a little party for him with Grandma and Grandpa Bunnell and our good friends the MacDougalls. Here are the boys together: Finn, Duncan, and Jude. It was tough to get a picture of them together without their little fingers sneaking treats from the cake.

Jude got a "scooter" and is in deep love. He can't quite reach the pedals yet, but he insisted on scooting around on it all night and screaming "YAYYYYYYYYY!" randomly. He also insisted on safety and wearing a "helmie" (helmet). That's my boy.


Here are the party attendees:

"Crazy Eyes" Grandpa Bunnell
Jimmy "The Helmet" MacDougall
Holly "also pregnant with a boy" MacDougall (she made an awesome tie for Jude's birthday, pictures forthcoming....)
"Kare-Bear" Grandma Bunnell
Thanks to all for such a lovely birthday day for our boy!

Jude wanted to go to out wave goodbye to our guests. Goodbye friends!!!

***And yes, I am about to pop. The baby just better wait until we're back in Utah. Or else.

My boy is a little manic these days. Most days he cracks us up continually, dancing and playing air guitar, singing songs (specialties include "A, D, A, D," which is the ABCs and "viiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiccccccccccccccceeeeeeee," which is Edelweiss), getting into mischief, you know, the usual. But the tantrums have started, so help me, they have begun...Today, there were two. The first was a bath tantrum that occurred when I turned off the water in response to Jude dumping it by the cupful OUT of the bathtub and onto the floor. He didn't like that. Histrionics ensued, culminating in his throwing up (also by the cupful) from being so worked up. Eggs a second time, not as nice..... Tantrum lasted about an hour.

Tantrum #2 occurred just before his nap. He'd gotten his little hands on half a piece of gum and I asked him to take it out for his nap. He said, "Nope," and kept chomping. Eventually, after asking nicely many a time, I pried his little sassy mouth open and took it out. He heaved and cried for over an hour, inconsolable, mumbling, wailing "gum...gum....gum" incessantly. He'd shout at me if I tried to cuddle, talk or sing to him. After he finally calmed down and I put him down, I had to put myself in time out.

But, luckily, he woke up happy and reminded me how delightful he can be. Any brilliant coping strategies for these nerve-pummeling moments, people?

A few recent antics....

Jude got into my make-up and applied it just like I do. He looks better aux naturale, methinks.

After putting on his jammies the other night he ran around the house like a banshee pulling his pants up over his belly. This one has some serious fashion sense...

Unfortunately, he got a hold of my sun glasses. Fortunately, he knows how to work it...

Day at Home

When Jude and I went out to the car to run errands this morning, we realized that both car seats were sitting peacefully in other cars, miles and miles away. So, Jude and I had a day at home today. Among other things like laundry and baths, we made some fudgesicles (thank you, Smitten Kitchen) and blew bubbles and then ate said fudgesicles with relish. After being gone all weekend (Mike and I had a little get away to San Luis Obispo...such a lovely place), it was nice to spend some time with my little buddy.

I think Jude likes chocolate...

Watching the bubbles fly away.